Faith according to St.

John Paul II (Fides et Ratio)

One of the most acclaimed writings of St. John Paul the Great, Fides

et Ratio is an encyclical letter that tackles about the essential relationship of

faith and reason. He begins the encyclical by describing faith and reason as

indispensable for the search of truth:

Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit
rises to the contemplation of truth; and God has placed in the
human heart a desire to know the truth—in a word, to know
himself—so that, by knowing and loving God, men and women
may also come to the fullness of truth about themselves.1
It then proceeds with the famous dictum, “know thyself” as the

starting point of the letter. He emphasized that man’s search for his identity

is the search for truth. And this truth can only be found in God, who is the

source of truth. The truth about man can only be made known to man if it is

revealed to him. God, who is infinitely good, deemed to reveal Himself to

man with Jesus as the climax of His revelation. He made it known that man

was special, that he was created in the image and likeness of God. As such,

when one is closer to God, the more he knows about himself. But this can be

discerned well by using his reasoning. As a human person, it is necessary for

one to understand the truth by satisfying one’s mind and senses. This is not

to negate the or putting God in a box. Rather, reason opens up an

1
John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Fides et Ratio, 1: AAS 91 (1999), 5.
opportunity for man to reflect and discover the richness of God’s wisdom

and power.