vosmet ipsos temptate si estis in fide

What are we to conclude? In every act of faith, there are two elements at work. First there is the formula, the conceptual complex containing the truth to which we assent. This presents itself to our mind like any other intentional knowledge: in the form of a judgement. But it does not enlighten the mind in the same way as ordinary knowledge. On the natural plane, a conceptual judgement illuminates the mind by the clear evidence which is contains. In an act of faith, the conceptual content of the proposition throws no light, of, itself, upon the understanding. The difference between belief and unbelief is not measured by our power to grasp the meaning of the articles of faith. A man may acquire a profound technical knowledge of the theology of the Holy Trinity and never believe in the Trinity. Another who has no grasp of the dogmatic problems involved in the mystery may believe it. He is the one to whom God has made Himself "present." He is the one who is "saved." He is the one who can be raised to contemplation. Hence in every act of faith there is a second and more important element: an objective and supernatural light, penetrating the depths of the soul and communicating to it the real content of truth which cannot be fully grasped in the terms of the credible proposition.
Each of these two elements is absolutely necessary for an act of living faith, because there is an intimate relation between them. If the articles of faith were merely an occasion for the infusion of supernatural light, then it would not matter what God proposed to us for our belief. One concept would serve as well as another. But this would mean that the intentional content of our creed would be without value or meaning. Any creed could do as well. Hold anything you like! If you are sincere, God will infuse light into you, and you will know Him. But the God Who is Wisdom would not uselessly reveal a whole body of truths that had, in the end, no objective value. He Who is Truth would not complacently put His grace at the disposal of all, on the sole condition that they be ready to adhere to falsity on His account!
The relation between the conceptual content of faith and the infused light by which God actually gives us His Truth lies in this: that the truth is actually contained, in a hidden manner, in the articles of faith themselves. And it is by the light of faith that we find the truth in those articles.