MikeLigalig.com

China's first Aircraft Carrier is now almost complete.

Bacolod, Negros Occidental

Psychological research has consistently shown that women feel unhappy with their body after looking at images of thin, idealized models, which are typically represented in the media. However, today's consumer culture and media promote not only the ideal of perfect beauty, but also that of the material affluent lifestyle, both of which are commonly depicted together, and highlight the benefits of beauty and of owning material goods to one's personal success and fame. A new study from the British Journal of Social Psychology is the first to examine the impact of materialistic messages and values - the desire for financial success and an affluent lifestyle on women's feelings about their own body.

Lead author Eleni-Marina Ashikali: "Not all women are affected in the same way by looking at idealized media models, and it has therefore been important for research to identify factors that make some women more vulnerable than others to feeling negative about their body when exposed to such media images. We found that women focus more strongly on their appearance when materialistic values are highlighted momentarily to them through priming. At the same time, their awareness of how their bodies fall short of the idealized image is heightened during this priming process, particularly for women who are already materialistic. This means that the influence of materialism is a further factor that makes women more vulnerable to negative body image."

This research suggests that materialism, both as an internalized value and as a depiction in the media, should be taken into account for media literacy interventions and policy changes in the advertising industry. Ashikali: "Women would benefit from gaining greater awareness of current marketing strategies, as well as becoming more critical of the images and messages conveyed by materialistic media. Our work highlights the need for less emphasis on materialistic messages in the marketing of goods and products, as well as on the promised unrealistic benefits of owning a particular good."

Full citation: "The Effect of Priming Materialism on Women's Responses to Thin-Ideal Media." Eleni-Marina Ashikali & Helga Dittmar. British Journal of Social Psychology. Published Online: April 5, 2011 (DOI: 10.1111/j.2044-8309.2011.02020.x).

About the Author

Eleni-Marina Ashikali, MSc Applied Social Psychology, is currently working on her PhD at the University of Sussex, which focuses on cosmetic surgery media and their influence on young women's body image, and on their attitudes towards cosmetic surgery.

Source:
The British Psychological Society

hmmm, i wonder what she does to keep her muscles..strong. 

TRIPOLI, Libya â€" The Filipino migrant rights group staggered DFA or Department of Foreign Affairs yesterday with a letter that entails 10 Filipino nurses allegedly abducted and used as human shield by the rebel forces in Libya.
Migrante International received a report from a trusted source who declined to expose identity for fear of life threats, which entailed information on ten Filipino nurses who were trapped in the biggest hospital in Misurata and are now abducted by the rebel forces in Libya.
According to the Migrante source, the said Filipino nurses were first utilized as human shield by the rebel troops when assaulting the forces of the Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.
In the meantime, Migrante International is currently collaborating with around 3,000 to 4,000 overseas Filipino workers in Libya, who up until now are still trapped in Tripoli, contrary to the reports presented by DFA, telling that these OFWs chose to remain in the said country.
The information on the abduction and use of these Filipino nurses as human shield is confirmed by Fr. Allan Acebuche of San Francisco Catholic Church-Caritas, which is currently basing in Tripoli, Libya.
What makes the priest even more worried about is the current situation of the Filipinos in Misurata, where communication lines are cut-off.
DFA retorted that they will be sending verification orders to the Philippine embassy in Tripoli regarding the said report, so as to provide immediate assistance when necessary.


http://www.philippinenewsdaily.com/2011/04/4592/ten-filipino-nurses-utilized-as-human-shield-in-libya.html

You're going to Tampa, Florida, Cujo? When is the festival diay?

luuy pood ang mga bata.

Quote from: C2H4 on October 07, 2007, 12:33:40 AM
A little boy asked his mother, "Why are you crying?" "Because I'm a
woman," she told him.

"I don't understand," he said. His Mom just hugged him and said,
"And you never will."

Later the little boy asked his father, "Why does mother seem to cry
for no reason?"

"All women cry for no reason," was all his dad could say.

The little boy grew up and became a man, still wondering why women cry.

Finally he put in a call to God. When God got on the phone he
asked, "God, why do women cry so easily?"

God said:

"When I made the woman she had to be special.

I made her shoulders strong enough to carry the weight of the world,
yet gentle enough to give comfort.

I gave her an inner strength to endure childbirth, and the rejection
that many times comes from her children.

I gave her a hardness that allows her to keep going when everyone
else gives up, and take care of her family through sickness and
fatigue without complaining.

I gave her the sensitivity to love her children under any and all
circumstances, even when her child has hurt her very badly.

I gave her strength to carry her husband through his faults and
fashioned her from his rib to protect his heart.

I gave her wisdom to know that a good husband never hurts his wife,
but sometimes tests her strengths and her resolve to stand beside
him unfalteringly.

And finally, I gave her a tear to shed. This is hers exclusively to
use whenever it is needed."

"You see my son," said God, "the beauty of a woman is not in the
clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs
her hair.

The beauty of a woman must be seen in her eyes, because that is the
doorway to her heart -- the place where love resides."

i dont like seeing women cry. because it makes me cry.

Quote from: hubag bohol on March 31, 2011, 12:00:29 PM

hahaha

Quote from: ms da binsi on April 06, 2011, 10:38:06 PM
"None is as resilient in the work force, as loving, mother-like, a good wife, and as family oriented as a Filipina."

aguy ambruuut lang! pwerte na kadaghan mga pinay nga cheap kaajo!!! Mga expats nakaingon nga mga philippines is more like thailand na daw kay daghan cheap nga baje....

Si maam Inse maka relate ani...

awww, naa pood siguro mga cheap na cheap baje, pariho pood nga naay cheap na cheap lalake. diba?

okey lang ug gusto sila ma minyo : black, white, yellow, green (mga alien or baki) even purple (nga tawo nga ultra black) hahaha. ila ra gud nang desisyon.

para nako, di lang ko gusto maka dungog nga naay mga foreigners mo adto sa pinas para sex exploitation sa pinays. maluuy man pood ta ug maka dungog ta ana.

salamat sa imohang gi post, ms da binsi, thank you jud.

Quote from: mistyeyed on April 06, 2011, 10:27:14 PM
Korek,respeto nalang sa usa aron dili ma hurt. mao bitaw gitawg ug past kay pasta na.

oo tinuod jud. ma hapdoson ko ug mo tawag ahong ex nako, o ug ma kita kits kami. di na lang mo risk 'opening a can of worms'.

god forbid, mo gawas ang old feelings.

Quote from: jorgeanna on April 06, 2011, 11:01:15 PM
depende kung kinsa sad-an ... but since Muslim ko og dugo and isug kunohay, my hubby would usually make the first move and iya ko ipa-kalma sa... and after that, kung akong sala, he would say "dli diay ka ask sorry nako?" .......

Anna, awww kakuyawa pood.

Quote from: mistyeyed on April 06, 2011, 10:49:07 PM
Kami sa akong banana usually siya mo una ug tingog,mangita man jud kog paagi nga sakto ang ako rason why suko ko ug ako man pod siya ingna sa rason,so masabtan niya.Unsa man buno?Apo gud ni ni Dagohoy. haha,but ug klaro nga ako ang may sala, mo ako pod mo una but tagsa ra,kay usually siya man ang sad-an.

misty, tagsa tagsa ra diay ka maka sad-an? kujawa pood ka day!
ayy tinuod jud ang gi ingon sa mga tiguls diri, "Isug Jamo ang Boholana"

Quote from: Mulligan on April 06, 2011, 10:43:55 PM
According to my kumpare,  siempre, ang asawa (babae) mo give-in usually.  Magluhod luhod pa man gane iya asawa ...  Magluhod ug kuhit kay nitago sa ilawn sa katre si pare.   

hahaha. bedo, kinsa man diay ning kumpare nimo? kukuyaw pood kai magluhod man diay ang asawa. puahahaha!

See u in Cebu! (Experience Philippines! Ep. 3)

Philippines - Experience the 7107 Islands

Yoyoy Villame & Max Surban - Dagohoy Rock Lapulapu Boogie

Yoyoy Villame - Philippine Geography

Ilonggo song-dance: OHOY ALIBANGBANG -Mabuhay Singers (Rare Vinyl copy)

ay inday dumduma ang dilin sa iyong lola ang mga babaye indi lang pag kusina

ay inday dumduma ang dilin sa iyong lola ang mga babaye pwede man mag dumara...

Patadyong ni Inday - Sammy Rubido

Winter in Cherry Hill

home sweet home..

ah, very close to home.

a bricked colonial home in Mendham, New Jersey

Willis Tower
Chicago, Illinois

Rush Medical Center
Chicago, Illinois

Manay, where are your pictures?

Pops, what is the temperature over there ?

Do not use a hatchet to remove a fly from your friend's forehead.

Quote from: hofelina on April 06, 2011, 02:43:34 PM
clive thanks for the advertisement, you are far flung!

manay tess, direct ka kaayo oy. hahaha.

sige mikey. salamat ha. kamusta naman ka dinha sa LA?

haha. cute. truly.



oh dear starlight starbright, your wittiness surprises me
oh starlight o starbright, your smile as big as a tree

where did youput the anpao when the bowl of siopao is no more
i thought i placed here on table, but no, it is on the floor

did you manage to eat it while watching tv , or perhaps reading a book
perhaps you enjoyed it? all thanks to hubag , the cook

perhaps next time i shall provide you a fortune cookie
you know like the ones chicogon likes, from me to you, oki doki?

sige mo adto na ko, mo tra ba ho na pood
be nice, be sweet, always darling always be good.

starlight starbright, one with a big smile tonight
you see, i'm not so bad, not too strict, promise. i dont bite.



cheers.

i shared the last joke with my gf. she laughed but pinched me really hard 

hehehe. "siguro baya inday, ang bol-anon!"

"A Filipino may leave the Philippines, but the "Filipino-ness" can never leave the man."

Quote from: kan-ogong on April 06, 2011, 02:51:13 AM
bai lorenz nunay man mi inimbita mga birthday sa mga pinay  lahi man dere sa VA kay mga pinay dere kay hilig man kaayo ug uwak mga bf nila mga uwak man gikan sa Baltimore,Maryland moangay man pod mi mga pinoy puro uwak ilaha BF kay wafu man mi tan awon kay sa ilaha.

bai kan-ogong,

naka date ka sa mga puti o itom nga baje dinha sa VA? ug oo, unsa man imong comparisyon sa pinay? i'd like to hear lang.

hahaha. bitaw, Mike.

hehe. home sweet home.

Quote from: bol-anon quo nyur! on April 06, 2011, 08:05:57 AM
LAPU-LAPU!

hahaha. mo gawas si Dagohoy!

Quote from: islander on April 05, 2011, 11:28:03 PM
orchid root grower ang akong paborito.  lactose intolerant man ta...

awww, pag inom ug lactase enzyme, isles. barato ra na intawn.

hmmm, murag hermit sigoro ni sija. self emulative lover ni da.

nag pa diet si santa.

murag hambuguero ning tiguwanga da.

fr. pero daghan baja mga pinay nga 'high maintenance' pood. especially ang mga pinay na grow up diri sa america.

interesting. thanks for the update.

awww, what about just good husbands? diba, who cares if the man is rich or poor, so long as he's a good guy.

but one must love himself before he can commit to others. i mean, hermits are known for this.
(as far as i know, hermits are extreme self-lovers since they cannot commit to anyone)

Hi there Priscilla. How have you been?

hahaha. ikaw?

guapo bitaw , Manay! Way sapayan.

Sugbuanon Kag Ilonggo


bisaya: to! kung muadto kug manila sa papak lang ko sa eroplano
musakay,,,
ilonggo: yota eh!
bisaya: wala diay ka kita nako ganina??
ilonggo: nano pagkakita ko sa imo nga gasakay sa pakpak sang eroplano kay gasakwat ko ka buldosir!

Pasyente: dok kung magkaon ko humay, pamus-on ko humay
magkaon ko adobo, pamus-on ko adobo; anong himuon ko doc para pamus-on ko tae?
doktor: kaun ka tae...

Consul: Your name, please?
>Arabo: Abdul Aziz!
>Consul: Sex?
>Arabo: Six times a week.
>Consul: I mean, male or female?
>Arabo: both male and female sometimes even camel.
>Consul: Oh my, holy cow!
>Arabao: Yes, cows and dogs too!
>Consul: Man, isn't that hostile?
>Arabo: Hostile, dogstyle any style!
>Consul: Oh dear!
>Arabo: Deer? No deer! They run fast!

Helper: Padre nag text ang amo ko sa US nga pamisahan daw
Ang ido nya nga napatay.
Pari: Toto, tawo lang ang ginamisahan, indi pwede ang ido.
Bu-ang cguro tong amo mo.
Helper: Na! So anhon ta na lang gali ning ginpadala nya nga
$10,000 para sa misa hay?
Pari: Aw ah! Wala ka man nagsiling dayon nga katoliko gali
Nang ido nya. Abi dal-a dire…......


   

Ano nga prutas ang pwede mo ikumparar sa ano.....sang babaye?

Ans:
DURIAN - smells like HELL but tastes like HEAVEN.

Pare1: Pre, daw dalum gid ang ginapaminsar mo haw?
Pare2: Nagdamgo ako bal-an kagab-i, Pre. Upod ko ang 50 ka-contestants sang Ms. Universe
Pare1: Swerte mo eh! Ti...ano ang problema mo?
Pare2: Pre, ako ang nagdaug sa Ms. Universe!

Babaye: doc, pacheck-up.
Doc: Sige ubaha na panty kag bra mo 'day tapos higda ka, 'day.
Babaye: Indi ko 'ya ang magpacheck-up, ari 'ya ang lola ko.
Doc: Sige 'nay, ginhawa ka na lang sang madalum.

ay inday dumduma ang dilin sa iyong lola ang mga babaye indi lang pag kusina

ay inday dumduma ang dilin sa iyong lola ang mga babaye pwede man mag dumara...

ilonggo visaya is soft and soothing to the ears.

Patadyong ni Inday - Sammy Rubido

OH! PARU-PARO
Trala-lala-lala lala-lala-lala. . .
Oh! Paru-paru kung ikaw ay lumipad
Iyong alalahanin ang lahat ng mga bulaklak
Baka sa huli'y ikaw ay makalimot
Kawawang Gumamela, sa lupa Ahay! mahulog.

Oh! Paru-paru kung ikaw sumipsip ng bulaklak
Iyong alalahanin ang daan na dadaanan mo
Baka sa bandang huli, matinik itong paa mo
Kaawa-awang katawan, masayang lang ang dugo mo.
Trala-lala-lala lala-lala-lala. . .

(the tagalog translation)

 



Ilonggo song-dance: OHOY ALIBANGBANG -Mabuhay Singers (Rare Vinyl copy)

Modangat dang panahon
Ang pag-ampo ko dunggon
Ug ang kasal-anan
Di pasangil
Ako na unya nga panilngon
Di tiaw ang pag-antus
Di tiaw ang pagsakit
Sa gihapon nagpahiubos
Kay adunay utlanan sa langit

Gilingaw-lingaw ko lamang
Ang kasakit nining dughan
Kay ako nagtoo nga kining tanan
Nasayran na sa kalangitan
Ug ang ngatanan modangat ra
Sa hugot bug-os nga pangaliya

Mabuhay Singers: Modangat Dang Panahon (Can someone please post the

Dalawidaw ikaw kon mag-ambahanon

Yuhum mong balanihon may binalaybay

Duhang larawan mo sa dalamgohanon

Diwata sa bukid kag kataw sa baybay.

Tumandok sa bukid, nabun-ag sa payao

Nayon sa tuburan nga daw handurawan

Tubig nagatigay sang imo kaanyag,

Kag nangin salamin, hublas mong larawan.

Diwata sa talon, bulak nga ilahas

Sa kapalaran nga daw gapasimpalad

Alibangbang lamang labing makahas

Makagsuyop sang kayuyom sinang sipad.

Sadtong kagab-ihon nga punong himaya

Sa isang payag kita nagsumpaanay

Didto ta pinanggas ang dili malaya,

Putling handumanan sang gugmang panganay

Mabuhay Singers - Dalawidaw (Hiligaynon Visayan)

Mabuhay Singers - Kukok (Hiligaynon Visayan)

Mabuhay Singers - Kasadya Sang Oras (Hiligaynon Visayan).wmv

Everlita Rivera: Gaba

Mabuhay Singers - Pangayo-on Ko

Pandanggo ni Neneng (Balitaw) Ruben Tagalog

KURATSA BOHOLANA
(Kapag Maraming Salapi)
Letra sa Tagalog ni Levi Celerio

Nagtataka ako sa iyo
bakit nagustuhan mo
na maging asawa ng iyong anak
ay matanda na at beho?

Kwalta na lang ba ang dahilan?
Ngunit iyan ang totoo
Ang ligaya sa pag-ibig ay
hindi sa salapi natatamo.

Pag-aasawa ng anak ko 'yan ang pipiliin ko
'Di na baling makasal sa damatan
kung sagana sa dinero.

Kung kabuhayan ay matatag lahat ay mahihingi
ang pangarap ng tao'y matutupad kung meron kang salapi.

At iyan ang nangyayari may nag-aasawa diyang mga maralita
nagkakalayo kung walang-wala.
Dahil diyan di ko ibig na mangyari sa aking anak
Meron ngang guwapong esposo ngunit pag nagalit ay
may sipa't tadyak!

Turuan mong maghanap ang iyong dalaga
nuong binatang mayroon pang kuwalta
Piliin nya yuong may matatag na isip
hindi mambubuntal kahit galit.

Bakit 'di pa siyang anak ang iyong piliin
at yung pang tatay na siyang ubanin?
Kung may pera ang ama ay ipamamana
kapag bunso niya'y nag-asawa na.

Ang kalooban mo'y maluwag maginhawang totoo
'di ka na mahihirapang mag-isip
dahilan sa sigurado.

Kung kabuhayan ay matatag lahat ay mahihingi
Ang pangarap ng tao'y matutupad kung meron kang salapi.

Ang kabuhayan ay matatag lahat ay mahihingi
Ang pangarap ng tao'y matutupad
kapag maraming salapi.

Balitaw: KURATSA BOHOLANA -Mabuhay Singers

Bulak Ug Kaibug / Ay Ay Siniloy - Cebuano Balitaw Songs (Very Rare Copy)

Quote from: islander on April 05, 2011, 03:51:34 PM
wa diay koy labot ani kay ing-ani man kog liningkoran...

kua ni...meditationist-style.

Mabuhay Singers: Gibakwi Mo (Cebuano Visayan) (Vinyl/Tape comparison)

"ang bol-anon buutan gayud, mag mahal nimo hangtud sa kinahangturan..."

 kujawa da!  



Mabuhay Singers: Ang Bol-anon

Max Surban - Bol-anon

"mag mahal nimo sa hangtud sa kinahangturan..."

MAX SURBAN - Tambok Ug Niwang

Hehehe palmuut ang version ni Max Surban.

Quote from: Lorenzo on April 05, 2011, 03:40:12 PM

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.

6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Brothers and sisters , beloved, tho we are weak in the flesh, tho we are tempted to sin, TRUST in the Lord always. For even in our weak state, in our sinful nature, we are reassured that The Holy Spirit will work in us if we submit to The LORD all our plans, all our works, all our motivations and prayer.

What is impossible to us, dearest beloved, is possible with God. Trust in The LORD. And surely, the righteous and faithful one will bless you and guide you.

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.

6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6

independent thinking.

truly a beautiful spiritual reflective anecdote. God Bless us all.

THE ATHANASIAN CREED dates from the late fourth century, and is attributed to St. Athanasius (296-373), the great defender of Catholic Truth. Those who held to the Arian heresy, which ravaged the Church at that time, denied the divinity of Christ. As a result, Athanasius composed this creed which includes lengthy explanations of the Trinity and the Hypostatic Union (the Human and Divine natures of Christ forming one Person)...

http://home.inreach.com/bstanley/creeds.htm

Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic Faith. Which Faith, except a man keep whole and integral, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly. Now the Catholic Faith is this: that we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity. Neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the substance. For there is one person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost is all one, the glory equal, the majesty co-eternal. For such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost. The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate, the Holy Ghost uncreate; the Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Ghost incomprehensible; the Father eternal, the Son eternal, the Holy Ghost eternal. And yet, there are not three eternals, but one eternal. As also there are not three uncreated, nor three incomprehensibles; but one uncreated, and one incomprehensible. So likewise the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty, and the Holy Ghost Almighty. And yet there are not three Almighties, but one Almighty. So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet there are not three Gods, but one God. So likewise, the Father is Lord, the Son is Lord, and the Holy Ghost is Lord. And yet there are not three Lords, but one Lord. For, as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by Himself to be God and Lord; so we are forbidden by the Catholic religion to say there be three Gods or three Lords. The Father is made by none, neither created nor begotten. The Son is of the Father, not made, nor created, but begotten. The Holy Ghost is of the Father, and of the Son; neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts. And in this Trinity none is before or after the other. None is greater or less than another, but the whole three Persons are co-equal and co-eternal together. So that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshiped. He therefore that will be saved, must thus think of the Trinity. Furthermore it is necessary unto eternal salvation that he believe rightly the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the right faith is, that we believe and confess, that our Lord Jesus Christ is God and man. God of the substance of the Father, begotten before the world; and Man of the substance of His Mother, born into the world. Perfect God and perfect Man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting. Equal to the Father as touching His Godhead, and inferior to the Godhead as touching His Manhood. Who, although He be God, and Man, yet He is not two, but one Christ. One altogether, not by confusion of substance, but by unity of Person. For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man, so God and man is one Christ. Who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead. He ascended into heaven; He sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. At whose coming all men shall rise again with their bodies, and shall give account for their works. And they that have done good shall go into everlasting life, and they that have done evil, into everlasting fire. This, then, is the Catholic Faith, which except a man believe faithfully and firmly, he cannot be saved. AMEN.

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven. By the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended in heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father [and the Son]. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

To believe in the Holy Spirit

152 One cannot believe in Jesus Christ without sharing in his Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who reveals to men who Jesus is. For "no one can say "Jesus is Lord", except by the Holy Spirit",22 who "searches everything, even the depths of God. . No one comprehends the thoughts of God, except the Spirit of God."23 Only God knows God completely: we believe in the Holy Spirit because he is God.

    The Church never ceases to proclaim her faith in one only God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

To believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God

151 For a Christian, believing in God cannot be separated from believing in the One he sent, his "beloved Son", in whom the Father is "well pleased"; God tells us to listen to him.18 The Lord himself said to his disciples: "Believe in God, believe also in me."19 We can believe in Jesus Christ because he is himself God, the Word made flesh: "No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known."20 Because he "has seen the Father", Jesus Christ is the only one who knows him and can reveal him.21

To believe in God alone

150 Faith is first of all a personal adherence of man to God. At the same time, and inseparably, it is a free assent to the whole truth that God has revealed. As personal adherence to God and assent to his truth, Christian faith differs from our faith in any human person. It is right and just to entrust oneself wholly to God and to believe absolutely what he says. It would be futile and false to place such faith in a creature.17

Mary - "Blessed is she who believed"

148 The Virgin Mary most perfectly embodies the obedience of faith. By faith Mary welcomes the tidings and promise brought by the angel Gabriel, believing that "with God nothing will be impossible" and so giving her assent: "Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be [done] to me according to your word."12 Elizabeth greeted her: "Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord."13 It is for this faith that all generations have called Mary blessed.14

149 Throughout her life and until her last ordeal15 when Jesus her son died on the cross, Mary's faith never wavered. She never ceased to believe in the fulfillment of God's word. And so the Church venerates in Mary the purest realization of faith.


reference: Catechism of the Holy Roman Catholic Church
http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p1s1c3a1.htm#I

Abraham - "father of all who believe"

145 The Letter to the Hebrews, in its great eulogy of the faith of Israel's ancestors, lays special emphasis on Abraham's faith: "By faith, Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place which he was to receive as an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was to go."4 By faith, he lived as a stranger and pilgrim in the promised land.5 By faith, Sarah was given to conceive the son of the promise. And by faith Abraham offered his only son in sacrifice.6

146 Abraham thus fulfills the definition of faith in Hebrews 11:1: "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen":7 "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness."8 Because he was "strong in his faith", Abraham became the "father of all who believe".9

147 The Old Testament is rich in witnesses to this faith. The Letter to the Hebrews proclaims its eulogy of the exemplary faith of the ancestors who "received divine approval".10 Yet "God had foreseen something better for us": the grace of believing in his Son Jesus, "the pioneer and perfecter of our faith".11


reference: Catechism of the Holy Roman Catholic Church