If I did not believe, if I did not make what is called an act of faith,

if I did not have faith that the works of mercy

do lighten the sum total of suffering in the world,

so that those who are suffering in this ghastly struggle somehow mysteriously

find their pain lifted and some balm of consolation poured on their wounds,

if I did not believe in these things,

the problem of evil would indeed be overwhelming.

Dorothy Day