CREED

Credo: Latin for "I believe." The Nicene Creed is an integral part of the Mass, and serves as a “mini-
catechism" of our beliefs. But what exactly is a "creed" and why is it so important to our Faith?

Development of the Creed

† After Jesus ascended into heaven, the deposit of faith was left in the hands of the apostles to be
handed on to other believers.

+ The Deposit of Faith is the body of saving truth or the entirety of Jesus Christ's revelation
entrusted by Him to the Apostles and handed on by them to be preserved and proclaimed.

† As Christianity spread, this "rule of faith" or standard of teaching ensured that the preaching and
teaching being heard was an authentic expression of the deposit of faith.

† Also, the need was felt to have summaries of Christian beliefs to be "confessed" or professed by
Converts or the Faithful.

† Soon, the deposit of faith was expressed in a collection of short formula expressions called a
creed.

† The word "CREED" comes from the Latin word "Credo" which means "I believe"

CCC 187 Such syntheses are called “professions of faith” since they summarize the faith that
Christians profess. They are called “creeds” on account of what is usually their first word in Latin:
credo (“I believe”). They are also called “symbols of faith”.

†The faith could be easily committed to memory and passed on orally to the next generation.

The Deposit of Faith is the body of saving truth entrusted by Christ to the Apostles and handed on
by them to be preserved and proclaimed. Jesus ordered them to teach the nations "everything I have
commanded you" and assured them "know that I am with you always, until the end of the world." (Mt
28:18-20).

† There were various creeds that emerged and developed over time.

† As the Church faced misunderstandings, dissensions and threats, it became necessary to respond
with ever-clearer teaching.

+ The creeds help to clarify orthodox teaching and combat against heresies or "false gospels".

† The creeds express in a summarized way, the truths of the faith.

† The two well known creeds are

1. The Apostles' Creed

2. The Nicene Creed

†The Apostles' Creed

- The name of the Creed comes from the probably fifth-century legend that, under the inspiration of
the Holy Spirit after Pentecost, each of the Twelve Apostles dictated part of it.

- traditionally divided into twelve (12) articles, thus symbolizing the fullness of the apostolic faith by
the number of the apostles (12).

Apostles' Creed
•The first part deals with God the Father and creation. (article 1)

1. I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

•The second part deals with God the Son and our redemption. (articles 2 to 7)

2. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

3. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.

4. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.

5. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again.

6. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

7. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

•The third part deals with God the Holy Spirit and our sanctification. (articles 8 to 12)

8. I believe in the Holy Spirit,

9. the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,

10. the forgiveness of sins,

11. the resurrection of the body,

12. and life everlasting.

†The Nicene Creed

- is significantly longer than the Apostles' creed and more detailed.

- professed during mass after the homily.

- is based upon the faith expressed at the first two ecumenical councils of the Church: the fourth-
century Councils of Nicaea (325) and
Constantinople (381).

Four Marks of the Church

One, holy, catholic, and apostolic

•The Church is One (Unity)
•The Church is Holy (Sanctity)
Holy means "set apart", special, divine

• Dedicated or consecrated to God or a religious purpose Sacred, sanctified, God-like, from God, with God

God is its founder - its core and structure are perfect

Throughout the Church's history, Catholics have sinned

• We are all human, subject to temptation, and we all sin

Individuals' imperfections, mistakes, & faults happen

• This is not an argument against the Church's holiness

• One bad apple does not mean all apples are bad

•The Church is catholic (universal)

•The Church is apostolic (continuity)

Origin of the Church traces back to the Apostles

• 12 men personally chosen by Jesus to start the Church

Apostle means "sent"

They were sent to preach the Good News (gospel)

Every ordained deacon, priest, or bishop can trace his orders back to one of the twelve apostles

• We are also sent - we all have a vocation and a mission

Our mission is to Love, Teach, Heal

† A creed is not the totality of Christian faith.

† It is a summary that stands for everything that is taught by the Catholic Church.
† A creed is a symbol of something larger and, ultimately, of Someone.

+ The CCC, #170 says that our faith does not rest ultimately in formulas, but in the realities
expressed by those formulas, which faith allows us to touch.

Our object is not a proposition, but a

Person.

†The Creed is used at Baptism, as a declaration of faith.

Rite of Baptism

An interrogative form of the Apostles' Creed is used in the Rite of Baptism (for both children and
adults). The minister of baptism asks the following questions (ICEL, 1974):

•Do you believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth?

Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, was
crucified, died, and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the
Father?

Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness
of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?

To each question, the catechumen, or, in the case of an infant, the parents and sponsor(s)
(godparent(s)) in his or her place, answers "I do."

Then the celebrant says:

This is our faith. This is the faith of the Church. We are proud to profess it, in Christ Jesus our Lord.

And all respond: Amen

Every time we pray this Creed, we not only state the basis of our faith, we unite ourselves with the
entire Church. We also renew to ourselves and to God our baptismal promises. The Nicene. Creed
is both ancient and new. This creed reminds us, and all the Church, of what we believe. We join our
"I believe" with the voices of all the faithful around the world in prayer.

I believe in one God, the Father almighty,

maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all
ages.. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made,
consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became
man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,

he suffered death and was buried,

and rose again on the third day

in accordance with the Scriptures.. He ascended into 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..

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the

Lord, the giver of life,

the Son.

who proceeds from the Father and who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has
spoken through the

prophets.

I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the

forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the

resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.

Amen.

https://www.catholicfaithandreason.org/the-deposit-of-faith-and-the-holy-spirit-of-god.html