Introduction to Creed

Reinhurt Pope Cartagena

Objectives:
• At the end of the lesson, the students can:
• D: compare and contrast the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed
through Venn Diagram;
• M: cite concrete example of the function of Christian Creed in our
life in terms of relationship with God, others and self; and
• W: profess prayerfully the Christian Creed by reciting the Renewal
of Baptismal Promises
• Are you familiar with the word
Creed or Credo? What do you
know about it? Why do we need
a creed in our life? According to
oxford dictionary, a credo is a
noun which is a statement of the
beliefs or aims which guide
someone's actions.
CREED (CFC 223-227)
• The Creed communicates the essence of our faith.
Its formation was fuelled by the love of God,
despite periods of debate.
• Creeds are "Professions of faith" which summarize
the faith that Christians profess. The word
“creed” comes from the Latin word credo (“I
believe”). They are also called "symbols of faith".
(CCC 187)
• The first "profession of faith" is made during Baptism. The symbol
of faith is first and foremost the baptismal creed. Since Bapt ism is
given "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit",3 the truths of faith professed during Baptism are articulated
in terms of their reference to the three persons of the Holy Trinity.
(CCC 189)
• Among all the creeds, two principal Catholic Creeds occupy a
special place in the Church's life: The Apostles’ Creed and the
Nicene Creed
Two kinds of Creed
1. The Apostles’ Creed
• It is a profession of faith. It is a summary of all our beliefs.
It is called the Apostles’ Creed, not because it was written
by the Apostles, but because it is faithful to their teachings
as taught to them by Jesus Christ. It was written more
than 1600 year ago. It is one of the four pillars of the
Church. The Apostles’ Creed is recited at the beginning of
the Rosary. It is still used in the form of questions in our
Baptismal ceremony and when we renew our Baptismal
vows on Easter Sunday.
Two kinds of Creed
1. The Apostles’ Creed
• It is called “The Apostles' Creed”because it is rightly
considered to be a faithful summary of the apostles' faith.
It is the ancient baptismal symbol of the Church of Rome.
Its great authority arises from this fact: it is "the Creed of
the Roman Church, the See of Peter the first of the
apostles, to which he brought the common faith". (CCC
194)
Two kinds of Creed
2. The Nicene Creed
• The Nicene Creed was written later to address heresies about
Jesus and expand on some of the original statements of the
Apostles’ Creed.
• The Nicene Creed is recited at each Sunday Mass, after the
priest gives a homily, we stand together and "profess our
faith", that is, recite a summary of the most important beliefs
we as members of the Church. The profession of faith we
make is usually the Nicene Creed. This Creed was composed
as a result of two great councils of bishops, held in the cities
of Nicea and Constantinople in the fourth century.
Two kinds of Creed
2. The Nicene Creed
• The Niceno-Constantinopolitan or Nicene Creed draws its
great authority from the fact that it stems from the first
two ecumenical Councils (in 325 and 381). It remains
common to all the great Churches of both East and West
to this day. (CCC 195)
Two kinds of Creed
2. The Nicene Creed
• Our presentation of the faith will follow the Apostles'
Creed, which constitutes, as it were, "the oldest Roman
catechism". The presentation will be completed however
by constant references to the Nicene Creed, which is often
more explicit and more detailed. (CCC 196)
FUNCTIONS OF THE CREED
2. The Nicene Creed
• Through the centuries the Creed has served the Church
and individual Catholic believers in many different ways.
Three functions have been especially valuable: 1) as a
summary of Catholic beliefs; 2) as a pledge of loyalty to
God and Church; and 3) as a proclamation of self-
identity. Each of these main functions covers a number
of particular roles which the Creed has played in
Christian tradition. (CFC 232-239)
FUNCTIONS OF THE CREED
• What does the Creed do for our life of faith? The Creed acts
like a skeleton supplying the framework and support
needed for living and growing (maturing) in our Catholic
Faith.
FUNCTIONS OF THE CREED
• What are the principal functions of the Creed?
The Creed functions in three principal ways:
• as a summary of Catholic truths needed to communicate
and instruct in the Gospel;
• as profession of loyalty to God and to the Church; and
• as a declaration of our own self-identity as disciples of
Christ, reborn in his Spirit within his body, the Church.
FUNCTIONS OF THE CREED
• How does the Creed foster Christian living?
The Creed provides the basic doctrinal ground for
authentic Christian living. This includes:
• our loving service of one another in building up the local
Christian community, and
• our sacramental worship of God in Spirit and truth.
Assignment:
• Search for the 12 articles of the Apostles Creed.
• Printed