The Creed
What is a Creed?
A creed is a statement of belief. By saying "I believe" or "We believe" Catholics affirm the divine truths which God has revealed in Sacred Scripture and the continuing Tradition. Although creeds may not fully encapsulate the faith, they do offer us something of a condensed summary.
The Apostles Creed
The faith handed down from the Apostles is summarised in the Apostles' Creed. It is frequently prayed as a part of a person's daily routine, such as the opening of the Divine Mercy Chaplet or the Rosary.
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I believe in God,
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the Father almighty,
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Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended into hell;
on the third day he rose again from the dead;
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he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I 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. Amen.
The Nicene Creed
The ecumenical councils of Nicaea (AD325) and Constantinople (AD381) produced the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed, also known as the Nicene Creed. It is repeated during Mass, though occasionally the Apostles' Creed is substituted, for instance during Lent.
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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,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
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.
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