THE CREEDTHE CREED

CREDOCREDO

CREED:CREED:

– From the Latin: From the Latin: CREDO, CREDO, meaning meaning “I believe.”“I believe.”

– CredoCredo in Deum . . . in Deum . . . The The Apostles’ Apostles’

CreedCreed

– CredoCredo in unum in unum DeumDeum The Nicene CreedThe Nicene Creed

RELATED WORDS:RELATED WORDS:

CreditCredit:: To give credit to, put To give credit to, put faith faith in, in, believebelieve, trust (a statement, person, or , trust (a statement, person, or thing). thing).

CredenceCredence:: The mental action of The mental action of believingbelieving or accepting as true; belief. or accepting as true; belief.

CredibleCredible:: Capable of being Capable of being believedbelieved; ;

believable.believable.

CREED:CREED:

““A form of words A form of words setting forth setting forth authoritativelyauthoritatively and concisely the and concisely the general general beliefbelief of of the Christian the Christian Church.”Church.”

Creed:Creed:

Those articles of Those articles of beliefbelief which are which are regarded as regarded as essentialessential; a brief ; a brief summarysummary of of Christian Christian doctrine.doctrine.

The Creed as a The Creed as a RESPONSERESPONSE

We have to believe IN We have to believe IN something.something.

We have to have Faith We have to have Faith IN something.IN something.

The creed is our The creed is our responseresponse to what has to what has been revealed to us.been revealed to us.

– Mary Mary Responds: Responds: “Behold, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the I am the handmaid of the Lord”Lord”

John 9: 1-38: The blind John 9: 1-38: The blind man man responds.responds.

““Do you believe Do you believe in the Son of in the Son of Man? Man?

. . . He said, ‘I do . . . He said, ‘I do believe, Lord,’ believe, Lord,’ and he and he worshipped him.”worshipped him.”

God speaks to us:God speaks to us:

How do we How do we respondrespond to God’s Invitation, His to God’s Invitation, His Grace, and Revelation?Grace, and Revelation?

We profess our belief!We profess our belief!

Through CREATIONThrough CREATION Through the revelation Through the revelation

of SCRIPTUREof SCRIPTURE Through TRADITION – Through TRADITION –

the teaching authority the teaching authority of the Church.of the Church.

Our Response to GodOur Response to God

We respond with faith – an We respond with faith – an act of will that says act of will that says ““Credo . . . Credo . . . I believe.”I believe.”

We persevere in faith, even We persevere in faith, even when we doubt or do not when we doubt or do not understand.understand.

On the basis of faith, we On the basis of faith, we seekseek understanding. We understanding. We continue to experience continue to experience revelation. We continue to revelation. We continue to affirm our belief. affirm our belief.

Mark 9:21-24: Mark 9:21-24: Pray for a stronger Pray for a stronger faithfaith

““Jesus said to him, . . . Jesus said to him, . . . ‘Everything is ‘Everything is possible to one who possible to one who has faith.’ Then the has faith.’ Then the boy’s father cried boy’s father cried out, ‘out, ‘I do believe, I do believe, help my unbeliefhelp my unbelief!”!”

The “inThe “incredcredulity” of ulity” of Saint ThomasSaint Thomas

John 20:27-31: Thomas John 20:27-31: Thomas doubts, then believesdoubts, then believes

““Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put you finger here and see my you finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand hands, and bring your hand and put into my side, and and put into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but do not be unbelieving, but believebelieve.’ Thomas .’ Thomas answered and said to him, answered and said to him, ‘My Lord and my God.’”‘My Lord and my God.’”

““Blessed are those who Blessed are those who have not seen and have have not seen and have believed.”believed.”

BELIEVE:BELIEVE:

To have To have confidenceconfidence or or faithfaith in a person, and in a person, and consequently to rely consequently to rely upon, to upon, to trusttrust. .

To believe in To believe in a thinga thing, , e.g. the e.g. the truthtruth of a of a statement or statement or doctrine;doctrine;

To give To give credencecredence toto (a (a person, or his person, or his statement); to statement); to trusttrust

BELIEF:BELIEF:

Mental acceptance Mental acceptance of a proposition, of a proposition, statement, or fact, statement, or fact, as as truetrue, on the , on the ground of ground of authorityauthority or evidence; or evidence; assentassent of the mind to a of the mind to a statement, or to the statement, or to the truthtruth of a fact of a fact beyond beyond observation.observation.

FAITH:FAITH:

Belief proceeding from Belief proceeding from reliance on reliance on testimonytestimony or or authorityauthority. .

Belief in the truths of Belief in the truths of religion; belief in the religion; belief in the authenticity of divine authenticity of divine revelationrevelation (whether (whether viewed as contained in viewed as contained in Holy Holy ScriptureScripture or in the or in the teaching of the Churchteaching of the Church), ), and acceptance of the and acceptance of the revealed doctrines. revealed doctrines.    

““Profession of Faith”Profession of Faith”

PROFESS: PROFESS: To declare To declare openly, announce, affirm; openly, announce, affirm; to avow, acknowledge, to avow, acknowledge, confessconfess

PROFESSION: PROFESSION: Any solemn Any solemn declaration, promise, or declaration, promise, or vow.vow.

We say THIS is what is We say THIS is what is TRUE!TRUE!

OUR Professions of OUR Professions of FaithFaith The The Apostles’ Apostles’

CreedCreed: :

A faithful A faithful summary of what summary of what the Apostles the Apostles believed.believed.

The oldest creed.The oldest creed.

Apostles’ CreedApostles’ Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth.Creator of Heaven and Earth.I believe in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord.I believe in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord.He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.and born of the Virgin Mary.He suffered under Pontius Pilate, He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried.was crucified, died and was buried.He descended to the dead. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again.On the third day he rose again.He ascended into heaven and is seated He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.at the right hand of the Father.He will come again to judge the living and the He will come again to judge the living and the dead.dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church,Church,the Communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins,the Communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins,the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen.Amen.

OUR Professions of OUR Professions of FaithFaith

The The NiceneNicene Creed: Creed: From the ecumenical From the ecumenical councils of Nicea (in councils of Nicea (in 325 A.D.), and 325 A.D.), and Constantinople (381 Constantinople (381 A.D.).A.D.).– The common creed of The common creed of

Christian churches in Christian churches in the east and the west.the east and the west.

The Nicene CreedThe Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. We believe heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in being with the God from true God, begotten, not made, one in being with the Father. Through Him all things were made. For us men and our Father. Through Him all things were made. For us men and our salvation He came down from heaven: by the power of the salvation He came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit, He was born of the Virgin Mary , and became man. Holy Spirit, He was born of the Virgin Mary , and became man. For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day He rose again suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day He rose again in fulfillment of the scriptures: He ascended into heaven and is in fulfillment of the scriptures: He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in 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 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 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 of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son, He is worshiped and glorified. He has Father and the Son, He is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one, holy, spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism catholic, and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen. dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

The Three parts of the The Three parts of the Creed.Creed.

Pt. I: Pt. I: God the Father:God the Father:

““I believe in God the I believe in God the Father Almighty, Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Creator of Heaven and Earth.”Earth.”

Pt. 2: God the SonPt. 2: God the Son

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

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

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

He descended to the dead. He descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again.On the third day he rose again.

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

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

Part 3: God The Holy Part 3: God The Holy Spirit, & the Work of the Spirit, & the Work of the Spirit.Spirit.

““I believe in the Holy Spirit, I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the Holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints, the Communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins,the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen.”and life everlasting. Amen.”

Catechism: We become Catechism: We become a a CommunityCommunity of of BelieversBelievers

““Whoever says ‘I believe’ Whoever says ‘I believe’ says ‘I pledge myself to says ‘I pledge myself to what what wewe believe.” believe.” Communion in faith needs Communion in faith needs a common language of a common language of faith.”faith.”

The creeds “summarize The creeds “summarize the faith that Christians the faith that Christians profess.”profess.”

Creed & Catholic Creed & Catholic IdentityIdentity

So we SHARE in So we SHARE in the belief of the the belief of the apostles, and apostles, and share the same share the same faith with all faith with all the other the other Christians Christians through the through the ages . . . ages . . .

. . . and around the . . . and around the world.world.

The faith is passed down The faith is passed down to to youyou. You are now . You are now called.called. ““But how can they call on him in But how can they call on him in

whom they have not believed? And whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in him of how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without how can they hear without someone to preach? And how can someone to preach? And how can people preach unless they are people preach unless they are sent?” -- sent?” -- St. Paul to the Romans, St. Paul to the Romans, 10:14-1510:14-15

Called to be True Called to be True WitnessesWitnesses of the Faith in of the Faith in Confirmation.Confirmation. Catechism:Catechism: “By the sacrament of “By the sacrament of

Confirmation, the baptized are Confirmation, the baptized are more perfectly bound to the Church more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as they are, as true witnesses of true witnesses of ChristChrist, more strictly obliged to , more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faithspread and defend the faith by by word and deed.” (1285). word and deed.” (1285).

The Freedom of FaithThe Freedom of Faith

CatechismCatechism: :

“ “To be human, man’s To be human, man’s responseresponse to God by to God by faith must be free, faith must be free, and . . . Therefore and . . . Therefore nobody is to be forced nobody is to be forced to embrace the faith to embrace the faith against his will. The against his will. The act of faithact of faith is of its very is of its very nature a free act.”nature a free act.”