Q & A Catechism > The Creed – Part 1 – What Do We Believe?

Q: What do we believe?
A: Over the next few months, I would like to do a series on the Creed. The word, “creed” comes from the

Latin, Credo, “I believe,” and is also known as “The Profession of Faith.” The Catholic Church believes in Scripture, in many doctrines, dogmas, and faith principles, as well as in this penitential season of Lent, which includes receiving ashes on our foreheads, practicing fasting, abstinence from meat on Fridays, going to confession, and attending the Stations of the Cross. But the most important tenets of our faith and our belief in God can be summed up not in one but two creeds: The Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed.

What is The Apostles Creed? It is what it says it is and means, the creed of the apostles. This creed is a set of beliefs formulated by the apostles and was the foundation for the second creed that will be described shortly. Catechism #194 states: “The Apostles’ Creed is so called 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’” (St. Ambrose, Expl. symb. 7: PL 17,1196.).

While the shorter, more general, Apostles Creed is prayed at the beginning of the rosary, it can also be substituted as the creed to be professed at Mass during Lent and Easter. Which creed does it substitute? The answer is the longer, more specific, Nicene Creed, which is recited at Sunday Mass and on other solemnities in the Church. Catechism #195 states: “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 A.D.). It remains common to all the great Churches of both East and West to this day.” One important reason why the Nicene Creed was formulated and why the first Ecumenical Council in the Catholic Church took place in Nicea (modern-day Turkey) in 325 A.D. was in response to a heresy by 4th century priest named Arius from Alexandra, Egypt who denied the divinity of Jesus. But we are taught that Jesus is both human and divine, fully God and fully man, two natures (human and divine) in the one person of Jesus Christ, a term known as the hypostatic union.

Below are the two acceptable creeds in union with each other that Catholics believe which can be found in most hymnal books at Catholic Churches in our pews. Please follow along if needed and proclaim it with bold faith!

Apostles Creed: I believe in God the Father almighty, 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 to hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; 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.

Nicene Creed: 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.

Author: Fr. Jeff Allan

Biography - Fr. Jeff Allan, was ordained a Catholic priest on June 7th, 2014 for the Archdiocese of Detroit (AOD). He graduated from Adrian College in 2001 with a degree in Business Administration and a minor in Criminal Justice. After working in the pharmaceutical sales industry for almost three years, he felt called to discern the priesthood. Before being ordained a priest, Fr. Jeff was blessed to receive three degrees from Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. They include a Bachelor of Philosophy, Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology (STB), and a Master of Divinity (Theology). His assignments in the U.S. have included serving at multiple parishes in the Archdiocese of Detroit as an associate pastor and currently as a weekend assistant. Fr. Jeff is certified as a hospital chaplain through ACPE (Association for Clinical Pastoral Education). He has had the opportunity of serving at three Metro-Detroit Area Hospitals since 2017 where he serves in full-time ministry as a Catholic Priest and Hospital Chaplain. View all posts by Fr. Jeff Allan