THE APOSTLES AND NICENE CREEDS WHAT ARE CREEDS

THE APOSTLES’ AND NICENE CREEDS

WHAT ARE CREEDS? Statements of faith Judaism had the Shema (Deut 6: 4 -5) Hear, O Israel: The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. No strong equivalent in pagan religions– belief in gods, not commandments

CREEDS IN EARLY CHRISTIANITY Statements of faith – summary, not the totality • “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” Mt 16: 16 • “I believe…” – Latin word Credo • Apostles’ Creed Nicene Creed Developed out of controversies • Different statements of faith – need for clarity • The message/content of evangelization • Part of baptism, send on mission

HOW DID OUR CREED DEVELOP? • Heresies • Less ambiguities, brought in Greek philosophy • Simple -> complex • In the liturgy – reaffirms what we believe before we enter into the Eucharistic mystery • Structure of our Catechism

SHHH…THAT’S JUST FOR US There was a great deal of secrecy in the early church about the creed . It was handed on orally, just before Baptism - the catechumens would ‘hand it back’ at their Baptism • Began to make it’s way into the Liturgy, especially the Good Friday liturgy • ~7 th century, started to be required at every Liturgy • Need for unity, renewal of the oath that “binds the believer to Christ” .

FROM THE CATECHISM Whoever says "I believe" says "I pledge myself to what we believe. " Communion in faith needs a common language of faith, normative for all and uniting all in the same confession of faith. (185) To say the Credo with faith is to enter into communion with God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and also with the whole Church which transmits the faith to us and in whose midst we believe: (197) This Creed is the spiritual seal, our heart's meditation and an ever-present guardian; it is, unquestionably, the treasure of our soul. (St. Ambrose)

THE CREED AND THE LITURGY The Creed reaffirms what we believe before we enter into the Eucharistic mystery The Mass … • is a life-changing even that makes present the One Sacrifice of Christ the Savior which completes and surpasses all Old Covenants. • reenacts- the New and Eternal Covenant- demonstrated in God’s willingness to enter into a covenant with us in Christ. • calls us to renew the way of life we chose in Baptism: a call to trust God who has given us His unconditional love. God calls us to reciprocate His trust, live with a radical trust to live without fear.

THE CREED AND THE LITURGY We are called individually and as community to set aside our doubts and affirming a trusting relationship: • In God the Father who created us • In Jesus who redeems us through His suffering, death and resurrection • In The Holy Spirit who gives us life and teaches us to trust • We affirm our trust in the relationship we have in the Church, the people of God – the Body of Christ

APOSTLES’ CREED • A legend claimed that each of the 12 articles was written by of the 12 Apostles. For example, Rufinus of Aquileia (345 -411) Wrote: “So they (i. e, that is the Apostles) met together in one spot, and being filled with the Holy Spirit, compiled this brief token…. Each making the contribution he thought fit; and they decreed that it should be handed out as standard teaching to believers” Despite its title, there is no evidence the Apostles’ Creed was actually written by the Apostles, and the legend was largely abandoned by scholars by the time of the Renaissance.

APOSTLES’ CREED Developed in the last half of the 2 nd century, one of the earliest summaries of the faith Considered to be a faithful summary of the apostles' faith. It is the ancient baptismal symbol of the Church of Rome - "the oldest Roman catechism“ (CCC 196) Answers the questions: • • Who is God? Who is Jesus? Who is the Church? What is salvation? What you believe matters

DISCUSSION • “Our faith is truly personal if it is also communal” Discuss • What does it mean to say a moral life of a Catholic is grafted on the Apostles’ Creed? • How would the Catholic Church operate if it didn’t have the Apostles’ Creed? • To pray the Creed at Mass is to proclaim a relationship. Discuss

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 into Hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into Heaven, and sits at the right hand of God, the Father almighty; from thence He shall 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.

APOSTLES’ CREED I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth: • God is one, the only one • God is Father, origin of everything + parental care • He created all things, therefore He is outside of creation itself • He created Heaven and earth, therefore it is good This is the primary statement of faith in the Creed, everythinges on this belief.

APOSTLES’ CREED …and in Jesus Christ, His only Son Our Lord: • ‘Jesus’ means “God saves” in Hebrew; invoke His name for salvation • ‘Christ’ is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word for ‘Messiah’ • God’s fatherhood is more than creator/parental to creation, He is Father eternally to His only Son • The Sonship of Jesus is particular to Him, different from previous uses • Lord indicates divine sovereignty and the same substance as the Father

APOSTLES’ CREED …Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary: • The mission of the Holy Spirit ordered and joined to that of the Son • He sanctifies the womb of Mary for The Word to take on flesh • What the Church teaches about Mary points to the teachings on Christ • Jesus is a real person, He was born • Mary was the virgin of prophecy, therefore Jesus is the The Christ • The spousal character of the human vocation in relation to God is fulfilled perfectly in Mary’s virginal motherhood (CCC 505) • Virginity is transformed – no longer shameful

APOSTLES’ CREED …suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried: • The narrative can be placed at a specific, historical time, not a vague ‘long time ago’ • The Word became flesh and dwelt with sinners and with saints • No focus on Jesus’ teachings, miracles, etc. – entirely on His mission Suffering – Crucifixion -- Death • He was truly dead, buried

APOSTLES’ CREED …He descended into Hell; the third day He rose again from the dead: • ‘descended into Hell’ – brought Salvation to the righteous who died before • He experienced death like all men • By dying, He brought salvation and conquered death • He’s alive – He’s no longer dead! Definitely not a ghost

APOSTLES’ CREED …He ascended into Heaven, and sits at the right hand of God, the Father almighty: • Jesus’ humanity enters into God’s heavenly domain • Opportunity for all people to participate in the upward movement to glory • ‘right hand’ means the power to govern (ordering all creation) • “the inauguration of the Messiah's kingdom, the fulfillment of the prophet Daniel's vision” (CCC 664)

APOSTLES’ CREED …from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead: • He is the Lord of all things and will pass judgement on all things, especially on The Last Day • Everyone is answerable to Him … I believe in the Holy Spirit: • God is a Trinity, : Father Son and Spirit are one, distinct and inseparable • “God the Father bestowing on us regeneration through His Son by the Holy Spirit” (St. Irenaeus) • Romans 8: 11 • More is said in the Nicene creed…

APOSTLES’ CREED …the holy Catholic Church: No accident this follows the statement about the Holy Spirit – The Church is the place “where the Spirit flourishes” • Jesus endowed His community with a structure • The Church is the means and the goal of God’s plan (CCC 778) • Christ sanctifies the Church, making her holy • ‘Catholic’ means ‘universal’ or ‘in keeping with the whole’ • Jesus is present in her, so she has the ‘fullness’ He provides • She is sent on mission by Jesus, called to bring all men into her fold – no limits on geography, political, language separations

APOSTLES’ CREED …the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. • Communion saints is the communion of holy goods and holy persons • Shared faith, sacraments, charisms, charity • The three states of the Church – Militant, Suffering, Triumphant • Forgiveness of sins linked to the Holy Spirit, Church and communion of saints • The Church was given the power to forgive sins; the first gift after the resurrection • The previous statements lead to the belief in the resurrection of the dead on the last day • All people will have physical bodies to live in eternity, glorified • Good and bad – so evangelize!

DISCUSSION What does it mean to you personally when you say, or rather profess: • I believe in the Holy Spirit the giver of life? • I believe in One Holy Catholic Church? • I believe in the resurrection of the body and life everlasting? • What do we understand when we say Jesus descended into?

QUESTIONS?