Apostles Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again 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 the life everlasting. Amen.

Explanation of the Apostles' Creed

The "Apostles' Creed" is a compendium, a collection of our Catholic faith, a formula which contains the most important truths of our Church's doctrine.

It is called a "Creed" from its first word - in Latin, "Credo," I believe. Why do we call it the "Apostles'" Creed? Because throughout the Middle Ages there was a widespread belief that the Apostles composed it on the day of Pentecost. An ancient legend, dating back to the sixth century and perhaps further, tells us that when the Apostles were assembled at Jerusalem and had just received the Holy Spirit in the form of tongues of fire, each of them, inspired by the Spirit of God, contributed one of the articles of the Creed. According to the story, when the Holy Spirit had filled the souls of the Apostles with knowledge and zeal, St. Peter arose and cried out, "I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth." St. ANdrew continued, "And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord." St. James added, "Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit," etc. And so on for the others. But, there is no allusion to this story in the Scriptural account of the events of Pentecost.

The Apostles' Creed is, very likely, an amplified form of the "profession of faith" required in the early centuries from converts. In Apostolic times, as at the present day, those who desired Baptism were obliged to make a statement of their belief; and it is probable that the Creed was brought to its present form gradually, being developed from the declaration exacted from those converted to the faith.

The Apostles' Creed comes from very early in Church history, perhaps the first century. By the fourth century, much more of that revelation had been digested and become better understood resulting in the Nicene Creed that we now use at Mass. Even this articulation of the faith is an incomplete summary of all that we believe.