December 11, 2022, 12:00 PM
Creed comes from the Latin word Credo, which means “I believe.” We pray the Apostles’ Creed as part of the Rosary and the Nicene Creed at every Solemnity. Why the difference? The Apostles’ Creed is a summary of the Apostles’ faith. The Niceno-Constantinopolitan, or Nicene Creed, draws its authority from the ecumenical Councils in 325 and 381.
The Church prayed the Apostles’ Creed for the first 300 years. As a result of the widespread Arian Heresy, which denied the Divinity of Christ, the Church convened an ecumenical Council in Nicaea in 325. The Council condemned the Heresy. It added seven statements to the Apostles’ Creed’s phrase, “I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord’ to help us better understand who Jesus is. He is “eternally begotten of the Father; God from God; Light from Light; true God from true God; begotten, not made; One in being with the Father; and through Him all things were made.”
The Church prayed the Apostles’ Creed for the first 300 years. As a result of the widespread Arian Heresy, which denied the Divinity of Christ, the Church convened an ecumenical Council in Nicaea in 325. The Council condemned the Heresy. It added seven statements to the Apostles’ Creed’s phrase, “I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord’ to help us better understand who Jesus is. He is “eternally begotten of the Father; God from God; Light from Light; true God from true God; begotten, not made; One in being with the Father; and through Him all things were made.”
As a result of the Church’s struggle understanding the Holy Spirit, the Council of Constantinople convened in 381. The Church expanded the Apostles’ Creed statement, “I believe in the Holy Spirit.” The Council added four phrases to help us better understand who the Holy Spirit is: the Lord, the giver of life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; with the Father and Son He is worshiped and glorified; and He has spoken through the prophets. The Council also added, “one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church” to the Creed. These “marks” of the Church indicate essential features of the Church and Her mission.
We end with “Amen.” In Hebrew, Amen comes from the same root as “believe.” By ending the Creed with “Amen,” we restate, repeat, and confirm the first word, “Credo,” “I believe.” Now you know!
