Doctrinal Catechesis Session CATECHESIS ON THE NICENE CREED

For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered, died, and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in fulfillment of 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.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified.
He has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Refer to CCC: 198-231; 430-455; 456-483;571-594;631-637;659-667;668-682; 687-747;748-
780 USCCA: 45-47, 50-63.
THE NICENE CREED
The catechism of the Catholic Church, #193, tells us that there are two Creeds
that hold a special place in the Church’s life. One is called the Apostles Creed
and the other is called the Nicene Creed. The Apostles Creed is described as a
summary of the apostle’s faith. Early Christians had to confess this faith if they
were to be baptized a Christian.
The second creed, the Nicene Creed receives its authority from its origin in the
first two ecumenical councils in 325 and 381 AD.
The Nicene Creed was first formulated at the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. and
was accepted as the absolute expression of faith at the Council of Constantinople
in 381.
© Mary Birmingham 2010. All rights reserved.
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