Faith and Apostles' Creed
What is Faith?
Faith is a gift from God and a supernatural light that enlightens man and makes him firmly adhere to all the truths that God has revealed and proposes for us to believe through His Church, whether they are contained in Holy Scripture or in tradition.
What is the summary of faith and the essence of all that we must believe?
The summary of faith is contained in the Apostles’ Creed, which is divided into twelve articles.
What are these twelve articles?
They are as follows:
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;
Descended into hell, on the third day rose again from the dead;
Ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty;
From there 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. Amen.
What does the first article of the Creed mean: I believe in God, the Father Almighty?
The first article of the Creed, I believe in God, the Father Almighty, reveals to us the first person of the Holy Trinity, the eternal and heavenly Father, for whom nothing is impossible or difficult, who created heaven and earth from nothing, along with all visible and invisible beings, and who preserves and governs them with infinite goodness and wisdom.
What does the second article mean: And in Jesus Christ, His only Son?
The second article of the Creed, And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, reveals to us the second person of the Holy Trinity, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God by nature, begotten from all eternity, consubstantial with the Father, our Lord and Redeemer, who has delivered us from perdition.
What does the third article mean: Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary?
The third article of the Creed, Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, reveals to us the mystery of the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. It teaches us how the Son of God, descending from heaven, took on our nature in a unique way, being conceived solely by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the most pure Virgin Mary.
What does the fourth article mean: Suffered under Pontius Pilate?
The fourth article of the Creed, Suffered under Pontius Pilate, reveals to us the mystery of the Redemption of man. It teaches us how this true Son of God truly suffered the cruelest torments and death in His humanity to redeem us and all sinners. Although He was the spotless Lamb, He was crucified under Pontius Pilate, the governor of Judea, died on the cross, and was buried.
What does the fifth article mean: Descended into hell, and on the third day rose again from the dead?
The fifth article of the Creed, Descended into hell, and on the third day rose again from the dead, reveals to us the mystery of Christ’s Resurrection. It teaches us how His soul, after descending into the limbo of the just to deliver them, reunited with His body, and on the third day after His death, He rose again by His own power.
What does the sixth article mean: Ascended into heaven?
The sixth article of the Creed, Ascended into heaven, reminds us of the glorious mystery of Christ’s Ascension. After completing the work of our redemption, He passed from this world to His Father, and by His power, He ascended triumphantly into heaven, where He was placed in the same glory as His Father, above all creatures.
What does the seventh article mean: From there He shall come to judge the living and the dead?
The seventh article of the Creed, From there He shall come to judge the living and the dead, announces to us the Last Judgment, where Jesus Christ, appearing in our human nature, will descend from heaven once again to judge all men, good and evil, rendering to each according to their works.
What does the eighth article mean: I believe in the Holy Spirit?
The eighth article of the Creed, I believe in the Holy Spirit, reveals to us the third person of the Holy Trinity, the Holy Spirit, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, is truly one and the same eternal God with them, reigns with the Father and the Son, and shares the same adoration and glory.
What does the ninth article mean: The Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints?
The ninth article of the Creed, The Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, teaches us four truths: the unity, holiness, catholicity of the Church, and the communion of saints.
The unity of the Church: unity in spirit in Jesus Christ, unity of belief and doctrine on faith and sacraments, unity under a supreme head, as the universal Church is governed by the Pope, who is the Vicar of Christ and the successor of Saint Peter.
The holiness of the Church: holiness that comes from Jesus Christ, its head and bride, to whom it is united through faith and sacraments, and from the Holy Spirit who continually guides it.
The catholicity or universality of the Church: because it is spread throughout the entire world and includes all the faithful of all times.
Finally, the communion of saints, which exists within this Church, not only among the faithful still journeying on earth but also between the living and those who, having left this mortal body, reign in heaven or are being purified in purgatory. All, as members of one body, help one another through prayers, merits, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and the sacraments of the Church.
What does the tenth article mean: The forgiveness of sins?
The tenth article of the Creed, The forgiveness of sins, teaches us that God’s grace is offered to all sinners so that no one should despair of the forgiveness of their sins, provided they remain in the Catholic Church and approach the sacraments with the necessary dispositions.
What does the eleventh article mean: The resurrection of the body?
The eleventh article of the Creed, The resurrection of the body, teaches us that all the dead will be called back to life and confirms the announcement of the Last Judgment. We will all rise in the same body and appear before the tribunal of Christ to receive the reward for the good or evil we have done in this life.
What does the twelfth and final article mean: Life everlasting?
The twelfth article of the Creed, Life everlasting, teaches us that the reward for faith and Christian virtue will be blessed immortality. It assures us that after this life, there will be another, entirely different, free from trouble, happy and eternal, prepared for those who believe in Jesus Christ and obey Him.
What is the summary of all the articles of the Creed?
I believe in my heart and confess with my mouth God, the sovereign Lord of all things, whose greatness, wisdom, and goodness surpass all understanding.
I believe and confess one divine essence or nature; and three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, who share the same substance and are truly one and the same eternal, infinite, and incomprehensible God.
The Father is the Creator of all things, the Son is the Redeemer of men, and the Holy Spirit is the Sanctifier of Christ’s Church, that is, the faithful whom He guides.
To these three persons of the Holy Trinity correspond the three main parts of the Creed: the first, about creation, is attributed to the Father; the second, about redemption, to the Son; and the third, about sanctification, to the Holy Spirit.