The Creeds
The Celtic Catholic Church uses three Creeds (brief statements of faith) in her
worship and doctrine. These are the Nicene Creed, the Apostles' Creed, and the
Athanasian Creed. (You might also be interested in seeing our
Statement of Belief.)
The Apostles' CreedThe Apostles' Creed is the ancient baptismal creed of the Church, and as such is seen as the basic statement of Christian belief. In the Celtic Catholic Church it is used at Baptism and each day at Morning Prayer. According to ancient legend, it was written by the Apostles themselves, each one contributing one of its twelve clauses. 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. |
The Nicene Creed
The Nicene Creed is perhaps the most well-known of the three. It is the one used during the Liturgy of the Eucharist by Celtic Catholics, Roman Catholics, Orthodox, and others. It was created by the Ecumenical Council of Nicea in A.D. 325 and further developed by the Council of Constantinople in A.D. 381. It was written to combat heresy, especially Arianism, which denied the true divinity of Jesus Christ. Its similarity to the Apostles' Creed is obvious.
We believe in one God,the Father Almighty,
maker of Heaven and Earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from Heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with 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.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped 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 sin,
we look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
The Athanasian CreedThe Athanasian Creed, also called after its opening words in Latin, Quicunque vult, was apparently not really written by the great theologian saint Athanasius, but does effectively express the orthodox theology he so vehemently defended. It does not have anywhere near the wide use of the other two, and has never been officially used by the Orthodox, but in the Celtic Catholic Church we recite it in place of the Nicene Creed at the Eucharist on twelve certain days of the year, especially on Trinity Sunday, Christmas morning, and Easter morning. It is one of the best statements of the nature of the Trinity, respectful of the mystery, that you will find. (There is also a version with more modern wording.) Please note: The imprecations attached to the creed, shown in italics, are not actually a part of the "catholic faith" the creed talks about, but are a part of the text of the creed itself. Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic Faith.Which faith except everyone do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly. And the Catholic Faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity, neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Substance. For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Spirit. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, is all one, the Glory equal, the Majesty co-eternal. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Spirit. The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate, and the Holy Spirit uncreate. The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Spirit incomprehensible. The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Spirit eternal. And yet they are not three eternals, but one eternal. As also there are not three incomprehensibles, nor three uncreated, but one uncreated, and one incomprehensible. So likewise the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty, and the Holy Spirit Almighty. And yet they are not three Almighties, but one Almighty. So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. And yet they are not three God, but one God. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Spirit Lord. And yet not three Lords, but one Lord. For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by himself to be both God and Lord, so are we forbidden by the Catholic Religion, to say, There be three Gods, or three Lords. The Father is made of none, neither created, nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone, not made, nor created, but begotten. The Holy Spirit is of the Father, neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Spirit, not three Holy Spirits. And in this Trinity none is before, or after another; none is greater, or less than another; So that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped. He therefore that will be saved must thus think of the Trinity. Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also believe rightly the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the right Faith is, that we believe and confess, that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Human; God, of the Substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds; and Human, of the Substance of his Mother, born in the world; Perfect God and perfect Human, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting; Equal to the Father, as touching his Godhead; and inferior to the Father, as touching his Humanity. Who although he be God and Human, yet he is not two, but one Christ; One, not be conversion of the Godhead into flesh, but by taking of the Humanity into God; One altogether; not by confusion of Substance, but by unity of person. For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one human, so God and Human is one Christ; Who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead. He ascended into heaven, he sits at the right hands of the Father, God Almighty, from whence he shall come to judge the living and the dead. At whose coming all persons shall rise again with their bodies and shall give account for their own works. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting; and they that have done evil into everlasting fire. This is the Catholic Faith, which except a person believe faithfully, he cannot be saved. |