The following are the Creeds we adhere to.
[Apostle's Creed] [Creed
of the Divine Trinity] [Nicene Creed] [Athanasian
Creed] [Profession of Catholic Faith]
Apostle's Creed
I believe in God,
The Father Almighty,
Creator of Heaven and Earth;
And in Jesus Christ,
His only Son, our Lord,
Who was conceive of the Virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontious Pilate,
Was crucified; died, and was buried.
He desended to the dead;
He ascended into Heaven,
Sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
From thence He shall come again to jusge the Living and the Dead.
I believe in the Holy
Spirit,
The Holy Catholic Church,
The Communion of Saints,
The forgiveness of sins,
The ressurection of the body,
And Life Everlasting,
Amen.
Creed
of the Divine Trinity
308 [525]
We confess and believe that the holy and ineffable Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
is one God by nature, of one substance, of one nature as also of one majesty and power.
(The
Father)And we profess that the Father is not begotten, not created, but unbegotten. For He
Himself, from whom the Son has received His birth and the Holy Spirit His procession, has
His origin from no one. He is therefore the source and origin of the whole Godhead. He
Himself is the Father of His own essence, who in an ineffable way has begotten the Son
from His ineffable substance. Yet He did not beget something different (aliud) from what
He Himself is: God has begotten God, light has begotten light. From Him, therefore, is
"all fatherhood in heaven and on earth" (cf. Eph. 3.15 Vulg.).
(The
Son)309 [526] We also confess that the Son was born, but not made, from the substance of
the Father, without beginning, before all ages, for at no time did the Father exist
without the Son, nor the Son without the Father. Yet the Father is not from the Son, as
the Son is from the Father, because the Father was not generated by the Son but the Son by
the Father. The Son, therefore, is God from the Father, and the Father is God, but not
from the son. He is indeed the Father of the Son, not God from the Son; but the latter is
the Son of the Father and God from the Father. Yet in all things the Son is equal to God
the Father, for He has never begun nor ceased to be born. We also believe that He is of
one substance with the Father; wherefore He is called homoousios with the Father, that is
of the same being as the Father, for homos in Greek means 'one' and ousia means 'being',
and joined together they mean 'one in being'. We must believe that the Son is begotten or
born not from nothing or from any other substance, but from the womb of the Father, that
is from His substance. Therefore the Father is eternal, and the Son is also eternal. If He
was always Father, He always had a Son, whose Father He was, and therefore we confess that
the Son was born from the Father without beginning. We do not call the same Son of God a
part of a divided nature,[1]because He was generated from the Father, but we assert that
the perfect Father has begotten the perfect Son, without diminution or division, for it
pertains to the Godhead alone not to have an unequal Son. This Son of God is also Son by
nature, not by adoption; of Him we must also believe that God the Father begot Him neither
by an act of will nor out of necessity, for in God there is no necessity nor does will
precede wisdom. [1] f. Vigilius Thaps., ContraArianos, Sabellianos etphotinianos dialogus,
11, 13.
(The Holy
Spirit)310 [527] We also believe that the Holy Spirit, the third person in the Trinity, is
God, one and equal with God the Father and the Son, of one substance and of one nature,
not, however, begotten nor created but proceeding from both, and that He is the Spirit of
both. C)f this Holy Spirit, we also believe that He is neither unbegotten nor begotten,
for if we called Him unbegotten we would assert two Fathers, or if begotten, we would
appear to preach two Sons. Yet He is called the Spirit not of the Father alone, nor of the
Son alone, but of both Father and Son. For He does not proceed from the Father to the Son,
nor from the Son to sanctify creatures, but He is shown to have proceeded from both at
once, because He is known as the love or the sanctity of both. Hence we believe that the
Holy Spirit is sent by both, as the Son is sent by the Father. But He is not less than the
Father and the Son, in the way in which the Son, on account of the body which He has
assumed, testifies that He is less than the Father and the Holy Spirit.
(The
oneness in the Trinity) 311 [528] This is the way of speaking about the Holy Trinity as it
has been handed down: one must not call it or believe it to be threefold, but Trinity. Nor
can it properly be said that in the one God there is the Trinity, but the one God is the
Trinity. In the relative names of the persons the Father is related to the Son, the Son to
the Father, and the Holy Spirit to both. While they are called three persons in view of
their relations, we believe in one nature or substance. Although we profess three persons,
we do not profess three substances, but one substance and three persons. For the Father is
Father not with respect to Himself but to the Son, and the Son is Son not to Himself but
in relation to the Father; and likewise the Holy Spirit is not referred to Himself but is
related to the Father and the Son, inasmuch as He is called the Spirit of the Father and
the Son. So when we say 'God', this does not express a relationship to another, as of the
Father to the Son or of the Son to the Father or of the Holy Spirit to the Father and the
Son, but 'God' refers to Himself only.312 [529] For, if we are asked about the single
persons, we must confess that each is God. Therefore, we say that the Father is God, the
Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God ' each one distinctly; yet there are not three gods,
but one God. Similarly, we say that the Father is almighty, the Son is almighty, the Holy
Spirit is almighty, each one distinctly; yet there are not three almighty ones, but one
Almighty, as we profess one light and one principle. Hence we confess and believe that
each person distinctly is fully God, and the three persons together are one God. Theirs is
an undivided and equal Godhead, majesty and power, which is neither diminished in the
single persons nor increased in the three. For it is not less when each person is called
God separately, nor is it greater when all three persons are called one God.313 [530] This
Holy Trinity, which is the one true God, is not without number; yet it is not comprised by
number, because in the relationships of the persons there appears number, but in the
substance of the Godhead nothing is comprised that could be counted. Therefore they imply
number only in so far as they are mutually related, but they lack number in so far as they
are by themselves (ad se). For this Holy Trinity has so much one name referring to its
nature that it cannot be used in the plural with relation to the three persons. This then
is, in our faith, the meaning of the saying in Holy Scripture: "Great is our Lord,
abundant in power, and of His wisdom there is no number" (Ps. 147 (146) 5 Vulg.).
(The
Trinity in the oneness)314 [530] However, though we have said that these three persons are
one God, we are not allowed to say that the same one is the Father who is the Son, or that
He is the Son who is the Father, or that He who is the Holy Spirit is either the Father or
the Son. For He is not the Father who is the Son, nor is the Son He who is the Father, nor
is the Holy Spirit He who is the Father or the Son, even though the Father is that which
the Son is, the Son that which the Father is, the Father and the Son that which the Holy
Spirit is, that is one God by nature. For, when we say: He who is the Father is not the
Son, we refer to the distinction of persons; but when we say: the Father is that which the
Son is, the Son that which the Father is, and the Holy Spirit that which the Father is and
the Son is, this clearly refers to the nature or substance, whereby God exists since in
substance they are one; for we distinguish the persons, but we do not divide the
Godhead.[531] Hence, we recognise the Trinity in the distinction of persons and we profess
the unity on account of the nature or substance. Thus, the three are one by nature, not as
person.
(The
undivided Trinity)315 [531] Nevertheless these three persons are not to be considered
separable since, according to our belief, none of them ever existed or acted before
another, after another, without another. For they are inseparable both in what they are
and in what they do, because, according to our faith, between the Father who generates and
the Son who is generated or the Holy Spirit who proceeds, there has not been an interval
of time in which the one who generates would precede the one who is generated, or there
would be no begotten one to Him who begets, or the Holy Spirit in His proceeding would
appear later than Father or Son. For this reason we profess and believe that this Trinity
is inseparable and distinct (inconfusa). We say, therefore, of these three persons, as our
forefathers defined it, that they should be acknowledged, not separated. For if we listen
to what Holy Scripture says about Wisdom: "She is a reflection of eternal light"
(Wis. 7.26), we see that, as the reflection belongs inseparably to the light, so too,
according to our confession, the Son cannot be separated from the Father. Therefore,
neither do we confuse these three persons whose nature is one and inseparable, nor do we
preach that they are in any way separable.316 [532] The Holy Trinity itself has indeed
deigned clearly to reveal it to us: in these names by which He wanted the single persons
to be known, it is impossible to understand one person without the other; one cannot
conceive of the Father without the Son, nor can the Son be found without the Father.
Indeed, the very relationship expressed in the personal names forbids us to separate the
persons, for, though it does not name them together, it implies them. No one can hear any
one of these names without necessarily understanding also the other. While then these
Three are One and this One Three, each of the persons retains His own characteristics: The
Father has eternity without birth; the Son has eternity with birth; the Holy Spirit has
procession without birth with eternity.
Nicene Creed
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, 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 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
Athanasian
Creed
Whosoever
will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic Faith. Which
Faith, except a man keep whole and integral, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.
Now 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 Ghost.
But the
Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost is all one, the glory equal, the
majesty co-eternal. For such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy
Ghost.
The Father
uncreate, the Son uncreate, the Holy Ghost uncreate; the Father incomprehensible, the Son
incomprehensible, and the Holy Ghost incomprehensible; the Father eternal, the Son
eternal, the Holy Ghost eternal. And yet, there are not three eternals, but one eternal.
As also there are not three uncreated, nor three incomprehensibles; but one uncreated, and
one incomprehensible.
So likewise
the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty, and the Holy Ghost Almighty. And yet there are
not three Almighties, but one Almighty.
So the
Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet there are not three
Gods, but one God
So likewise,
the Father is Lord, the Son is Lord, and the Holy Ghost is Lord. And yet there are not
three Lords, but one Lord.
For, as we
are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by Himself to be God and
Lord; so we are forbidden by the Catholic religion to say there be three Gods or three
Lords. The Father is made by none, neither created nor begotten. The Son is of the Father,
not made, nor created, but begotten. The Holy Ghost is of the Father, and of the Son;
neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.
So there is
one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Ghost, not three Holy
Ghosts. And in this Trinity none is before or after the other. None is greater or less
than another, but the whole three Persons are co-equal and co-eternal together.
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 unto eternal salvation that he believe rightly the Incarnation of our Lord
Jesus Christ. For the right faith is, that we believe and confess, that our Lord Jesus
Christ is God and man. God of the substance of the Father, begotten before the world; and
Man of the substance of His Mother, born into the world. Perfect God and perfect Man, of a
reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting. Equal to the Father as touching His Godhead,
and inferior to the Godhead as touching His Manhood. Who, although He be God, and Man, yet
He is not two, but one Christ. One altogether, not by confusion of substance, but by unity
of Person. For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man, so God and man is one Christ.
Who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose again the third day from the
dead. He ascended into heaven; He sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty;
from whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. At Whose coming all men shall
rise again with their bodies, and shall give account for their works. And they that have
done good shall go into everlasting life, and they that have done evil, into everlasting
fire.
This, then,
is the Catholic Faith, which except a man believe faithfully and firmly, he cannot be
saved.
Profession
of the Catholic Faith
I, Gabriel [name],
enlightened by divine grace, profess the Christian Faith as it is taught and practiced in
the Catholic Church.
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. He descended into hell; the third day
he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, sits at the right hand of God, the
Father Almighty; from thence 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
sin, the resurrection of the body, and live everlasting.
I believe in
that this Church is the Church in which the fullness of God's revelation through His Son,
Jesus Christ, abides. I believe that her college of bishops, with the Pope, the bishop of
Rome, presiding at its center continues to exercise in the world the authority for
teaching and moral guidance given by Jesus Christ to his apostles for the salvation of
men.
I further
believe in seven sacraments, signs of worship through which the grace of the death,
resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ is communicated. They are: baptism,
confirmation, holy Eucharist, penance, anointing of the sick, holy orders, and matrimony.
I promise,
through prayer, participation in Church life and worship, and continued efforts to
understand the tenets of my faith, to form my conscience in such away as to live according
to the doctrines and practices which the Roman Catholic Church prescribes for the
individual and common good of her faithful.
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