Symbolum Nicaenum/Nicene Creed

The Symbolum Nicaenum, or Nicene Creed, has a complex history. It was first promulgated at the Council of Nicea (325), though in an abbreviated form from what we have below. St. Athanasius attributes its composition to the Papal Legate to the Council, Hossius of Cordova. The Creed is also sometimes called the Nicene-Constantinoplian Creed since it appears in the Acts of the Council of Constantinople (381), but it is clear that this Council is not the source of that composition for it appears in complete form in the Ancoratus of Epiphanius of Salamis some seven years earlier in 374. In any case, it was this text that appears in the Acts of the Council of Constantinople that was formally promulgated at Chalcedon in 451 and has come down to us as our present Nicene Creed.It was at the councils of Nicea and Constantinople that the true nature of Jesus was defended against two heresies that had sprung up. The Arians denied Christ’s divinity and the Monophysites denied Christ’s humanity. The councils, drawing upon the traditions handed down to them from the Apostles, condemned both heresies and declared that Jesus was indeed both true God and true man. In the 11th century this creed became part of the Mass. A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who recite the Symbolum Nicaenum.

CREDO in unum Deum, Patrem omnipotentem, factorem caeli et terrae, visibilium omnium et invisibilium.	I BELIEVE in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.
Et in unum Dominum Iesum Christum, Filium Dei unigenitum, et ex Patre natum ante omnia saecula. Deum de Deo, Lumen de Lumine, Deum verum de Deo vero, genitum non factum, consubstantialem Patri; per quem omnia facta sunt.	I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through Him all things were made.
Qui propter nos homines et propter nostram salutem descendit de caelis. Et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto ex Maria Virgine, et homo factus est.	For us men and for our salvation He came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.
Crucifixus etiam pro nobis sub Pontio Pilato, passus et sepultus est, et resurrexit tertia die, secundum Scripturas, et ascendit in caelum, sedet ad dexteram Patris.	For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate, He suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
Et iterum venturus est cum gloria, iudicare vivos et mortuos, cuius regni non erit finis.	He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and His kingdom will have no end.
Et in Spiritum Sanctum, Dominum et vivificantem, qui ex Patre Filioque procedit.	I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
Qui cum Patre et Filio simul adoratur et conglorificatur: qui locutus est per prophetas.	Who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the Prophets.
Et unam, sanctam, catholicam et apostolicam Ecclesiam.	And I believe in one holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
Confiteor unum baptisma in remissionem peccatorum. Et expecto resurrectionem mortuorum, et vitam venturi saeculi. Amen.	I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen

10 Commandments

1. I am the Lord your God: You shall not have strange Gods before me.
2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
3. Remember to keep holy the Sabbath/Lord’s Day.
4. Honor your father and mother.
5. You shall not kill.
6. You shall not commit adultery.
7. You shall not steal.
8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
9. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.
10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.

Beatitudes

• Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

• Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

• Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

• Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

• Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

• Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

• Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

• Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.“  Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

 

Precepts of the Church

1. You shall attend Mass on Sundays and on holy days of obligation and rest from servile labor.We must “sanctify the day commemorating the Resurrection of the Lord” (Sunday), as well as the principal feast days, known as Catholic holy days of obligation. This requires attending Mass, “and by resting from those works and activities which could impede such a sanctification of these days.”2. You shall confess your sins at least once a year.We must prepare for the Eucharist by means of the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession). This sacrament “continues Baptism’s work of conversion and forgiveness.”3. You shall receive the sacrament of the Eucharist at least during the Easter season.This “guarantees as a minimum the reception of the Lord’s Body and Blood in connection with the Paschal feasts, the origin and center of the Christian liturgy.”

   4. You shall observe the days of fasting and abstinence established by the Church.

   “The fourth precept ensures the times of ascesis and penance which prepare us for the liturgical feasts and help us acquire mastery over our instincts and freedom of heart.” 

   5. You shall help to provide for the needs of the Church.

   “The fifth precept means that the faithful are obliged to assist with the material needs of the Church, each according to his own ability.”

   There is a lot more involved in each of these precepts in terms of understanding and interpreting them as they apply in our lives. If you do not have a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church I would recommend that you get one because everything that we hold true as Catholics, in terms of faith and morals, is in this one volume book.

   Also in terms of interpreting each of these precepts for you individually you likely will want to contact your local parish priest to help you understand and apply these precepts in your life.

7 Sacraments

1. Baptism: the Sacrament of regeneration, reception of the Holy Spirit, and incorporation into the Church.
2. Confirmation: the sacrament that strengthens and completes the grace received at baptism.
3. Eucharist: the Sacrament of offering anew the one sacrifice of Calvary, the New Covenant Passover, which includes reception of our Lord Jesus Christ in Holy Communion. The Church affirms the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist; body, blood, soul, and divinity.
4. Reconciliation (aka Confession and Penance): the Sacrament by which sins committed after baptism are forgiven.
5. Anointing of the Sick: a Sacrament conferring strength, forgiveness of sins, and healing graces appropriate to serious illness and/or proximate preparation for death.
6. Holy Orders: the Sacrament of apostolic ministry, exercised in three degrees: the diaconate, the presbyterate, and the episcopacy, in which the fullness of the Sacrament of Holy Orders is lived out (CCC 1555-1561; 1594).
7. Matrimony: the Sacrament uniting husband and wife as a sign of Christ’s union with the Church.

Magisterium
(Teaching Authority of the Church-Bishops together with Pope)