The Nicene Creed.  In the Christian tradition, a creed is a statement of correct (or orthodox) beliefs.  The Nicene Creed was adopted by bishops meeting at the First Council of Nicaea in 325ce. The formula was designed to correct the belief among some Christians that Jesus Christ was not fully divine.  As a result, the Creed defined Christ as “consubstantial” (one-in-being) with the Father.  
   The original formula was amended by the Second Ecumenical Council of Constantinople in 381ce.  That Council added the declarations which follow from “We believe in the Holy Spirit,” which ended the original Nicene formula. 
   The Nicene Creed is the one usually recited at the Mass in the Roman Catholic Church, although an earlier Apostles Creed may also be used.  The Nicene Creed is also accepted and used by the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Assyrian, Anglican and many Protestant churches.

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I believe in God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible...

• There is one God who created (or caused) everything else that exists. 
• This one God is revealed to human beings as Creator (Father), Redeemer (Son), and Spirit (Holy
   Spirit), which is the foundation for the Christian belief in the Holy Trinity.
• God created the universe and human beings out of love.
• We can know God, in part, through what God creates.

I 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, consubstantial with the Father.  Through him all things were made...

• We can also know God through Jesus Christ who is God in human form, the “Son of God,” or God-
   with-Us.
• Jesus Christ was both fully divine and fully human.  He is also known as the Incarnate “Word of God.”
• How people experienced God's presence, love and mercy before Jesus is recorded in the first part of
   the Bible, called the “Old Testament.”
• How people experienced God's presence, love and mercy in Jesus Christ and the early church is
   recorded in the second part of the Bible, called the “New Testament”.

For us [men] and for our salvation, he came down from heaven; and by the power of the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.  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...

• Jesus of Nazareth was born miraculously to a Jewish carpenter and his wife, Mary.  At the age of 33
   he began a public ministry of teaching and healing which revealed God's unexpected love and mercy.
• Having angered political and religious authorities, he was arrested, condemned for claiming to be
   divine, and crucified.
• After three days in the tomb, he was raised from the dead and began appearing to his disciples,
   convincing them that he was in fact divine and the Messiah or Savior which the Jewish people were
   promised.
                                   
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...

• After a short period of time following his resurrection, Jesus returned to heaven.
• Christ will return at the end of time when the whole of creation, the living and the dead, are assumed
   into the after-life.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.

• In the meantime, God the Father and Jesus the Son continue to be present to us in their Spirit, the
   Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is one of the three "persons" or manifestations of the Holy Trinity. 
• The Spirit the source of God's life and grace in creation and the church.

I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic church...

• The Church is also called “the Body of Christ,” “the People of God,” and “the Communion of Saints”.
   The Communion of Saints includes all baptized persons, living and dead.
• People who belong to the Church are called Christians. There are various kinds of Christians, all
   derived from the original, catholic (that is, “universal”) and apostolic church founded by Jesus.
• “Catholic” Christians are members of the Roman Catholic Church which traces its roots back to Jesus’
   apostles and recognizes the bishop of Rome (the pope) as the supreme shepherd of the People of
   God.
• The Church helps us experience God’s presence through Christ and the Holy Spirit.
• The Church helps us know and live in a way which shows God's love and forgiveness to others.
• Catholics celebrate God’s presence and love through special signs and rituals called sacraments; 
• The most important sacrament is the Eucharist, which is also called the Mass.
• Catholics believe that we encounter or experience the real presence of Jesus in the Scriptures, in the
   community of believers, in the priest, and in the bread and wine which are consecrated at Mass.

I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins...

• God's creation is not finished; that is one reason why bad things happen.
• Human beings are not perfect; sometimes we cause bad things to happen by accident or out of
   ignorance; that is another reason why bad things happen.
• At other times,people cause bad things to happen on purpose.  We freely and intentionally choose to
   do things that are hurtful or wrong.  This is called “sin.”
• Very serious sins are called mortal sins; less serious sins are called venial sins. An individual’s moral
   responsibility for sin depends upon their knowledge, understanding and freedom or desire to sin.
• Catholics regularly examine their lives and confess their sorrow for serious sins in the Sacrament of
   Penance.
• God wants us to help make the world a better place, a place which shows God's love; we do that
   when we avoid sin, act in loving and compassionate ways toward others, try to fix things that are
   wrong or unjust, and heal people who are hurting.

I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come...

• When we die life is changed but does not end.  Christians believe that we, like Jesus, will be raised
   from the dead.
• When God's creation is complete, all that is good will be taken into “heaven;” people who have tried to
   live good lives and are sorry for their sins will live forever with God in the world to come, called “the
   Kingdom of God”.

Related Links
• What Catholics Believe
• Summary of Catholic Faith for Parents
• Q&A/Catholic Faith
Learn More
• United States Catholic Catechism for Adults Online
• Universal Catechism of the Catholic Church Online
• Read What's the Difference Between the Nicene Creed and the Apostles Creed?

[Last Update: 04.20.19]