The Apostles' Creed is a summary of what Catholics believe. It is prayed at the beginning of the Holy Rosary, while holding the crucifix.
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; on the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and 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 sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
What It Means
The Creed is built in three parts, one for each Person of the Holy Trinity:
- God the Father, Creator of all things
- God the Son, Jesus Christ: His birth, death, resurrection, and return in glory
- God the Holy Spirit, and the life He gives through the Church: the communion of saints, forgiveness of sins, and eternal life
To pray the Creed is to say "yes" again to the faith we received at baptism.
Where It Comes From
The Apostles' Creed is called by that name because it faithfully sums up the teaching of the apostles. It grew from the ancient baptismal creed of the Church of Rome and has been prayed in nearly its present form for well over a thousand years.
The wording used at Mass today differs slightly ("is seated at the right hand," "from there He will come"). The meaning is the same.
In Latin (Symbolum Apostolorum)
Credo in Deum, Patrem omnipotentem, Creatorem caeli et terrae. Et in Iesum Christum, Filium eius unicum, Dominum nostrum, qui conceptus est de Spiritu Sancto, natus ex Maria Virgine, passus sub Pontio Pilato, crucifixus, mortuus, et sepultus, descendit ad inferos, tertia die resurrexit a mortuis, ascendit ad caelos, sedet ad dexteram Dei Patris omnipotentis, inde venturus est iudicare vivos et mortuos.
Credo in Spiritum Sanctum, sanctam Ecclesiam catholicam, sanctorum communionem, remissionem peccatorum, carnis resurrectionem, vitam aeternam. Amen.
In the Holy Rosary
After the Sign of the Cross, pray the Apostles' Creed while holding the crucifix.
Next prayer in the Holy Rosary: Our Father