THE
APOSTLES’ CREED

M.—I should now wish you to tell me in a few words, what the sum of this knowledge is?

S.—It is contained in the Confession of Faith, or rather Formula of Confession, which all Christians have in common. It is commonly called the Apostles’ Creed, because from the beginning of the Church it was ever received among all the pious, and because it either fell from the lips of the Apostles, or was faithfully gathered out of their writings.

M.—Repeat it.

S.—I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried: he descended into hell; the third day he arose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy Catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

M.—To understand each point more thoroughly, into how many parts shall we divide this confession?

S.—Into four leading ones.

M.—Mention them to me.

S.—The first relates to God the Father; the second to his Son Jesus Christ, which also embraces the whole sum of man’s redemption; the third to the Holy Spirit; the fourth to the Church, and the Divine blessings conferred upon her.