the creed - St. Patrick Catholic Church

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c0785
cRTHoLtc
UPDqTEi
Ediled by F . Jack Wint?. O.F.M.;designed by Jutie Lonneman
! 1985Sl. Anthony Messenqer Press, 1615 Repubtic St., Cincinnali. OH 45210
Revis€din 1991
FAfthEssentialsfor Catholics
THE CREED
By ThomasBokenkotter
)' ou na! fem€nbe,rhei l ac .orrool o.3r-eo o\er : he boot Chr t sl
A n.ors Lrj The < onl .ol ersrrhd!rag€do!er l hi s poput . r Cat hoI c
car?cl ri sm
hi ghl i ghcthe rensi oni n rhc C h!.ch rodayabourwhat a
C arholc sho!l d bel i eveIherextw asusedbyrhousaid5oir eli8ion
teachel9in ihe Unlred Sraleswhoconsrdetedirin eifectivetool io r
r.d( h,.E cd' no ( oocl . n€ roda.. ol 1e. p^ool €.ro$e\ . e. ,
(omnl ri ned .bout rLc book . poc.rronon ..r' d - : edLnnB. .aad
C hurch!urhori tyeventual l derermi
y
ned
rhrr i rsho! t dno l; n8er be
usedas a texi i n.Jrsseson C arhol i cdoctri re.
Th.rc i s. no do(bt. a !\ i de .,i .se oaopi ni onof, ,,,a, : vpor n$ or
C hurchl e!chrnBtoda! " Li be.nl s"i re oi tenopp(Jr ed. o
" conscrval i ves"
and so.n€ti mes
theconi i i crgel spr er r !r esiy Som e
:undamenral i nC nrhol i c5
areeY enoreani ?edl o sale lhe f ; ir h nom
thosethe' cal l ' modern' rrj .'The a\eraeeC arhol icoir enieet s
\o^ used-etpe. al l \' i 1r' orh^r orc!i ou\retrE to useoucr r on$r .
Ii mi l edro rhe 6al ri nro.eC :re.hi sn.
One mat specul al eabourrhe reasons
ror rherurmoitbut r r is
ob!,ousrhalrheS econdY ari canC ounci ts cal ti o, chr n8ein r naev
are:soi C dtr]ol l . i ae si hee r8esri acror \i reD !sl e specia ! keep
rn mi nd thai i he C ou.ci ei dorsed. n€$ c.i t catn ppr ot . h lo t he
B ,bl e 5ore Ireu,u:i rn, roor rn : -e$ :p rr or upplne\ a<a
8r ee.
l rS hlro
n.ch rrao'
a j o( I ar\
' eeramrrp
" \ -.a lJ, bir r r )
^
orS ,nalsi . and sanci i i _vi nE
as HansKun8,
E race.S uchtheotoB i a ns
K an R ahner.i C E dr!ardS chrl l ebeeckx
becamcram or sr or r ner r
bol d spec!l :| ti on5
on l neseand otherropi cs
Whataretheessentials
of our faith?
Thc aver.geA meri canC .rhol i c\tas noi !ery w e!t or epr r ed,r o pur
rl mrl dl .v,i of rh j i n\asi onoi l i b€r.l rhi nki ne theoto ei; ns.M a, r
w ere rery be\!i j de' edby al i the,,ne\ i deas.,,
Ore rl -i n6:- (i e! . uan\ C arhn , \ rJ.F. h.r' or.-e dinr r gu, <nr ng
D i rl \ree.l
essrnral . !-d oo-Fssenti ai < :n
nr.' or. ol i dr i^ Toom r - )
p!t everyrhi ng
on Lh€eamel evel .tfthe! arerotd,i orexam pje,r har
Ihe accornl oi Jonah.nd thcw hal e shootdbe i een as a nor y
teachi nRC od' s mercvrarhefthanns hi non.al i .ct. r hevoilan
? re w e to th ro { o!( l he
e xcl a i m:" W harc an I bel i e v ea n v rn o reA
$ ,h o l eEible?' :
consranrlat
y any l houghri uihumanb€i n8:\thy am l her e?Whar is
the merni ngoi I ai l ?
L/
lo
Th € q u e s r onoi $hat i5e s s e n ti aal n d $ h a l i 5 n o t e s s € n tral
. a x r si edri om
C a th o lc beliefis not n ne w p ro b l p mb y n n y m e a n s It
t h e l e ry b eginninsol lheC h u r.h a n dth a ti s l v h v l h e v a i rou!crceds
o i C h fi sti init y ( br ieis lare m e n co f l h e e s s e ni lah o i th e ta i th)!" ere
A s | sawon a T-shi rrrecendv," Li l e i ! tough.A nd t henyou die "
T h e c.e e dwe r ec ileat S u n d a yMa s s ,p o p u l a rl yc a l l e dth c N i cene
C re e d(sinc eit is bas edin p r( o n l h e C o l rn c i l o t N i c a c a..l l j \: l
asan
is a d e velopedior m oi an e i rl y b a p ti s m acl re e d .R e g a rd ed
idea (alemenr oi crl hol,c o (hodory, the N icene Creed soon
sp re d dth . ouS ht a5t andWe s t.l l h a t l a te l ye v e n b e e n
rcco mme nded
ns nn idea l b a ri ei o r:l g re e me nbt e tw e e . C athol i cs
Forthose$,ho a,e confusedtoday aboul what to beli€vc, a briet
p o i n t-b y- poinlr eilec t iono n Ih e !i c e n e C re e dmi Sh lh c i p rei ocus
ou r a i te nt ionon t he es s e n ti a losl o u r fa i th .T o 2 s s l n i n (h i sw o(hv
endeavor,let me otier ihe foilowing.
We b e l i e ! e in one Cod. ..
Th efi rsta dic leand lheba s aos fe v e ry l h i n ge l s ci ! b e l i e ii n C od. The
u seo frwe" r at herr han' 1" re mi n d sm e rh a tm-vi a i l h i n c o d . thouS h
l oo te d i n m Yo w ne x p e .e n c e ,i r s omel f n8
a ve 4 ,p er s onalacand
lsh a rew ilh lh€c om nr un i l ya, n d i l i s 5 tre n 8 i h e n eadn d c n ri chedbv
its co n t:(! wir h t he t f r dit ' o n :n o th e l i i e o h e c o m m u .l ty
l i rus t A thei sm
Be l i e ii n Cod is ; | neec ho i € e ,a n a c to f i un d a m e n ta
is not r€iuted purely on a logicil basit, for nrny personsiind lhat
$e evidencereBardinsCod', exisrencepoini' both wavs- Charles
D a l wrnh im s ei nev erden i e dth e e x i n e o c eo r C o d , b u l mdny
re g e rdh i s t heof yoi ev olu ti o na se l l m i n a l i n gl h e n e e di o r a C od
wh o cr€ a ledal t hings .
Oth€rs,while still believers,haveexperien.ed lhe "derth oi Cod
rnsof:r a, they €el rhe absenceof Cod rather than his presence.
Th e va rehaunledby im a s e so f p e o p l es rfre ri n Ete i ri b l ep:i n and
degradat'on,human beingsflayed alive by the dtom bomb al
F l ,ro ,h ,-a J e$! r or r ur e dro d p rl ( n _ h e \i z :(rmp s tn ^ i l e
€ th i o p i a nbabieswit h blo 3 l e db e l l re sl.i C o d e x l n s ,th e ) aek
eri l ?
t h e mse lv eshow
, €an he a l l o w s u € he n o rm o u ss, e n s e l e ss
n l a$' ,I!
A.ch i e Eu nk er , inhealed a .g u m e n t$ i l h h l s a Sn o e ti c s oLn
in
a 5 ke d"Ar
, c hie,if t her cs a C o d , w h y i s l h e r€s o mu c h s u i reri nB
rf l here' s
{h e wo rl d ?"He r eplies", l' l l te l l y o ! $ h v ...(p a !s e )...Id i t h,
a Co d , w hy is lher e s o m !c h s !(i e ri n gi n th e w o rl d ? "T h erei s on !
a b a n k 5 i lenc e.s o A r c hi ey e l l s ," fd i l h . s ' o !l d y o u 8 e r i n het and
h € l p me ?l' m h: v ing t o de { e n d6 0 d a l l b Y m v s e l t"
Only a tool, ol course,.an give a read),answa, to the ptoblem oi
p a i n a n d ev il. J er us him s e l i d i d n o tl i v e i D a fo o
5 lp a ra d i seH el tat
. s.w al l
re n i b l yi am iliarwit h hum a ns u i fa ri n ga n d d e g rd d a ti o nHe
, a r. R o h a n o c c upati o^
a ro u n dh im t he br ula r esu l tso i p l a 8 u e w
f a mrn ea n d ear r hquak e8.u t i n s p i teo f i l a l l , h e Prc c l a i medthe
ne srn e s eof Cod
\ { hos e8l o rys h i n e sth ro u g ha l th emu rk i .essorsi n
an d e !i l i. r hewor ld, and h e s l a k e dh i s l i { e o n C o d ' 5 u l l itnate
vi cto ryo v€rall r harls air i -l i f€ .
he ! aid. E e n o u th e a (e d T ru s ti n C o d s h o nuttbers
T a ke co ur a8e,
t he h a i rson y ou. headnn d w a tc h e so v e rth e i l i S h lo fs p a now s H e
is your heaveny Fatherand his iantanic love tor you makesthe
lov€ oi an ea|thly fatherlook poor indeed.
The tather, the Almithly, maker ofheaven and €arth, ofalllhat
l h e q u e s l i o n sth n t f aB
h sa yi n gt hiswe ar e , eal l ya n s w e ri n B
ln loscph Hellefs nove SamethingHappened,he ma r .haracter
o ver anunhappy
compi nv a.d presi des
trorksi o. a hugei nsurance
i ami l yw hi ch i s l al l i nBapa( A l on€ poi nt he asks,'r s t hk all I can
The needi or:ncani i S .for somc k nd oi i nsrl er ro "Wh! 1" cai't be
Sook
permanentlp!tas,de
y
In thc\cr! i rslpagesoi S c r ipt ur c, lhe
ol C e.eri sS i vesus an a.sl ver:C od .reated to be happr in a
rs wilh eachot he. .
w onderf!l uni !,46eoi communi onw i th hi m' and
A borEai l , i n i ati ng, " \\e 5€l eve i i C od. thc Mrker . " ae ar e
sayi nBrhl r $e bel i eee:n l l reel e.ni l dcrti nv and sacr eddiEn, t yo'
cach humrn bei n8.th.rll i i e hasmcrni ng, thatrve. r e . ol iusl
h!m.n Il orsami i d i el i am l orr n rn emrtl , uni \ef se
w e bcl i evei n one Lord,l csus C hri sl , theonl v Son of 6od,
eternal l vbegottenoi theFathe.,C od from C od, t iShlir om
Li eftt,true C od from tru€ C od, betotl en. not made,one in
fai nq si th the tathcr. Throughhi m,l l thi ngr tct P m ade.
of lhe Chor ch
rei l ecGthe anci ertconttover saes
Thi sw hol epassage
a! to t:repreci serel ati onoi l esusto the Father.Thenain pointisr he
$as
,
afi i rmati onl harJesusi s " one i n bei n3"s' i th the Fs lh€rwhich
was
the C o!nci l of N i caea' sannverto those$ ho deniedt hatJesus
di vi ne.B el i eii n C hrGtas di vi ne and i s Lordof C realionis
undoubt.dl yrhecenfi rl dogm. oi the C h!rch
Whar should acceptingiesusas Lor.j mean in our everydayliiei
E veryoneneedsa i ai i h oi someki nd to l i ve by. Manysim plvhave'
tri th i n 1i i e.Theybel i evei t i s w ofthw hi l eto (r!& gle at ainsl
injusl:ce,to work for a beiter world. And theYrvill make8'eat
i n ordertoservethe vi cti m9oi povertvand oppr esson.
eacri i l ces
Thel rchoi ceaboull i i e i s not somel hi ngst,i cl l yprovablebv. eason
l ' s a fom of fai th,a S !I i eel i ngthey ha!e thatl hi 5 i5ihe way liie
l hool d be l i l ed. The.vcoul d nol rebulthe a$!men r s oi lhose$'ho
i avorrheopposi l el i i e-styl e.
Theycom m r t
C hrl rti 3nr,how ev€r,rel l on rnorel han g!t reel rn gs.
consci oudyto JesusC hri srar rhei r tord, and lhe
themsel ves
and
w ho l eadsthem al ongthe path oi ri ght eousr ess
S heph€rd
.ev€alsto them the Soodnessat the head oilhings-les!s Chrin
of th eWor ld.ll is t his
w ho mani fertsC od atC reato.andR ed€emer
ourhopef or t hist lor ld
trusti n Jesus
and i n l esus'C od thatacti vates
pea€eand j uni ce.
and .i ra!s us ;ntol l ]e strugS l e1,or
For u. .nd f;. o.rr sa:lation h. ca*e dc'/* frctn heaver...
, havet o
H ow di d l esurbri ngus sal va.on?To get l he answerwe
5tarrw aththe B i bl es rea{i sti cdepi cti o. oi the humancondit ion:
H umanhi no.y i sa hi sl oryof si n-i t t5a recordoi cr lm e,bloodshed
and w:r, of iacredjbl€ ferocity- The oorrnal slaleoi man and
\l oman i s al i enari on.P eopl eare al i enai edt.om eachot her :Thet e
i s hatfed,l yi n8.l nj usti ce,oppfessi onand openor cove( hoslilit ) , ,
not to mention iSnoranceand sheertolly. \\'ar aiter trar his
drenchedthe earth,n bl ood .nd no\1 our prcpen silylo violen. e
threai entthe veryi utu.eol the pl anei .
The sheerraS i c cha.zcteroi our sol i dari tvi . e!i l was bought
homei orcei ul l yto n]e.€centi vw hi l e re:di nE anart iclein lheNew
vork Iimes about lhc govcrnment's"Starlvars" concept.Whileth€
pl ai i s 5!pposedy i ntendedl o di mi ni shth€ threatoi: nuclear
r
alin hum an
hol ocaust,l , fo. one,i earthati t may be j ustanothe spir
si nfu condit ionapan
di rtust andanol herremi nderofourhopel ess
kom C hrl stt heal i ngtove.
Hu ma nex pe. ienc e
c er la i n i yte n i fj e !to h !ma n s o l i d a ri r vi n nn and
al l e n a rion. . Leit
r o ouls el l e sth e h u n a n ,a c ei s p o s .e n e srso cna.8e
this stateoi a#airs. Bul as Waher Karpar proiesseeIn /el,r rne
Crr6 l : "Th. ou8hr he I nc a fn a ti o o
n fC o d i o l e s u s C h ri sthe
t
d,sa srrous
r ' t uat ionin t ! h i .h a l l m e n :re c a u Eh tu p a n d b I \!hi ch
lhe va red et er m inedin r h e i ri n m o s lb e i n gi s c i a n g e d .tr h a ; brokci
lhrough at one poinr and this new begjn;ing from norv on
d e l e rn i .es an€w t he s ir u a ri o no f a l l m e D,'
Ch ri stca llspeopleolr of th c o td s o l i d a ri tyj n e v i l i n ro . n e\r
. ol d ra r}, a s ol' d! . . \ oI l o L . a i d c a .i n e T n p p o h e .l r
-z
^- t
<,--o !r \o/ r ddr ir )r . 5in -i j b ro k e -. l c 5 L 5 (
o n e ' o , otnei !
'
n
e
rh € ,i rtb o r i oi nan) or o rh ej a n o )r5 re A,tre \e r Ao d m.Ior oLr
It_i ssri kj ne that$e creedsay5noth,n$abourrhehessageand! v: y
oi ljie oi Jcsu5.BL,rin sr.iint rhar hc lvas cru.ilied_an atroc'ous
death.eseruedIof sl Jvesand cri mj .atsand i or po t it ica y
dangerouspersons-rhe creed teJtsu5 whar i5 most impon€nl:
Jesus'mess.ge,rvay oi life and jov€ fo! humnniiy w€re a raciical
and tremendo!schnl l ensc,asthavsti l ta,e,ro ati s vsr eo5t hatseek
to l hw al t l he ge.ui ne sood oi cod' s ch" drer,.
On thc thi r.l ,{ av hc,ose aE ri n i n {uti i tr-enr of t he Sc. ipt ur es. . .
l mportantto i eep i n B i nd: fhe R esurccl i ondoe5noi pr over he
r' uthoi C hri ni i rnny The R esufi ecri 6n
i s anobj ed oii; jr hr ir is. or
" hi stofi cal l y"veri i l rbi e.N obody !aw i r happe..Hinor v ont y
teni fi esto rhe ,ai rhof l he fi rst$,i ti esses.
Thi si s evict enlii ie
conri derhow \ari ousare the.ccounreoi rhe Gos pels:Theydiiier
aS outhoM..w hcn. w hereand ro $,homtesusi i rsra ppear edNo
ei torlrl ns madei o i i dy up rheseoi te.conU i cti nE
det ait s,nodoubr ,
beca!sel he experi cnceoi rhe R esd ecl i on thevwer e kying t o
rel a!eteasan expc.i encerhattransc€ndcd
al tnormalhum aniim ir s.
It w :5 an expenenc€oi rhe presen.eofl esus,rhesnm eJesuswho
h:d di ed but now preseoted
bl msel iro rhemr.ansio. m ed.
t nvasan
€xperi enc€oi conve6i onand an ,\rdrenessoi the ulr r m at e.
del i ni i i vcmeanj ngoi hi 5 l ri eand dearh.
l l l vas, vl si onoi Jesusrhartransl ormed
thei rti ve>an d launchedt he
C hurch l n raci l he rearonC h.j ni ansbegan
w orshipingonSundr y
i sthat hw nsi hedayoi rheR esudecti onThebeti eft har jesust r ut y
is_risen-and
presenia mong us becones the cenrratmotjvalint force
H e ascendedi nto heavenand i s seatedar the ri s hl handof ihe
Fri hcr. H e.$i l l come agai n i n qto.\ to i !dge rhi 't ir ine and r he
derd,.nd hi ski ngdom r!i l l hareno end. The risenle5usnow Jives$,ith his Farherand tlatches o!e. and
8u,de)hi , C hu( n. W c arp rem..dedoi rh.( -8uta, t v in r ne
fJch,i nstq h€. {e prJ\, r' Y oupl eadfo. u\ a' .he n6 ^r handoi r he
Fathei ."
FJl d,n-nrrl ,Ls i n a,r.-r" , Inte.oretdl root \!..' -r- piL, o. . , ir ?e
C L' n. 5q oD dC oarS o. ( l oJd. * tr r.qe, bros, . 8. , ur per ,
summoni N gal l the ri sendeadbei oreh| 5rhroi e otj u dt m enr .
T| e i maS eryi s no doLJbt
deri !ed i om rh€apoc.l ,-pt icr end- oi- r hew orrdi l i teratureoi C hnsr' sl i me and i s nor essenriitt o ihe basic
mersageIntended-narnetv. lhar rh€ purposeoi Cod relealed in
C hri sr$,,ttbc futfi tt€d,the K i nsdomoi C od w j be f ! lly r ealzed
and hi s C ospeJw j l l standforeverasrhesrandadby which we all
s alva i i o na n d liber : r ion,jes u se s ri b ti s h e sth e N e w p e o p l eofC od
and i s th e b p8, nnr ng
oi r he re w h ,rto ^ o r h u rrn i r).
By lhe po.*cr ofth€ Hoi./ Siririt he was born of rhe Vir3in ,iary,
T he b a si si or t his E n' c leis f ou n di n Ma n h € rv a n dL u te !!h o d € scri be
hos Je (u (wji. o1{ ei\ c d . M J ^ \$ o n b rh .o L g l rh c rc ..o n i r.rhc
ro/ y )tI rr. r heoLe\ t onlon p 5 .r' o i u ,rrc \o 1 .,\ _ ,i c u d rn S some
Cath o l l cs a s i r odr v is whe rh e rrh ep ri ma ryi n re n ri o no i Ma| hew
and L u kFr. ds < er r ing
M ar v ' <\ g .1 ,,\ s d sh .s to ri c a toth
r e o , o8,cd.
Ne_vp n h 6 lesChur
r . c hr er . h ,n' eu p h o ,d rM a ^ s \ ,8 1 i r' i n o ;th
The me a n i n golt he v jr ginbi h j s c l e a r:l e s u l b i n h d o e sn o l betong
to t he trd rn al c or F or hu ma nh r,ro rv .H e re p re 5 c -.)J n e \!
o e8 'n n i n 8,or r he \ um J n r dcc .A n d h r<b e ,n 8c o -c e ,v € ,tD \ .1e
)P rrrl mFd n\r halt he po4ei o i G o d rl l n e r tl J n rh a lo t h u n anrt\ i s
w hr r b l i n g " r or h a < r v , ora. d a
' re w .re a ri o n
F o. ou rsd l ,e hewas ( r uc if ie du n d e r p o n l i u ! p i l a te ;h e s u ffered,
oreo, and was )|rried.
l ve bel i e\ei n th€H ol ) S pi ri t. therord. rh€gi reroit if e, who
profteds i rom th€ Farherand the S on.W i rtr the ta t her and t he
S on h€ i s $ ori hi prd and ei ori fi ed. i i c hasspoten lhr ought he
rropners,
P aul .abovea l l , resti fj es
to the real i l yoi the H ol yS pi r itasoneoi r he
l hreepe^vns of thF T nrrv$hen -p sa\ har rhp)p r wor ( s. 1a
LnrqL- srv n bel :ereFrhrouE hr)-eg rg I rrpars r o Facl
Ih,ouS hl he S p,i r J .hi n C h,i y,5 mro" por.i bte\h . t e hope, <
5!sl a' ned.A nd the 5pi ri rbui l ds up rheC hurchthrou ght he t ; ve jt
poL' s Inroer.h hean Thed' sri n.nonoj rheS p.,i ,no m Cr r ^t . .
\u88estedb! the aL' hJl l he 5p ,i r " dw etL i i th( ber ieve. 5
f o$.
ahi l etheto d$.l l onl v' e.urni i rhcl utu eri t
" a\!.r t oa. dl(4 t b.
.a,r,tr
Ine ' nr,8hlhe.erorr' o\vhd
Ind,.al ed rhdr.,n r hFinr e, , n
b,rorFrhe t d rl - so,- .t E !en ra rheC rufth In ,he abse- Lcoi
c* 1.r -grad rr Iv l ed rhFrrt-er) ot l .e C hurcf ro.h(.r or m JI |onol
the doctri neoi l he Tri ni ty.
D evoti on.tol heH ol y S pi ri ti s chan8j ngthel j vesotman)Car hot i. s
todayand i s the hal l markof the charj smarimovem
(
€n(one
, oi lne
mon v' si bl esi gn!of thecur€nt C athol i creneN ,at.
Thech. , ir m ar ic
movementbas sp.eadwidely throughourthe world, as I realized
last summer,inaomeo. The chari5maticmovemenl is very nrong
a mo .g lhe iat iv e peop l e sth e re .M rs s i o n a ri €l o
s l d m€ how thei r
previouslyrather urrespo.sjve parishion€rss,erenjlle{i uo bv
wh a l a ppeais r obealm o s ran e $ ,Pe n te c o nPe
, o p l e \{ h o previ ousl y
re tu se d
to p3dic ipar eac ti l e l y i n th e l i ru r8 ya rero w e n t€ri ngi nto i l
wi th g reatB u( o, ! ln8in grn d c l a p p i n Sa n d j o y i u j h ,p ' a isi ngl he
L o rd ,"p ujiT uha. , " as t h e y 5 a yi n th € i rn a l i v etb a nta n 8 uage.
Th €ch a r is m at ic
m ov em e nits o n l vo n e ma n i l e s ta ri oonfrh€w a) rhe
Sp i ri ti s r en€r v ing
t heCh u rc hto d a v .W e s e erh eS p ,ri ra l i ve n ma.y
o th e ra r easof lhe Chuf c h :srv e l l :i n th o s eta k rn g c o u ra geous
sl ands
o n ssl esot peac eaod ju s l i c € ;i n rh o 5 el a b o ri n gq u i e d ! i or
Chrisuanunity; in those seekln8more eifectivelorms oi Jirurgical
re n e w al, lona' neaf ew .T h e H o l v Sp i ri rc o n ti n !e 5 l o b erhe' gi ver
oi i i i e ro t heChr inianc o mmu n i tyto d a y ti ro u g ha g re a t!a etvoi
gift'.
We believe in one holy catholi. and apostolic Church.
Th e sea r et he io! r m a, . " ma rl (s "o r q s a l i ri e so f i h e C i u ,c h (cne,
holy, catholic, aponoiic) accordingto lhe venerab€ radirion. The
m e a n i ngof t hes em ar k ss e e m so b v i o u sa t i i rs tv i e w b u r h krori cal l y
they have been inrerpretedin very diverse\!ays. Older Roman
Calholicswill rememberhow the word Ch!.rnhe.e $as rdenr:ired
$ ,i tho n e v is ibl€innit ut i o n -th e R o ma nC a th o l i cC h U rc h.The
h :l fkr a . c or dinglvwer e i n rc .p .e re di n a v i n b l e . c o n c rete.
sl a ti sti .al$' ay t o s how t h a to n l y th e R o n a n C .l h o l i c C hurch
cl e .rl y pos r es s ed
allf olr o fth e m a n dth c re i o rei l l v a sth e onh rrue
Ch "rch F o' c \ a. nDl. ' r l o -e s a ( .-p p o .p d i o b e o n p run.ipd
un d e ro ne v is iblehead,rh e p o p e )ri t n l o n ew a s . l d l i c (rhar i s.
un've6al or spreadthroughout rhe world): it aione was apoJlol,c
(or ab e to trace its leade.sback lo lhe aposll€s
Th e Se c ondV at ic enCou n c i l ,h o w e v e i ,m o l e d a w d ! ro m i n6
na rro wvr ewoi t he nat ! r e o f rh eC h u rc h .In th eC o !n c i l ' el eachi ng
lh€ Ch !rc ht hatCh. is tiou n d e dru b s i n si n th eC a th o i i .C h urchand
the four "marks" a.e eharedro sone detre€ by other Church
co mmu nr lr esNo
. one c o mmu n i ryh a sa ,,n ro n o p o l yo"n t h€ mark5
lo rh eco m plet ee, ( c lus i o n
o i a l l o rh e rc o m m u n i tre s .
We acknowledge one baptism io.lhe rorSiv€nessof sins
Ch .i n i a nB apr l5mis der iv e di ro m th e b e p ri s mo i J e 5 u 5We
. ma),
r e ca l l h a t when he F 29 b a p ri z e db y J o h nth e B a p ti sitn rhel orcj an
Rrve r.J€ s us
wns anoinr e db y C o d ' s Sp i fi ll v h i c hd e s c e nded
i n the
ro rmo f: dov €.T he 5p' r itp o s s e s rehdi rne n ri fe l y i,n d i c a ri nB
j esus'
unir ywit h lhe F a th e r.A v o i c efrc m h e a v e np r ccl .i med
Pe rma n ent
him Cod s Son in te.msrhabuSgetted hc would carry o!t rh€ role
oi Co d s s oiier inss c r v an t,a sd e s c ri b e db y l s a i a hi n h i , tour
"su i i e .i i Bs eNent "s oo8s(c h a p re .r,1 2 -5 3 )i h ro l g h n rssui feri .i j
Jesusw oul d aronefor rh€5i nt ol many
The bapti smofl esurl b!ssymbol i zedrhe neh re l: t ionshipt hal
w oul d be establ i shed
betw en C od and th€ hum i. t am it yr hr ouEh
l e5us' s:!i ngw ork.w i i h rhat{ork ful i i l l ed,h s tot t o$e6 ar e
baptized to 5how therr responscin falrh ro this work or
recon.j l i atj onprei l g!redi n hi s baptl sm.TheS a.r am ent oiBapt t sm
al soaccompl i shes
!dron w i th C hri n and forS i v eness
of si. s
becausei t bri nS sone i nto rheC hu' ch.$ hi ch 15h is 8odv.
w e l ook for the.esurre.i i on oi the de.d, and ihe t if e of t he
Oneoi the mostexcj tnBrdve.tLrres
on my recenr t r ip! o Bor n€o
w as my vrsi rto rhecavesoi N i trhl ocareddeepi n t hejur sle. Ther e
i n ohe of th€ cavesw €redi scoveredthe remnan r of
s sm all
canoe-l ,k€boatsLsedascoi ti ns,and neai byon t he wat t ssom e
pai nl i ngs,10,000),earsoi d D epi cl edi n thete painr in8s
ar epeopt e
si l r' ngi n theseco" i n-l i keboaGrnd crosenga ri vert o r hc nexr
w ol d- The pai nti n8si ndi ci l te. bel i eii n !ome sha do$, ior m oil: t e
.tte. death, a beliei rb!nd ir mosi nncrenrc! r!res ard reiJe.ted
i ai ntl _v
i n the earl i erparrsoi l he Ol d Tenamenr
l n the H ebre$5ci pruresthe i deaoi Ii e atrerdea t hont ygr acjuat t y
camei nro rocusai Judai sm
ari l ed al an unders t andir rlgh: i
communi on\!i th God w oui dnol be brokenevenbydear h.h js onI y
i n theC hri st' an
S cfi ptures,
how e!er,tharrhi sbel i e f ist ut lyr eveat ed
by C h.i st.j es!s proc ai medrt w hen he ,ai d. .,C o di5 r heCod oi
A brah.m,l saacandJosephH e rsnotl heC odoi th €deadbur oit he
l i vi ng.' Fai thi n resurecti on!!as gr\en con.l usi veior ceb! ler us,
ow n resuftecton {tC hfrsti ri s$ebel i ereB e$ | r iar ci. r r is
resureci i onn.d I 04
Jf concl usi on,the creedrcmi ndsusrharw har w e believeis
i mporta.t.H i srori cal l v,
the C hrsl i anC hurche5atm oslwit houl
excepronhavei nsi stedonl henecessrl oi
y corr€ctbelief .Eur ,on
the other hand, one can become roo concernedBith o hodory
l ri ghrbel i ef)andforgertharo4noprrxi ski S h:I vi n t ) is
i mportanlal so.C hri 5t.afr€ral l . camenot onl ! asthe r ut hbut at so
as the w rfand the /i ,-e.
A nd he sai dw e w oul d be iinalt vJldgedbv
ho\r w e carryoui hi sB reai(ommandment:" Y oushallt ole r heLor d
vour God w i l h vour q hol e heart,$ i rh l oU r $ ho e iou . and Nit h
)o!r w hol emi nd....l A ndl!oLrshal il ovc vour nets hborr s ! o! r seii,
{ Marl he$,22:37,l 9).
ThomasAokenkottet is pattor oi Assunptjon Chulchin t4/alnut
Hilk, Cincinnati, Ahio. FatherBokenkotkr tea.hcs theotosvat
\,,vt.t L ntv?!,itv dnd.. th" rutho, at ra\et b.Joks n.lJJnt \
C nr' l .e H :ro . oi l re.arhol c ( I.u( 1 .D aubteda\t naie. 1b: gl
ah1, n.rc rc.er!! EsrciliaJCath.licis- Itoubiedar. tgBi).
PublDhed\ nh e.( Ieta\ttc. I app.o\ al
cRe€b
John 20'29
are thou tlo b,u'enot acenan) yet \'c!it"c' Blz.,.,e)
Cree,l: n datesLack to rt'e {'h
ffi
--"-.N,.i
i;;J'-''
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- :. .,,,r . cre.Jpus re
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"\onsumn,rl
l[IffipY+.-Y,W5',5pd+iiit'
rh:.1""i
oirh-L,,h
rrurhs
l'*ji;ffiffi.,He5#igfdlliji
fai,h.1."^:, JHKW4&4trfihWKM,ll
sar:oaruhof
rr,""
r.ilsrh.Romans,h'r
tuu G,,/oai t, ri,' ".* :r'*
1fiffiftM]ffiffii:il
iBli---q*=ffi8€RjN
.t t, th L.a-ttr tt',.t,'r,,r.,
nunit
co.l,i." ;,,.
;;h-;.; codand*irharr
hrna.
ci",".".*r",ror,".
r r,i;", Sonanj I ioirspinr
'ft"\..n" c.".d
iffiWWA4l,'ij
rfrl:q*I--.
!.d.bnatont;t'yat"n.
inoi- God
\i bcL."e
MS';:a:HI
k,,"(Rom{,:rn.rhrsverseis r$l
.€-
,he.,,'rsnD.
,h,r*hcr.
.'€KSl$gilgfrdll
ree carh iH,_'iK+]I6ll#ffiilffiffiii)i,nar.*".H<*e-rddh
eridencerhat.even
o(J rh. n r'n dnrumcJreadva sLan' UA Bry.ffi
lffi;Nlbw,{htl
in theChurch.
dard or mte oft.aching e:ist-
\1'cloclio(
rhiss,andud*,sused,o
rh.p*^ i: i#SffiffiM#|Ej
wl,"rher
,ieteroi.e
inr and tea.Ling bcing L*.d
fiEglrygeE*"::
j?4'th k't, l:th
2.'1 5,2p.. dl r. Ln4 'l th
teu" vrt
k ' tuai tl ' Fhn n' ' urnal'\'
'
nrt
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' c,"J".r,""
r,"* *i.-Jco'h'
".r'*'h''"
ontoo,n*
c l, ur c h, .d * e re d e .e l o p e dL oh e l p rl a nh
or tarsc
tcachine and to help conbat against heresi's
to
meant
not
;s
cr<'ed
o*o"lr: G"u cul i:6-9) T|e
asana:"
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l"pl"" r."."'r.ag"
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rhentic erarcssi"n of it i"
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s"cdco.tai"s n 8re6tnumbe'or 1."".h_
th"
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ments. (Ccc IEb).
a .rc.J se^ e" 'hc Churh *
, , iil; : ; ; ; ;;;;-rh
sunda''l tor bclier:
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m. c*i r-- t-" c",.t.
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aodrh. ded.
rrc .uu co-. ,€an m €ror-rt" ruoe.,ht *rng
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ud
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;:.::'i:,i,"'i;;.;i"":a;:6d
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dinon, s a mi b u re d ro rh c N e l r
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pr.ie.*d * Ita"s ^en Sund,l s ci,- ,:\,,::;;
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Ad€rtisement
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HowtodoMeditation?Discover3*syshowtoexped€ncsdeepermediiaiioninminures.lvw..omhemonrcscom
Are A nnu ities tor You? Findoutthe p.osandConsof Annuiftesin SpeciatVideoRepod. .r'
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(!)
The TwelveArtielesof CatholicFaith
By Rev.John Triqilio.Jr, and Rev.KennethBfiohenti
lf youwantto knowthe basicsof theCatholicfaith,lookno furtherthanthe articlesof
Catholicfaith.This listof twefueartjclesminorsthe Ap.-o_sfl,gS,
Creed,a prayerthatsetsout
Catholictenets:
Article l: I believein God, the FatherAlmighty,Creatorof heavenand earth.
This affirmsthatGodexists,hat he.sa TnuneGod lone God in ihreeoe.sons.
knownas theHolyTrinity),andthat he createdthe knownuntverse.
Article 2: And h Jesus Chris! his onty Son, our Lord. ThisatteststhatJesus
is the Sonof Godandthathe'smostcertainlydiv;ne.The wordtord implies
divinity,becausethe GreekKyrosand the HebrewAdoaaibothmean'lord,,and
are ascribedonlyto God.So the use of Lordwith Jesusis meantto professhis
divinity.The nameJesuscomesfom the HebrewJeshua,meaning,Godsaves.,,
So CatholicsbelievethatJesusis Savior.
Article 3: Who was concelvedby the power of the Holy Spirit and bom of
the Virgin Mary.Thisaffirmsthe humannatureof Christ,meaninghe haoa reat,
true humanmother,andalsoaffirmshisdivinenature,meaninghe hadno
humanfatherbut by the powerofthe HolySpiritwas conceivedin the wombof
the VirginMary.He'sthereforeconsideredbothGod and man bYChristians_
fully divineand tullyhuman.
Article ,l: He sufferedunder pontius pilate.was crucified, died, and was
buried. The humannatureotchist couldfeel painand actuallydie,and he did
on GoodFriday.The mentionof pontiuspilateby namewasn,tmeantso muchto
viliry him forevelinjjstory b{trio+lace_fhe€nJcifixion withia humaF+istory_
Referenceis madeto an actualhistoricalperson,the Romangovernorof Judea,
appointedby Caesar,to putthe life anddeathof Jesuswithina chronolooical
and historicalcontext.lt alsoremindsthe faithfulthat one can,tblameall-Jewsfor
the deathofJesus,as somehaveeroneouslydoneoverthgages.Certain
JewishleadersconspiredagainstJesus,butthe actualdeathsentencewas
gven by a Romanand cenjedout by Rcrn6nsoldiers.So boih
Jew anclGeftne
alikesharedin the spillingof innocentblood.Anti-semitismbasedon the
Crucifixion
of Jesusis inaccurate,
unjust,and erroneous.
Article 5: He descendedinto he . The third day he arose again from the
dead.The hellJesusdescendedintowasn,tthe hellofthe damned,where
Jews
andChristians
believethe deviland his demonsreside.Hellwas merelva woro
thatJewsandeadychnstians
'JSedte describethe placeofthe dead.This
passageaftmls ihat on ihe ihirci
day he rose,meaningJesuscamebackfrom
the deadof his own divinepower.He wasntjust clinicallydeadfor a few
mrnutes;hewas deaddead_then he rosefromthe dead.Morethana
resuscrtaled
corpse,Jesuspossesseda glorifiedand risenbody_
Article 6: He ascandedinto heavenand is seatedat the right hand
of God
the FatherAlmighty.The Ascensionremindsthefaithfulthatafterthe
human
anddiyinenaturesofchrist wereunitedin the tncamation,
they couldneverbe
separated.
In otherwords,aief the savingdeathand Resurection,Jesusdidn.t
dumphis humanbodyas if he didnl needit anymore.Catholicism
teachesthat
his humanbodywillexistforever-V\/trere
Jesuswent,bodyand soul,jnto
heaven,the faithfulhopeone daytofollow'
Arlicle 7: He wilt come againtojudge the tiving and the dead.This articte
affirmsthe SecondComingof Christat the end ofthe worldto be itsjudge
JudgmentDay,Dayof Reckoning,Doomsday_+hey,re
all metaphorsfo;the end
ot timewhenwhat'sknolvnas the GeneralJudgmenlwiltoccur.Catholics
beleve
thatafterthe deathofany humanperson,immediateprivatejudgment
occurs
andthe persongoesdirecflyto heaven,hell,or plrg€tory(an intermediate
place
in preparation
for heaven).
Afticl6 8: I believein the Holy Spirit, This partremindsthe believerthat
God
exisisin threepersons- the HolyTdnity_ Godthe Father,cod the Son,
and
Godthe HolySpirit.What'srefenedto as the Forcein the movieSfar l4la6
isnr
the sameas the HolySpirit,who is a distinctpersonequalto the othertwo_
God the FatherandGod the Son.
Article g: the hoty catholic Church,tfie Communionof Saints,Catholics
believethatthe Churchis morethana me|e institutionand certainlvnot a
necessaryevil.lt's an essentialdimensionandaspectof spiritualliie.
Christ
expficitlyusesthe wo'd church(ekklesiain Greek)in Matthew.16whenhe
says,
"l will buildMy Church.,'
Article l0: the forgivenessof sins, Christcameto savethe worldfromsin
Beliefin the forgivenessof sinsis essentialto Chrjstianity.
Catholicismbelieves
httD://q1r,r'.dumrnies
nnm/h^E-r^/.^nranrrha-n,ar!,-
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sins are forgiven in B_apfisfiand in the S.a_cra.ment
of penance.
Arlicle ll: the .esunectionof the body, Fromthe Catholicpelspective,
a
humanbeingis a unionof bodyandsoul,so deathisjust the momentary
separationof bodyandsouluntilthe endofthe world,the SecondComingof
Christ,the GeneralJudgment,
andthe resurrection
of the dead.Thejust go,
bodyandsoul,intoheaven,andthe damnedgo, bodyand sout,intohe .
Article 12: And in life everlasting.As ChristOur Saviordied,so,too,must
meremortals.As he rose,so shallall humanbeings Deathis the onlyw?yto
s trrelc^r,
occurs;Christjudgesthe so!l:
^r
uE vcty tll(I errrot oeatn, pnvale Juogment
' li it's particularly
holyandvirtuous,the soulgoesdirectlyto heaven.
* lf it'sevil and wicked
anddiesin mortafsin, it,sdamnedfor etemityin hell.
' lf a personliveda lifenot badenoughto wananthell but not holyenoughto go
rightto heaven,Catholicsbelievethe soulgoesto purgatory,whichis a middle
groundbetweenheavenandearth,a statewheredepartedsoulswantto go to
be cleansedof anyattachments
to sin beforegoingthroughthe pearlygates.
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