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Apostles' Creed
The Apostles' Creed is an ancient summary of Christian faith in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and the saving work of Jesus Christ.
Pray
Apostles' Creed
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 is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will 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.
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“I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth”
The Creed begins with faith in the one God who is Father and the Creator of everything that exists.
“And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord”
Christian faith centres on Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God and Lord.
“Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary”
Jesus truly entered human history. His conception is the work of the Holy Spirit and He was truly born of Mary.
“Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried”
The Creed places Christ's Passion within real human history and insists on the reality of His suffering and death.
“The third day he rose again from the dead”
The Resurrection is not an optional detail of Christianity. It stands at the heart of the faith proclaimed by the Church.
“I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints”
Faith in the Spirit leads into belief in the Church He animates and in the communion that joins Christians on earth with those in heaven.
“The forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting”
The Creed ends in hope: God's mercy, the resurrection promised in Christ and eternal life with Him.
In brief
Catholics pray the Apostles' Creed as a concise profession of the central truths of Christian faith: belief in the Trinity, the Incarnation, Christ's death and Resurrection, the Church, forgiveness, resurrection and eternal life.
Understand
What is this prayer?
The Apostles' Creed is one of Christianity's oldest and most widely used professions of faith. It summarises the basic beliefs into which Christians are baptised and provides a compact framework for Catholic doctrine.
Quick facts
- Type
- Profession of faith
- Traditional use
- Baptism, catechesis and devotional prayer
- Rosary
- Prayed near the beginning
- Focus
- The central truths of Christian faith
- Latin name
- Symbolum Apostolorum
Why Catholics pray it
Why it matters
Catholics pray the Creed because faith is not only private feeling but a response to truths revealed by God and handed on by the Church. Reciting the Creed renews that profession of faith.
When to pray
When Catholics use it
The Apostles' Creed is used in personal devotion, the Rosary and certain liturgical contexts. It is also closely associated with baptismal faith and Christian instruction.
Meaning
What the words mean
The Creed moves through the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It tells the story of creation, Christ's Incarnation, Passion, Resurrection and return, then confesses the Church, forgiveness, resurrection and eternal life.
History
Where this prayer comes from
The Apostles' Creed developed from the ancient baptismal faith of the Church, especially the old Roman baptismal creed. Despite its traditional name, historians do not regard it as a text individually written by the twelve Apostles.
Scripture
Biblical connections
Matthew 28:19
The Creed follows the Trinitarian faith expressed in Christian baptism: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 15:3–5
St Paul preserves an early Christian confession centred on Christ's death, burial, Resurrection and appearances.
Catholic teaching
Catechism connections
CCC 185–197
The Catechism introduces the creeds as summaries of the faith professed by the Church and gives particular attention to the Apostles' Creed.
CCC 194
The Catechism describes the Apostles' Creed as a faithful summary of the apostles' faith and an ancient baptismal symbol of the Church of Rome.
Understand
Common questions
Did the Apostles write the Apostles' Creed?
The Creed expresses apostolic Christian faith, but the text developed through the early Church's baptismal tradition rather than being a document written line by line by the twelve Apostles.
Why do Catholics pray the Apostles' Creed during the Rosary?
It begins the Rosary with a profession of Christian faith before the meditation on the mysteries of Christ's life.
What does catholic mean in the Apostles' Creed?
Here catholic means universal. Catholics also understand the phrase as referring concretely to the Catholic Church that professes this apostolic faith.
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