This column will continue the summary of the catechesis on the Profession of Faith presented on Shepherd's Corner.

The study of the introductory material to the Creed (37 pages) has been completed. The Catechism now moves on to the study of the text of the Creed itself.

The Catechism has an extensive consideration of the text of the Creed (225 pages) – an indication of its practical importance. We pray the Creed every Sunday and on every Solemnity in the liturgical calendar. We know it is deeply rooted in the Scriptures and in the Catholic Tradition.

What would the motive be for persevering through the study of 225 pages of material on the Creed? The answer to that question becomes clear in the consideration of these pastoral questions:

1) Do we understand what we pray so frequently?

2) Could we explain the meaning of the Creed to others?

3) Does praying the Creed feed our faith and our spirituality? As we enter this lengthy process, remember the pastoral questions and allow them to motivate your patient perseverance.

The notion of communion

We have already considered the relationship between ‘I Believe and We Believe.' The nature of Church community - a relationship of communion – requires a common language of faith which has two characteristics:

1) It is normative for all in the communion;

2) It unites all in the communion in the same profession of faith.

Through the Creed, the Church gathers the essential truths of the faith in summary formulas that are easy to communicate and easy to remember. These summaries have three names: Creeds, Professions of Faith and Symbols of Faith (symbols in this context mean a collection of the principal truths of the faith).

The Baptismal Creed

In the very beginning of the Church, when most Baptisms were adult Baptisms, creeds were used as the foundation for catechesis for the candidates for Baptism. The first Profession of Faith was made by converts during the Rite of Baptism.

Since a person is baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, the truths of faith were articulated in reference to the three persons of the Blessed Trinity.

To this day, all Creeds have three parts: the first part is devoted to the Father and creation; the second part is devoted to the Son and redemption and the third part is devoted to the Holy Spirit and sanctification.

The content and form of the Creed

The three parts of the Creed are distinct yet related to one another for the obvious reason that our God is a Trinity of Persons. Each faith statement is called an article of faith.

According to the patristic tradition, it is customary to consider the articles of faith as twelve. The number is a symbol of the fullness of apostolic faith of the 12 apostles.

Over the centuries there have been many Creeds. Each responded to a particular need in Church history. The study of the Creeds helps us to understand the development of doctrine in the Church. However, among all the Creeds, two have a special place:

1) The Apostles' Creed . It is the ancient symbol of Baptism for the Church of Rome. Its special authority flows from the fact that it was used in Rome which is the ‘See of Peter.'

2) The Nicene Creed. It derives its authority from the first two Ecumenical Councils. It remains common to all the great churches of the East and West to this day.

The Catechism uses the Apostles' Creed for its study of the Profession of Faith although it constantly cross references the Apostles' Creed to the Nicene Creed. The Catechism reminds the believer that praying the Creed with faith is to enter into communion with the Triune God and with the whole Church which transmits the faith to us and in whose midst we believe.

God the Father

The Creed opens with a faith statement about God the Father, the first person of the Most Holy Trinity and about the creation of heaven and earth. Creation is seen as the beginning and foundation of all God's works. The entire Creed speaks of God and when it speaks of man it does so in relation to God.

The Catechism lists the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed next to each other for easy comparison. The Nicene Creed (the Creed used at Mass) has a more developed beginning than the Apostles' Creed. It speaks of belief in one God the Father Almighty.

The profession of the existence of God along with the oneness of God is fundamental to our faith. It is rooted in the Old Testament and in the ministry of the Prophets. In the New Testament, Jesus preaches the same tradition. God is the one Lord. Belief in the Son and the Holy Spirit does not introduce any division into the concept of one God. God is one -three persons, a Trinity.

The Revelation of God

God revealed himself to Israel in a progressive manner in different ways. The revelation that proved it fundamental for the Old and New Covenants was the revelation of the divine name to Moses. God is the God of your Fathers, who guided the patriarchs, who remembers his promises.

The mysterious name God gave to Moses ‘I am who I am' (Exodus, 3, 13-15) reflects the fact that God is mystery and cannot be fully grasped. ‘I am Who Am' is God, the uncaused cause who gives existence and sustains everything in existence, the God who will always be present to his people to save them.

Concluding recommendation

To recite the Creed at a determined pace during the liturgy is not the same as meditating on the Creed, article by article, to nourish your faith. Read the Catechism's teaching on the Creed slowly and reflectively, pray over what you read and allow its meaning to influence your life.