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Catholic Living
The Apostles’ Creed is one of the oldest and most widely used summaries of Christian faith in the Western Church. Catholics pray it in several settings, including traditionally at the beginning of the Rosary.
The Clear Answer
The Apostles’ Creed professes faith in God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Church, forgiveness of sins, resurrection of the body and eternal life. Despite its name, the present text was not written as one document by the Twelve Apostles. It developed from ancient baptismal professions of apostolic faith.
The 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.
Was It Written by the Apostles?
Not in its present wording as a single document.
The name “Apostles’ Creed” reflects its role as a summary of the faith handed down from the apostolic Church. Its text developed from early baptismal professions, especially the ancient Roman creed.
This makes it genuinely ancient without requiring the historically unsupported idea that each apostle contributed one sentence to the final text.
“I Believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth”
The Creed begins with one God, the Father, creator of everything visible and invisible.
Calling God Father expresses both the eternal relationship of the Father and Son and God's loving relationship with creation.
“Almighty” refers to God's sovereign power, which Catholic theology understands together with His wisdom and goodness rather than as arbitrary force.
“And in Jesus Christ, His Only Son, Our Lord”
Christ is a title, not a surname. It comes from Greek Christos, meaning Anointed One, and corresponds to the Hebrew Messiah.
The Creed identifies Jesus as Son and Lord, placing His divine identity at the center of Christian faith.
Read Why Is Jesus Called Christ?.
“Conceived by the Holy Spirit, Born of the Virgin Mary”
This line professes the Incarnation. Christians believe the eternal Son truly became human, conceived in Mary's womb through the Holy Spirit.
Mary's inclusion anchors the mystery in human history and points to the Gospel account of the Annunciation.
Read The Annunciation and The Nativity of Jesus.
“Suffered Under Pontius Pilate, Was Crucified, Died and Was Buried”
Pontius Pilate places the Passion within a real historical setting. The Creed insists that Jesus truly suffered and died, not merely appeared to do so.
Catholic faith understands His death as a free self-offering for humanity's salvation.
The crucifixion also explains why the Cross and crucifix remain central Christian symbols.
What Does “He Descended Into Hell” Mean?
This line is often misunderstood.
It does not mean Jesus was condemned to the hell of the damned. In this context, “hell” refers to the realm of the dead.
The Creed affirms that Christ truly experienced death. Catholic teaching understands His descent to the dead as part of His victory and the proclamation of salvation to the righteous who had died before Him.
“On the Third Day He Rose Again From the Dead”
The Resurrection is not merely a way of saying that Jesus' teachings continued. Christianity proclaims that Jesus truly rose from the dead.
His Resurrection is the foundation of Christian hope and the First Glorious Mystery of the Rosary.
“He Ascended Into Heaven”
The Ascension expresses Christ's glorification and His return to the Father. It does not mean He abandoned the Church.
Read The Ascension of Jesus Christ.
“Seated at the Right Hand of God”
This is biblical royal imagery expressing authority and honor. It is not a description requiring God the Father to have a physical chair or body.
The Creed professes that the risen Christ reigns in glory and will come to judge the living and the dead.
“I Believe in the Holy Spirit”
The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal energy. Catholic faith professes the Holy Spirit as the third Person of the Trinity.
The Spirit is present throughout Scripture and is especially associated with Pentecost and the mission of the Church.
What Does “The Holy Catholic Church” Mean?
The word catholic means universal.
Calling the Church holy does not claim that every individual Christian behaves perfectly. The Church's holiness comes from Christ and the Holy Spirit, while her members remain in continual need of conversion.
What Is the Communion of Saints?
The communion of saints expresses the unity of the whole Church in Christ.
Catholic teaching speaks of the faithful on earth, those undergoing purification after death and the saints in Heaven as remaining united in Christ.
This belief helps explain why Catholics ask saints to pray for them. Intercession is not worship.
Read Why Do Catholics Ask Saints to Pray for Them?.
“The Forgiveness of Sins”
Christian faith proclaims that sin need not have the final word. Forgiveness comes from God through Christ.
Catholics encounter this forgiveness especially in Baptism and the Sacrament of Reconciliation, while the Christian life continually calls for repentance and mercy.
“The Resurrection of the Body”
The Creed does not teach merely that an immortal soul continues after death. It professes the future resurrection of the body.
Catholic teaching understands the human person as a unity of body and soul. The Resurrection of Christ grounds hope that death will not have the final victory.
“And Life Everlasting”
The Creed ends with the Christian hope of eternal communion with God.
“Amen” expresses assent: this is the faith the believer professes.
Why Is the Creed Prayed at the Beginning of the Rosary?
The Apostles’ Creed is traditionally prayed while holding the crucifix at the beginning of the Rosary.
It places the Rosary inside the broader Christian faith before the person begins meditating on the mysteries of Christ.
For the full prayer sequence, read How to Pray the Five-Decade Rosary.
Apostles’ Creed vs. Nicene Creed
| Apostles’ Creed | Nicene Creed |
|---|---|
| Shorter | More detailed |
| Rooted in ancient baptismal professions | Formed through the fourth-century councils of Nicaea and Constantinople |
| Traditionally used at the beginning of the Rosary | Normally used at Sunday Mass and solemnities in the Roman Rite |
Frequently Asked Questions
Did the Twelve Apostles write the Creed?
Not in its present form. It developed from early baptismal professions that summarized apostolic faith.
Is the Apostles’ Creed biblical?
It is not copied from one Bible passage, but its major teachings summarize biblical and apostolic Christian belief.
What does descended into hell mean?
Christ entered the realm of the dead. It does not mean He was punished among the damned.
What is the communion of saints?
The unity in Christ of the whole Church, including believers on earth and the saints in Heaven.
Why do Catholics pray it with the Rosary?
It is a profession of Christian faith that introduces the mysteries being contemplated.
Final Thoughts
The Apostles’ Creed is brief enough to memorize yet broad enough to summarize the central shape of Christian belief. It moves from creation through Christ's Incarnation, Cross and Resurrection to the Holy Spirit, the Church and the hope of eternal life.
Praying it attentively turns familiar words into a concise profession of the faith that gives the Rosary and the rest of Catholic prayer their context.
