Having previously presented explanations of the adaptations of the liturgical greeting, the Penitential Act and the words of the ancient hymn of praise, the next in the series focuses on the wording of the creed.
There are actually two creeds in current use in the Catholic Church, the Nicaean and the Apostles' creeds. Although their history and development are varied, both can be used interchangeably at liturgical celebrations. The revisions to the Roman Missal and to the General Instruction that accompany it have also provided some changes to the words that will be recited when we pray these symbols of faith together.
Listen in to this week's reflection or just keep reading to find out more:
The ties that bind
Happy Thanksgiving! With these two words, families small and large from all parts of this country greet each other this weekend. If by chance there should be someone here today who is unfamiliar with the celebration of Thanksgiving, fear not. This is your chance to learn everything you ever wanted to know about a North American Autumn festival. People in the United States also mark this harvest celebration, although not for a few weeks yet. Families of all shapes and sizes gather with friends to share a meal traditionally composed of turkey and a number of other provisions in a true gastronomic feast. This is not a weekend to be on a diet. Instead its a time to indulge and to renew the ties that bind us together: to recognize the many people who have been sources of blessing for us over the past year, to remember occasions of grace and to pay attention to specific ways in which we have been challenged to grow, even as we give thanks for the bounty of the harvest.
The custom of sharing a meal with family and friends is nothing new. Banquets have always been part of major celebrations. It is therefore not by any mere coincidence that the prophet Isaiah speaks of a feast made up of rich food and well-aged wines offered by the Lord of hosts. This imagery was no doubt known to the chief priests and the Pharisees who listened as Jesus tried to explain to them what heaven is like. In this case, he speaks of the riches afforded to royalty, and the lavish love that would compel a monarch to spare no expense for the celebration of his son's wedding meal. In fact, when Jesus instituted the Eucharist, it was his intent that we should see in the simple gifts placed upon the altar, the riches of a banquet which is offered for each and every one of us.
The writings of the early Fathers of the Church and many others after them tell us that great care was taken to explain the mysteries of our faith to those who wanted to understand them. Even from the earliest times, the church has been a source of learning, and those who have endeavored to enter upon the journey of faith have most often been taught first about the creeds, the words we use even today to express our beliefs. In the past number of decades, much of the Church's wisdom has been questioned, and many of our practices examined under microscopes, but the truth is that our beliefs have never changed. Our creeds are just as valid today as they ever have been. Within the words spoken by a gathered congregation lie the ties that bind this community together. Herein are found the beliefs that we profess. In fact, the words of our creeds are still used today to instruct catechumens, those who wish to learn more about us, and who eventually may choose to join us on this journey of faith.
Whether we use the wording of the Nicene Creed, written and adopted at the first Council of Nicaea in 325, or the shorter Apostles' Creed, both are sources of teaching about what the Christian community believes. We use these creeds today to instruct but also to affirm our own belief. In the dioceses of the United States of America, the Creed of choice, spoken every Sunday is the Nicene, however in Canada, we have a choice to use the Nicene or the Apostles' creed during the celebration of our Sunday Masses, and at the Masses celebrated on liturgical Solemnities such as Christmas, Easter and at other times during the year. Like many other parts of the liturgy, the words of these two creeds have been slightly altered in the new translation that we are still learning about. In the coming weeks, we will need to pay particular attention to the words, even as we speak them together.
Each week, we speak these words aloud as a re-affirmation of the faith that binds us together as a people who 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. We believe that he descended into hell; and that 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. We believe also in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.
Together with friends and the members of God's family, let us therefore give thanks for the gift of our faith, and let us speak the words of our creeds boldly, for they are the ties that bind us together. They are the reason for our presence here today, and for our presence in faith with the arrival of every tomorrow.
There are actually two creeds in current use in the Catholic Church, the Nicaean and the Apostles' creeds. Although their history and development are varied, both can be used interchangeably at liturgical celebrations. The revisions to the Roman Missal and to the General Instruction that accompany it have also provided some changes to the words that will be recited when we pray these symbols of faith together.
Listen in to this week's reflection or just keep reading to find out more:
The ties that bind
Happy Thanksgiving! With these two words, families small and large from all parts of this country greet each other this weekend. If by chance there should be someone here today who is unfamiliar with the celebration of Thanksgiving, fear not. This is your chance to learn everything you ever wanted to know about a North American Autumn festival. People in the United States also mark this harvest celebration, although not for a few weeks yet. Families of all shapes and sizes gather with friends to share a meal traditionally composed of turkey and a number of other provisions in a true gastronomic feast. This is not a weekend to be on a diet. Instead its a time to indulge and to renew the ties that bind us together: to recognize the many people who have been sources of blessing for us over the past year, to remember occasions of grace and to pay attention to specific ways in which we have been challenged to grow, even as we give thanks for the bounty of the harvest.
The custom of sharing a meal with family and friends is nothing new. Banquets have always been part of major celebrations. It is therefore not by any mere coincidence that the prophet Isaiah speaks of a feast made up of rich food and well-aged wines offered by the Lord of hosts. This imagery was no doubt known to the chief priests and the Pharisees who listened as Jesus tried to explain to them what heaven is like. In this case, he speaks of the riches afforded to royalty, and the lavish love that would compel a monarch to spare no expense for the celebration of his son's wedding meal. In fact, when Jesus instituted the Eucharist, it was his intent that we should see in the simple gifts placed upon the altar, the riches of a banquet which is offered for each and every one of us.
The writings of the early Fathers of the Church and many others after them tell us that great care was taken to explain the mysteries of our faith to those who wanted to understand them. Even from the earliest times, the church has been a source of learning, and those who have endeavored to enter upon the journey of faith have most often been taught first about the creeds, the words we use even today to express our beliefs. In the past number of decades, much of the Church's wisdom has been questioned, and many of our practices examined under microscopes, but the truth is that our beliefs have never changed. Our creeds are just as valid today as they ever have been. Within the words spoken by a gathered congregation lie the ties that bind this community together. Herein are found the beliefs that we profess. In fact, the words of our creeds are still used today to instruct catechumens, those who wish to learn more about us, and who eventually may choose to join us on this journey of faith.
Whether we use the wording of the Nicene Creed, written and adopted at the first Council of Nicaea in 325, or the shorter Apostles' Creed, both are sources of teaching about what the Christian community believes. We use these creeds today to instruct but also to affirm our own belief. In the dioceses of the United States of America, the Creed of choice, spoken every Sunday is the Nicene, however in Canada, we have a choice to use the Nicene or the Apostles' creed during the celebration of our Sunday Masses, and at the Masses celebrated on liturgical Solemnities such as Christmas, Easter and at other times during the year. Like many other parts of the liturgy, the words of these two creeds have been slightly altered in the new translation that we are still learning about. In the coming weeks, we will need to pay particular attention to the words, even as we speak them together.
Each week, we speak these words aloud as a re-affirmation of the faith that binds us together as a people who 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. We believe that he descended into hell; and that 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. We believe also in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.
Together with friends and the members of God's family, let us therefore give thanks for the gift of our faith, and let us speak the words of our creeds boldly, for they are the ties that bind us together. They are the reason for our presence here today, and for our presence in faith with the arrival of every tomorrow.
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