Symbolum Apostolorum (Apostle's Creed)
The Apostles' Creed can trace its ancestry, in one form or
another, back to the time of the Apostles. The present form first
appeared in the 6th century in the writings of Caesarius of Arles
(d 542), but prior versions can be traced back to 340 AD in a
letter to Pope Julius I and even still further back to a circa 200
document containing the Roman baptismal liturgy. It appears that
originally this Creed was a baptismal creed summarizing the
teachings of the Apostles and was given to the catechumens when
they were baptized. Instead of the continuous prayer as we have it
today, each line was rather in the form of a question to which the
catechumen gave assent indicating he both understood and believed.
This form is similar to the form found in the Easter Liturgy for
the renewal of the Baptismal promises. Eventually this question
and answer style was modified into the prayer form as we have it
today. A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who recite
the Symbolum Apostolorum.
Credo in Deum Patrem omnipotentem, Creatorem caeli et terrae. Et
in Iesum Christum, Filium eius unicum, Dominum nostrum, qui
conceptus est de Spiritu Sancto, natus ex Maria Virgine, passus
sub Pontio Pilato, crucifixus, mortuus, et sepultus, descendit ad
infernos, tertia die resurrexit a mortuis, ascendit ad caelos,
sedet ad dexteram Dei Patris omnipotentis, inde venturus est
iudicare vivos et mortuos. Credo in Spiritum Sanctum, sanctam
Ecclesiam catholicam, sanctorum communionem, remissionem
peccatorum, carnis resurrectionem et vitam aeternam. Amen.
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I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and
earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was
conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin
Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and
was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day He rose
again. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God,
the Father Almighty. From thence He shall 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 the life everlasting. Amen.
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Taken from the Thesaurus Precum Latinarum
Treasury of Latin Prayers
Compiled and edited by Michael W. Martin, August 1994.
http://catholic.net/RCC/Indices/subs/tlp.html
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