Nga Wakapono — The Beliefs
Being Catholic
As Christians, Catholics believe in one God who has been revealed to be Trinity. Catholics believe that one God in three divine persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The Creed
The core beliefs of the Catholic Faith are expressed through Creeds. Creeds are prayers that profess the faith and are agreed on by the entire Church community.
The Nicene Creed
- I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.
- I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end.
- I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified who has spoken through the prophets.
- I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen
The Nicene Creed is only one of the Creeds of the Catholic Church. At Sunday Masses a Creed is proclaimed. This will be either the Nicene Creed or one of the oldest Creeds - the Apostle's Creed.
A key Christian belief concerns the Trinity the knowledge that there is One God, three persons.
The challenge for many of us is to pray the familiar words of the Creed rather than just rush through it like a robot.