Youcat commented through CCC. Question n. 26 – Part I.

YOUCAT Question n. 26 - Part I. What are Creeds?

(Youcat answer) Creeds are brief formulas of faith that make it possible for all believers to make a common profession.     

A deepening through CCC

(CCC 185) Whoever says "I believe" says "I pledge myself to what we believe." Communion in faith needs a common language of faith, normative for all and uniting all in the same confession of faith. (CCC 186) From the beginning, the apostolic Church expressed and handed on her faith in brief formulae normative for all (Cf. Rom 10:9; 1 Cor 15:3-5, etc.). But already very early on, the Church also wanted to gather the essential elements of her faith into organic and articulated summaries, intended especially for candidates for Baptism: This synthesis of faith was not made to accord with human opinions, but rather what was of the greatest importance was gathered from all the Scriptures, to present the one teaching of the faith in its entirety. And just as the mustard seed contains a great number of branches in a tiny grain, so too this summary of faith encompassed in a few words the whole knowledge of the true religion contained in the Old and the New Testaments (St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Catech. illum. 5, 12: PG 33, 521-524).    

Reflecting and meditating 

(Youcat comment) Brief formulas of this kind can be found already in the letters of St. Paul. The early Christian Apostles’ Creed has a special dignity, because it is thought to be a summary of the faith of the Apostles. The Nicene Creed is highly esteemed because it resulted from the great councils of the Church when she was still undivided (Nicaea, 325; Constantinople, 381) and is to this day the common basis for the Christian in the East and the West.

(CCC Comment)

(CCC 192) Through the centuries many professions or symbols of faith have been articulated in response to the needs of the different eras: the creeds of the different apostolic and ancient Churches (Cf. DS 1-64), e.g., the Quicumque, also called the Athanasian Creed (Cf. DS 75-76); The professions of faith of certain Councils, such as Toledo, Lateran, Lyons, Trent (Cf. DS 525-541; 800-802; 851-861; 1862-1870); or the symbols of certain popes, e.g., the Fides Damasi (Cf. DS 71-72) or the Credo of the People of God of Paul VI (Paul VI, CPG (1968). (CCC 193) None of the creeds from the different stages in the Church's life can be considered superseded or irrelevant. They help us today to attain and deepen the faith of all times by means of the different summaries made of it. Among all the creeds, two occupy a special place in the Church's life.  

(This question: What are Creeds? is continued)