Apostles' Creed vs Nicene Creed at Mass: History, Meaning, and Biblical Roots

Every Sunday, after the homily, Catholics stand and profess the Nicene Creed — "I believe in one God, the Father almighty…" In this session of The Mass Explained, Dr. Brant Pitre distinguishes the two great creeds — the shorter Apostles' Creed (the ancient Roman baptismal creed, said before the Rosary) and the longer Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed of the Councils of Nicaea (325) and Constantinople (381), said at Mass — and shows how the Creed's precise language ("begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father"; the Holy Spirit, "the Lord, the giver of life") was forged to answer the great heresies. He traces how and when the Creed entered the Roman Mass (surprisingly late — 1014), the origin of the "Filioque," and the meaning of bowing at "and became man," drawing on St. Paul's earliest "creed" (1 Corinthians 15:3–5) and the Fathers.

Key passages & sources examined: St. Paul's earliest creed (1 Corinthians 15:3–5); the Councils of Nicaea (325) and Constantinople (381); the Synod of Toledo III (589) on the people reciting the Creed; the addition of the Creed with the Filioque under Pope Benedict VIII (1014); St. Augustine on the daily creed; and William Durand on genuflecting at "and became man."