The Nicene creed
After Tim’s comments about the catholic hierarchy below i thought it would be good to print a prayer that is normally said at mass on sundays - it almost makes me want to be a catholic again…and it is even better in Latin.
>I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
>And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, true God of true God; begotten, not made, of one being with the Father, by whom all things were made.
>Who, for us men for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.
>And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.
>And I believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen
A couple of people have convinced me that the Nicence creed is also said by people in the church of england (which really is religion-lite), so here is a prayer that I very much doubt is said by the C of E. It is to Michael the Archangel:
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in our day of battle; protect us against the deceit and wickedness of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray.
And you, O prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God banish into hell Satan and all of the evil spirits who roam through the world seeking the ruin of souls.
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I’ll have none of that Latin here, thank-you:
Why does the Nicene Creed make you want to be a Catholic again, BTW? When I went to church, the creeds (Anglicans do say the Nicene as well, incidentally, but possibly not so often) always struck me as the least interesting part. Who cares about the precise details of what sort of trinitarianism you believe in? But I guess that’s why I’m not a Christian - unlike the heretics who would use any minor reinterpretation of the doctrine to go around fornicating, slaughtering lords, burning churches, etc., I don’t know how to use religious language to talk about the real world. A shame, really, as I could do with a bit of fornication and lord-slaughtering right now.
Comment by Tim @ 1/7/2005 1:25 pm
i think the language is pretty great:
God of God, Light of Light, true God of true God; begotten, not made, being of one being with the Father, by whom all things were made.
especially in latin:
Deum de Deo,
Lumen de Lumine,
Deum verum de Deo vero,
genitum non factum,
consubstantialem Patri;
per quem omnia facta sunt.
catholicism has an aesthetic appeal that no form of protestantism can have. even if anglicans say the nicene creed, i bet they spoil it!
Comment by rachel @ 1/7/2005 7:56 pm
I can confirm that the St Michael prayer isn’t said in the CoE. It looks as if it might well be used by Al Qaeda, though.
Comment by chris @ 1/10/2005 1:50 pm