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Courtney
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Showing my ignorance here, but why do I see the Apostle's Creed in some places and Nicene Creed in others? All of the churches I've attended (since my conversion in 1993) use the Nicene Creed. However, anything re: the Rosary uses the Apostle's Creed. Also, there is part of the Apostle's Creed that I don't understand.
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty;
What does it mean when it talks about Him descending into hell? Thank you for answering questions I should know the answer to!
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Courtney in Texas
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Christine
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My children have been asking me this question lately. I am not a theologian, but I explained to them that sometimes English translations are not quite accurate and can be a little misleading. In Latin, "descended into hell" is stated as, "descendit ad inferos" and in French, "il est descendu aux enfers". Both the Latin and French refer to hell in the plural sense, stating that Christ descended into the hells. Leading me to believe that Christ did not physically go to hell because those who have gone to hell have no hope. Rather, he went to the place or abode (Limbo) where the dead, who deserved to go to Heaven and be united with God, were waiting for the gates of Heaven to be opened.
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MaryM
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Here is nice explanation of "descended into hell" from Catholics United for Faith Faith Tracts.
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Mary M. in Denver
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Courtney
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Thank you, Mary and Christine. So, do most parishes use the Apostles Creed? Why do some use the Nicene Creed instead?
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Courtney in Texas
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MaryM
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No, all parishes should be using the Nicean Creed. It is the one that is indicated as the norm for the Roman Rite for the Liturgy. It is a fuller expression of the faith than the Apostle's Creed which is older. Both creeds express the faith, but the Nicean Creed was developed at the Council of Nicea to address questions/heresies that had come up and needed to be corrected. That is what makes it a "fuller" expression.
The Apostle's Creed being a more basic expression of the faith is still used - like you said particularly when praying the Rosary. It is also used in the Baptismal rite. Here is article on "The Liturgical Use of Creeds" from the Catholic Encyclopedia. Hope it's helpful.
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Mary M. in Denver
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Jen L.
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Courtney wrote:
Also, there is part of the Apostle's Creed that I don't understand.
What does it mean when it talks about Him descending into hell? Thank you for answering questions I should know the answer to! |
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First off, there are plenty of us who "don't know the answer!" -- we are on the journey together. I JUST started investigating this one last month after my husband's work-friend asked him about it (said friend is non-denominational Christian).
Anyway, here are a couple of items that I found useful:
Father William Saunders - Straight Answers column (from just 2 weeks ago)
relevant Catechism section
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Jen
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teachingmom
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I don't know if there are other approved circumstances, but I believe that the Apostles Creed may be used in children's Masses.
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~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
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Angie Mc
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Courtney, this is a question that many ask. Here's an article that was just posted on Catholic Exchange that briefly explains "He descended into Hell."
Everyone's great information will also come in handy when discussing The DaVinci Code. From George Weigel...
One of the reasons why so many Catholics have been vulnerable to the novel’s preposterous claims is that most Catholics are woefully ignorant of the Church’s history. How, for example, did the original Christian confession about Jesus of Nazareth — “Jesus is Lord” — came to doctrinal articulation in the Nicene Creed: “God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God; begotten not made, one in Being with the Father”? If you don’t know, at least in broad strokes, how the Creed of the Council of Nicaea came to express the New Testament faith of the Church, you’re going to be vulnerable to Dan Brown’s risible suggestion that it was all imperial politics in the age of Constantine. So I can well imagine a month’s worth of sermons on the development of Christology, the Church’s theology of Jesus as Son of God....
Love,
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Jen L.
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| Posted: May 16 2006 at 10:31pm | IP Logged
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Here's one more explanation...from Pope John Paul II
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Jen
dh Klete,ds (8/95),dd (12/97), dd (11/00), and ^2^ in heaven
"...the best state in which to glorify God is our actual state; the best grace is that of the moment..." St. Peter Eymard
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Jen L.
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Oops, I found one more thing at the Catholic Educator's Research Center. More from Father William Saunders
In the aricle he answers the following question: "I noticed that in my worship aid at my Church, the Nicene Creed and the Apostles’ Creed are both printed. There is some small print referring to "The Directory for Children’s Masses" above the Apostles’ Creed. Is there an option? Why are there two creeds?"
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Jen
dh Klete,ds (8/95),dd (12/97), dd (11/00), and ^2^ in heaven
"...the best state in which to glorify God is our actual state; the best grace is that of the moment..." St. Peter Eymard
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Courtney
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| Posted: May 17 2006 at 6:32am | IP Logged
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Wow! Thanks for all the great links. That really clears it up. I've bookmarked the Jesus Decoded website as well to go back to. THank, thank you!
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Courtney in Texas
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Mom to Candace 10/97,Christopher 4/00 and Connor 11/11
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4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: Apostle's Creed/Nicene Creed
