I would certainly answer no. No one actually knows the entire truth. And yes I know faithful Catholics believe their church/religion/faith contains the fullness of truth. “Believe” of course being the key word for me in there. But PRMerger assures me everyone knows that and it is not necessarily to say so.
Got it. I count a number of “believes”.Hence the Catholic Profession of Faith:
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, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance 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.
Should catholic in the last paragraph be capitalized though? To the faithful professing, does it mean the Catholic Church in communion with Rome or I know other Christians that make the same profession but consider “little c” catholic as meaning universal.The key is to follow the Christ. No other sect or religion has the authority given by Christ who taught “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.”
Actually, you should be saying, “*I believe *that no one actually knows the entire truth. But I could be wrong, of course, since I’m not 100% certain of this. So I entertain the idea that some Church may actually know the entire truth.”
My understanding is that the “catholic” is a small “c” because the Catholic Church is not claiming exclusive possession of faith. The test of the fullness of faith and true Church is in the fulfillment of the four attributes or “pillars” as we Catholics call them: “one” meaning there was only one church established by Christ; “holy” meaning the church is holy because God is Holy; “catholic” meaning universal - the entire church consists of all of Jesus’ followers; and “apostolic” meaning the true church has been under the care of the succession of leaders extending back to the Apostles who were handed Jesus’ Church on earth. All four “pillars” of faith must be there to be a Catholic profession of faith.Got it. I count a number of “believes”.
It has always been ‘little c’ for the word ‘catholic’ in the Nicene Creed.Got it. I count a number of “believes”.
Yeah but it’s been quite a number of decades since a practicing one.It has always been ‘little c’ for the word ‘catholic’ in the Nicene Creed.
Are you sure you were Catholic once?
And I was looking at a different profession of faith issued by Rome in 1956 which has the HCC in caps.For my education, can you post the profession of faith you have from 1956? I don’t recall anything later than 8th century (the Apostles’ Creed) but it could be a valid Catholic Creed that was not published.Yeah but it’s been quite a number of decades since a practicing one.
I found this on pg 61 of an old booklet I have called “Outlines of the Catholic Faith”, copyright 1980, the Leaflet Missal Company, St Paul, Minnesota, with imprimatur: John R Roach, archbishop of St Paul and Minneapolis:
Interesting. I wouldn’t have a problem reciting this. It contains the Apostle’s Creed and expands it to include other Catholic beliefs which all Catholics are obligated to accept.
I found the expansion I have interesting too. I couldn’t find it online either so I typed the whole thing from the booklet and I’m not the speediest typist on earth. (You are very welcome 808Catholic.)
I wasn’t sure it was going to fit in one post but it did. I’m curious though why it seems the profession of the faith changes over time? As you said the one I quoted was expanded. And in the Apostle’s Creed you mentioned, isn’t the Holy Catholic Church in capital letter C but the Nicene is small letter c. Peace to you as well.This (from your post) is the Apostle’s Creed, which Catholics say as the first prayer of the Rosary (said on the crucifix). It’s also used in other places, but it’s not the creed used during the Mass (when I first learned it, it was slightly different than this version). “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 arose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.”I found the expansion I have interesting too. I couldn’t find it online either so I typed the whole thing from the booklet and I’m not the speediest typist on earth. (You are very welcome 808Catholic.)
I don’t believe the profession of faith has changed. What you saw was a teaching guide which, appropriately, incorporated the Apostles Creed as a basis, but not exhaustive list of what we are required to believe as Catholics.I found the expansion I have interesting too. I couldn’t find it online either so I typed the whole thing from the booklet and I’m not the speediest typist on earth. (You are very welcome 808Catholic.)
Hi Lori, yes I know. But which is the current profession of faith? I look at capital C as the Catholic Church in communion with Rome. But to me small c as meaning the universal body of believers. Not only Catholics. At least that’s my understanding as to how Christians not in communion with Rome look at it in reciting the Nicene creed. But is small c and cap C all the same to faithful Catholics?
Thanks for your answer. It pretty much answered my previous post. Hadn’t seen your post ahead of time.I don’t believe the profession of faith has changed. What you saw was a teaching guide which, appropriately, incorporated the Apostles Creed as a basis, but not exhaustive list of what we are required to believe as Catholics.
The profession of faith recited at Mass would usually be the Nicene Creed, although the Apostle’s Creed is sometimes used, and those have not changed. I have never heard any expansion of the Creed used in a liturgy.
I believe the Apostle’s Creed does use the capital C. Not sure that really changes anything as at the time both creeds were written only the Catholic Church was in existence, so no need to distinguish the Catholic Church from the “catholic” Church.
Peace.
Steve
Hi, Sy.