Why do the Creeds not refer to the Eucharist?

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Laura_B

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Hi:
I’m a cradle Catholic who is just curious: Why do neither the Apostles’ nor the Nicene Creeds refer to the Eucharist (or Communion or in any other way to the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord that we receive at Mass)?

I know the Church knows way more than I do, I just wondered how this came to be.

God bless you and yours,
 
Laura_B said:
Hi:
I’m a cradle Catholic who is just curious: Why do neither the Apostles’ nor the Nicene Creeds refer to the Eucharist (or Communion or in any other way to the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord that we receive at Mass)?

I know the Church knows way more than I do, I just wondered how this came to be.

God bless you and yours,
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Well, I can only say that the Creeds do not mention many things that we as Catholics believe. The Creeds are not exclusive to the Catholic Church and are from very ancient times before many of the doctrines were completely articulated.
 
There are many things in our faith not listed in the ancient creeds. In some later creeds the lists include the belief in Three Persons in One God, Seven Sacraments, One Visible Church.

See for example: ccel.org/creeds/athanasian.creed.html or ewtn.com/library/papaldoc/p6credo.htm

Generally creeds are written to identify the orthodox beliefs during a time when heterodox teachings are being proposed. Thus at the time of the nicean creed, one pressing questions was: Is Jesus God or Man. So there is a big section dealing with that: God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God, begotten not made, one in being with the Father

At that time there was no questions concerning the Eucharist, all were united in those beliefs. ALSO the understanding of the Eucharist had not been fully articulated.

I think most of what you are asking is answered in the Creed of the People of God (a recent creed dealing with all the questions of our day, the second link given above).
 
Grace & Peace!
Laura_B said:
Why do neither the Apostles’ nor the Nicene Creeds refer to the Eucharist?
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I’m tempted to say that it shouldn’t be too surprising–neither Creed directly references the Sacraments. The Creeds aren’t meant to be catechetical in nature, but confessional–that is, they are symbols and expressions of the faith which finds its greatest liturgical expression in the Sacraments.

Perhaps also we could say that the Creed is a statement we make (by Grace) to God, and the Sacraments are statements (of Grace) that God makes to us. Grace moves us to speak the Creed, to return the symbol (to use very old parlance)–this gives us access to the gateway to all the Sacraments, Baptism, which allows us to participate fully in the Grace we confessed. The Eucharist then continues (and in a sense, completes) the work begun in us by Baptism by uniting us with Our Lord when we receive him in the Mystery. It is as if the Creed is a key (fashioned by Grace and composed of Grace), to the Household of Grace: the totality of the Seven Sacraments.

On another level, Eucharistic devotion (the way we know it) was not a part of the early church’s devotional repertoire.

On another level, the Fathers who wrote the Creeds were concerned with getting clear a right understanding of the faith. The efficacy of the Sacraments does not hinge on a right understanding (as they operate ex opere operato)–though through Christian initiation, it is to be hoped that a right understanding of the Sacraments would be received.

I’m sure someone else has a more scholarly answer, and can clarify things I have muddied or mis-spoken.

Under the Mercy,
Mark

Deo Gratias!
 
The purpose of the Nicene Creed was to denounce the Arian heresy that claimed Christ was not divine. The Creeds are meant to express the incarnation and the nature of Christ.
 
Laura_B said:
Hi:
I’m a cradle Catholic who is just curious: Why do neither the Apostles’ nor the Nicene Creeds refer to the Eucharist (or Communion or in any other way to the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord that we receive at Mass)?

I know the Church knows way more than I do, I just wondered how this came to be.

God bless you and yours,
Click to expand...
Ecumenical Councils are called to discuss and publish the truth concerning teaching when such truth is denied.

The Nicene Creed was published as a result of the Council of Nicea. At that time there was no heresy that taught contrary to the Catholic Teaching on the Eucharist, therefore the Eucharist needed not be mentioned and therefore wasn’t.

Ken
 
Histories of the Eucharist will show that beginning very early(see St. Paul) and for many centuries the fact of the bread and wine becoming the body and blood of our Lord, Jesus was seldom, if at all, questioned . As one of the posters above stated, there was no need to back up that belief in a creed, because it was accepted by all and never questioned.
 
Nicene Creed:
I believe in One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
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This line in the creed verifies the doctrine of the Real Presence.
If we believe in the Church, we believe in its doctrines. That includes the Eucharist.
 
Deo_Volente said:
Grace & Peace!

I’m tempted to say that it shouldn’t be too surprising–neither Creed directly references the Sacraments.
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Umm … ‘one baptism for the forgiveness of sins’ - that’s two of 'em right there, baptism and reconciliation.

But you’re right, there’s no direct reference to any of the others, or indeed to many many points of Christian or Catholic doctrine either.
 
LilyM said:
Umm … ‘one baptism for the forgiveness of sins’ - that’s two of 'em right there, baptism and reconciliation.
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I think that refers only to the forgiveness of sins intrinsic to baptism, not the distinct Sacrament of Penance per se.
 
Grace & Peace!
LilyM said:
Umm … ‘one baptism for the forgiveness of sins’ - that’s two of 'em right there, baptism and reconciliation.

But you’re right, there’s no direct reference to any of the others, or indeed to many many points of Christian or Catholic doctrine either.
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Absolutely right! How could I forget? Interesting that it’s mentioned in the Nicene Creed, not the Apostle’s Creed, though–and interesting too that the Apostle’s Creed is usually the one used at a Baptism.

I would agree, though, with the poster who expressed reservations re: the forgiveness of sins referring to Confession/Reconciliation. I think that’s a stretch in this context.

Under the Mercy,
Mark

Deo Gratias!
 
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