Why Isn't the Nicene Creed Used in Canada?

[Dauphin]

This has been nagging at me for a while. In conversations on these forums, people talk about the Nicene Creed like it’s a normal thing - a regular occurance at every Mass. But in my 19 years as a Catholic, I’ve never once said the Nicene Creed at Mass - with the sole exception of the Traditional Latin Mass I attended earlier this month. Outside of Wikipedia, Catholic websites, and history class, I’ve never even heard the Creed mentioned.

Why is it that, in Canada, the Nicene Creed just isn’t used? Instead, we say a creed intended for children - the Apostles Creed. Do our Bishops think we’re too dim to understand “consubstantial”? Do they not like the word “Men”? Are there other countries in the world that have done this? Is there any prospect of this changing?

 

[Cavaille-Coll]

In the United States, the norms call for the recitation of the Nicene Creed at every Sunday Mass. It is normally omitted for weekday Masses. The Apostles’ Creed is rarely used, mainly at childrens’ Masses (which, thankfully, are also rarely done around here). The same is true in Mexico, where the translation of the Mass in Spanish is considerably closer to the Latin original than our English version. Masses I’ve been to in Germany and Ireland also used the Nicene Creed. I found it strange that the Apostles’ Creed was used at Masses I’ve attended in British Columbia and Alberta.

 

[tjhvn]

The story I read about 10 years ago (and I can’t find the reference so take this for what it is worth) was that after Vatican II, a Vatican liturgist was visiting Canada. A committee looking after the reform of the Mass in Canada spontaneously asked the Vatican official if the Apostles Creed could be used instead of the Nicene Creed. The official more or less shrugged his shoulders and said, “Sure. Why not?”

Has anyone heard any other stories?

 

[Digitonomy]

Instead, we say a creed intended for children - the Apostles Creed.

I don’t think that describing the Apostles’ Creed as intended for children is very accurate. It was the standard for all (not just children) prior to the Council of Nicaea, and is also commonly professed in Lent.

 

[brittrossiter]

I believe that the Church in Canada has a special dispensation of some sort that allows for the use of the Apostles’ Creed in lieu of the Nicene Creed.

 

[Brendan]

I believe that the Church in Canada has a special dispensation of some sort that allows for the use of the Apostles’ Creed in lieu of the Nicene Creed.

No dispensation is necessary. The GIRM calls for the ‘Creed’ to be said or sung. It does not specifiy which of the acceptable Creeds may be used.

The Canadian Bishops chose the Apostles Creed is the normative Creed used.