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Families are called to be a sign of the larger Church community. The Apostles’ Creed is a summary of our Catholic faith, our collective identity as People of God. The Creed can also be used to help families understand who they are and who we are as family.
I believe in God…
Does God come first in our family? Do going to Mass, praying together, and parish activities take priority over other things? As Jesus said, “No servant can serve two masters” (Luke 16:13).
…the Father almighty…
God is all-powerful. Scripture says that He can do “far more abundantly than all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). Do we live our lives with this hope in mind? Do we remember to ask God for help and remain open to the ways in which he might choose to work through us and through situations in our family life?
…creator of heaven and earth.
Everything we have comes from God. We are called to be good stewards of the resources God has given. Do we treat one another as fellow creations of God? Do we use our family’s resources to help others who are less fortunate?
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son our Lord.
The “lord” of something is the one who makes the decisions. For example, a “landlord” is the one who is in charge of a piece of property. If we call Jesus Christ “our Lord,” we say that he is the authority in our household. That means choosing what he would choose, and doing what he would do.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
Every family has hard times. In fact, following Christ means we will face suffering. Sometimes it may feel like things will never get better. But we must not lose hope. Just as Jesus was raised in victory to new life, God will bring new beginnings out of the sorrows and hard times we face as a family.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
In every loving relationship, there is also accountability. We have responsibilities to each other, and we are responsible to God. His unconditional love makes us want to please him. And it’s our love for one another that holds us accountable to one another, even when it means putting our own preferences aside.
I believe in the Holy Spirit…
Our very lives come from God. Knowing that every breath comes from him helps us to understand how his Spirit is present with us and intimately involved with our lives. Do we remain open to where God’s Spirit is guiding us in our relationships with one another and in our family’s interactions with the larger community?
…the holy catholic Church…
Our family is part of a larger community, sharing a common faith and working together for the common good.
…the communion of saints…
Ancestors who have gone before us are still connected to us. They are alive in Christ, and we look forward to the day when all our loved ones are together again.
…the forgiveness of sins…
Family members hurt each other sometimes, and need to be willing to say, “I’m sorry” when we are wrong. We need to be equally willing to forgive and start anew.
…the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen.
We have hope in Christ of eternal life. The hope of eternal togetherness gives us life and energy, and also calls us to nurture our relationships with one another.
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