Catholic Sunday School
ClassesGrade 3Lesson 1

We Believe: The Creed

The Creed is a summary of what the Church believes about God.

Believe 10 minutes CCC 150–155, 185–197

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The first Christians wanted a short summary of their faith that they could learn by heart, especially before they were baptized. These summaries are called creeds, from the Latin word credo, which means “I believe.”

The two creeds we pray most often are:

  • The Apostles' Creed: a very old summary of the faith of the apostles, used at Baptism in the early Church of Rome.
  • The Nicene Creed: written at the great Church councils of Nicaea (in the year 325) and Constantinople (in 381). We pray it at Sunday Mass.

The Creed has three main parts, following the Holy Trinity: God the Father and creation; God the Son and how He saved us; and God the Holy Spirit, along with the Church, the forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

Faith is a gift from God, and it is also our free answer to Him. When we say “I believe,” we join Christians across the world and all through history who have professed the same faith.

Catechism: CCC 150–155, 185–197Scripture: Romans 10:9–10

Words to know

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Keep this in your heart
The Creed is a summary of what Catholics believe: in God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Say it out loud three times. Tap a circle each time!

Quiz

  1. What does the Latin word credo mean?
    Answer: I believe
  2. Which creed do we usually pray at Sunday Mass?
    Answer: The Nicene Creed
  3. The three main parts of the Creed are about…
    Answer: The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit
  4. What is faith?
    Answer: A gift from God and our free answer to Him

Pray & do

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, and 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.

Activity

Divide a page into three columns: Father, Son, Holy Spirit. As you read the Apostles' Creed, write each belief in the right column.

Family corner

Pray the Apostles' Creed together at the start of a family Rosary or at bedtime. Learn one line a day until everyone knows it by heart.

Lesson complete!

Today's big idea: The Creed is a summary of what the Church believes about God.

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