Thursday in the Third Week of Lent

We pray through a Lenten opening and then reflect on why the Creed is a living summary of the faith, not a prayer we rush past at Mass. We look at the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed, and we ask what it would mean to treasure these words as the “spiritual seal” and “treasure of our soul”. 
• opening prayers and a daily offering through the Immaculate Heart of Mary 
• what the Apostles’ Creed is and why it carries authority 
• what the Nicene Creed is and why it remains widely shared 
• how the Creed keeps faith centred on the Trinity and God’s saving work 
• why the Creed strengthens hope in forgiveness, resurrection, and everlasting life 
• the danger of praying the Creed mechanically at Mass 
• the witness of martyrs and St Ambrose’s image of the Creed as a guardian 
• questions to examine whether we know and treasure the Creed by heart 
If you found this time of prayer and reflection fruitful and would like more opportunities to grow in your faith this Lent, consider joining the Cristeros and purchasing our Lenten Reflection booklet, now available on Amazon.com. The Cristeros app is available on the Apple app and Google Play Store. More information on the Cristeros can be found at theCristeros.org. 

Transcript

The Creeds Explained Simply

Why The Creed Should Shape You

From Routine To Martyr Witness

Closing Prayers And Invitation

SPEAKER_00 0:03

Thursday, in the third week of Lent. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. O God, come to my assistance. O Lord, make haste to help me. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day, in union with the holy sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, for the remission of my sins, for the intentions of my family and friends, and in particular for the Holy Father. Amen. The Creed, whether the Apostles or the Nicene, is a summary of our faith. The Catechism speaks of these two symbols of faith in this way. The Apostles' Creed is so called because it is rightly considered to be a faithful summary of the Apostles' faith. It is the ancient baptismal symbol of the Church of Rome. Its great authority arises from this fact. It is the Creed of the Roman Church, the See of Peter, the first of the Apostles, to which he brought the common faith. The Niceno-Constantinopolitan or Nicene Creed draws its great authority from the fact that it stems from the first two ecumenical councils. It remains common to all the great churches of both East and West to this day. Clearly, the Creed is important. It reminds us regularly of our faith in the Trinity, in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and in the saving work that the Trinity carried out on our behalf. It reminds us of the importance of the Church and her extension of God's mission among us. It gives us hope in forgiveness, resurrection, and everlasting life. These words, this summary of faith, should be near to our hearts and lips often, both to renew and to bolster our faith, and so that we can always be found in the truth of God, and not be led away by diverse and strange teachings. Very easily, however, the creed in any of its forms can be the long prayer we get through before we sit down again at Mass. This is quite sad, for the Creed was written and lived by martyrs. It is written in their very blood and contains in it the great teachings of our faith. The faith by which we are adhered to God in Christ, who gave us this very faith. Listen to how St. Ambrose speaks of the Creed. This creed is the spiritual seal, our heart's meditation, and an ever-present guardian. It is unquestionably the treasure of our soul. Is this how you think of the Creed? Do you treasure these holy words of our fathers in faith? Do you know them by heart? All that I have, and all that I am, I give to your hands, Jesus, through the heart of Mary, your blessed mother. Amen. Sacred heart of Jesus, have mercy on us. Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. If you found this time of prayer and reflection fruitful and would like more opportunities to grow in your faith this Lent, consider joining the Christeros and purchasing our Lenten Reflection booklet, now available on Amazon.com. The Christeros app is available on the Apple app and Google Play Store. More information on the Christeros can be found at theCristeros.org.