Traditional Catholic prayer · Symbolum Apostolorum

The Apostles' Creed

The ancient summary of the faith, prayed at the start of the Rosary and at Baptism.

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;
on the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from there he will 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.

Where it comes from

An ancient baptismal creed of the Church at Rome, in its present wording by about the eighth century. The name comes from a tradition that the Twelve composed it between them; what is certain is that it is the faith they handed on.

Frequently asked

How is it different from the Nicene Creed?

The Apostles' Creed is shorter and older in form, and is the creed of baptism. The Nicene Creed, from the councils of 325 and 381, says more about Christ's divinity and is normally said at Sunday Mass.

What does 'he descended into hell' mean?

Not the hell of the damned, but the realm of the dead — Christ going to the just who died before him.

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