Nicene Creed
Traditional English
I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages; God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God; begotten, not made, of one substance with the Father. Through Him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation He came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.
For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried, and on the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified; who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins, and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
In Latin
Credo in unum Deum, Patrem omnipotentem, factorem caeli et terrae, visibilium omnium et invisibilium.
Et in unum Dominum Iesum Christum, Filium Dei Unigenitum, et ex Patre natum ante omnia saecula. Deum de Deo, lumen de lumine, Deum verum de Deo vero, genitum, non factum, consubstantialem Patri: per quem omnia facta sunt.
Qui propter nos homines et propter nostram salutem descendit de caelis. Et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto ex Maria Virgine, et homo factus est.
Crucifixus etiam pro nobis sub Pontio Pilato; passus et sepultus est, et resurrexit tertia die, secundum Scripturas, et ascendit in caelum, sedet ad dexteram Patris.
Et iterum venturus est cum gloria, iudicare vivos et mortuos, cuius regni non erit finis.
Et in Spiritum Sanctum, Dominum et vivificantem, qui ex Patre Filioque procedit. Qui cum Patre et Filio simul adoratur et conglorificatur: qui locutus est per prophetas.
Et unam, sanctam, catholicam et apostolicam Ecclesiam. Confiteor unum baptisma in remissionem peccatorum. Et exspecto resurrectionem mortuorum, et vitam venturi saeculi.
Amen.
About this prayer
The Nicene Creed, more precisely called the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed, is one of the Church’s great professions of faith. Its foundations come from the Councils of Nicaea in 325 and Constantinople in 381, where the early Church defended and clarified what Christians believe about Jesus Christ and the Holy Trinity.
Like the Apostles’ Creed, it begins with the words “I believe,” but it gives a fuller expression of several central Christian beliefs. In particular, it affirms that Jesus Christ is truly God, eternally begotten of the Father and not a created being. The Church’s current English liturgical translation uses the word consubstantial to express that the Son shares the same divine nature as the Father.
The Creed then professes faith in Christ’s Incarnation, death, Resurrection, Ascension and return in glory, followed by belief in the Holy Spirit, the Church, Baptism, the resurrection of the dead and eternal life.
Nicene Creed vs. Apostles’ Creed
Both creeds profess the same Catholic faith, but they developed in different settings. The Apostles’ Creed is shorter and has deep roots in the Church’s ancient baptismal profession of faith. The Nicene Creed is longer and gives more detailed language about the divinity of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
The Nicene Creed is the profession of faith most Catholics regularly encounter at Sunday Mass.
Scripture to pray with
- John 1:1-3 – The Word exists from the beginning with God and is God, and all things come to be through Him.
- Colossians 1:15-20 – St. Paul proclaims Christ’s divine identity, His role in creation and His work of reconciliation.
- Matthew 28:19 – Jesus commands His disciples to baptize in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
When to pray it
The Nicene Creed is normally professed by the faithful at Mass on Sundays and solemnities. It follows the readings and homily, allowing the Church to respond to the Word of God by publicly professing the faith before continuing with the celebration of the Eucharist.
You can also pray the Creed outside Mass. Reading it slowly can be a useful way to revisit what Catholics actually believe, especially when familiar words have become easy to recite without thinking about their meaning.