Does your community still say the Nicean Creed? (Main Forum)

Our parish has adopted the Apostles Creed as being the least worst of the 2 creeds. I don't say either of them and not just because of the sexist language. To me they are superflous in the liturgy, disturb the flow and are ridiculous. Bit like telling ourselves what goody little two shoes we are because we believe all those declarations when probably most people no longer do. People come to church for community and the body of Christ is present IN the gathering of people.

Sandra

We say the Apostles Creed in our Parish. This one annoys me because of its reference to Christ "descending into Hell". It always confused me when I was a child because I didn't see how it was that Christ could go to Hell. Of course I subsequently learned that the term should be Hades, the Abode of the Dead, not Hell, the place of eternal punishment. I wonder how many modern youngsters will get confused too?

I have been somewhere in recent times where the altered version of the Nicean Creed was said and I can only think it was while I was in Ireland back in February. I went twice to Sunday Mass there in a small country town (the church was the size and in the style of a young cathedral!). Very few people made any responses at all of either new or old version. There was no music, no procession in or out, no Offertory procession and on the first Sunday the only lay involvement was in the shape of two lay Ministers assisting in the distribution of Communion, hosts only, no wine. The following Sunday they did have a lay reader as well as the Special Ministers. All the lay people involved were women!
The Parish notices were read by the priest immediately after the Prayer of the Faithful which is a grave liturgical no-no.

I also attended Mass twice in a nursing home run by Camillian priests and brothers. They have a magnificent chapel there. Again there was a lay reader but the distribution of Communion was like the pre Vatican 11 days where the priest rushed up and back across a line of people, although we were standing not kneeling. There were no lay Special Ministers because there was a Camillian Brother assisting the priest. Again Communion was only under one species. I didn't get around to finding out if the laity have ever had both Bread and Wine at Communion as the normal thing at Mass.

Margaret T

Brian, hi! Here recently occasional Apos Creed. Rarely question and answer which I prefer of the other two for I can choose to say yes if I wish.

Francis

My purpose is to remember the love that created me in God one with my brothers and sisters and with all life. My function is to extend that love and unity each moment to all.

I have previously posted the following creed, which I composed back in October 2011 when frustrated with the new liturgy translations about to be forced upon the English speaking church.

For many years and to this very day, I have trouble with both the Apostle's Creed and the Nicean Creed. They are antiquated and filled with ideas that are most difficult to accept today.

The creed below reflects many ideas drawn from many resources, which I have attempted to put into my own words. When writing these ideas, they just flowed easily and joyously from my heart in prayer.

Our “Catholic” Creed for Today’s World

We believe in one God,
our loving parent,
Creator of the whole universe,
and all life known to us,
both seen, unseen and still to be discovered.

We believe that we are but a very small part of
God’s vast creation; which began billions of years ago;
yet knowing we are loved intimately by our God.
God permeates through out the entire Cosmos
and is within us, never leaving us.

We believe in Jesus,
our brother and our teacher,
who was born into this world like us,
loved by human parents.

Jesus showed us how we are passionately loved by God,
from the very beginning;
for humanity was never separated from God.
Jesus taught us that all life is in relationship,
with God, with nature and all humanity.

Jesus brought us out of our human darkness,
to show us the way of living as true children of God.
To embrace our humanity; that to error is human;
and to live our lives to the fullest,
which is God’s vision for all humanity.

Jesus lived to make known to us God’s vision of
compassion and justice in our world.
How we are capable to shape the future
by his Companionship of Empowerment,
which we have always known as Gods’ reign.

For Jesus’ challenging and revolutionary ideas,
he was murdered on a Roman cross;
executed as a common criminal,
by those in religious and civil power,
who were threatened by what Jesus taught
to liberate us from their bonds of control and domination.

Jesus gave his life for what he passionately believed.

Through death God raised Jesus to new life,
to show us the next step in our human evolution.
God showed us what is gifted to us after
our earthly human lives have concluded.

We understand that God’s creation
is a process of birth, death and rebirth.
All creation is embraced in this mystery
from the first moment creation began.

We are continually challenged by God’s Spirit
to seek Truth; to question our beliefs,
and Church teachings for new insights;
and not rely solely on past myths
so that we achieve maturity in our living faith.

Jesus’ Spirit, God’s breathe of love,
lives deeply on through his followers who
commemorate what Jesus said to do in his memory
by our Eucharistic celebration.

Through the Eucharist we are nourished and
empowered to change the world around us,
to preserve the gift of our home we call Earth,
for the good of all humanity,
and bring Gods’ reign into reality today.

Amen, so be it.