Credo In Unum Deum …

We cannot avoid death! Common sense, guided by the Holy Spirit, tells us that our life must mean something. The ancients, with fewer distractions around them than we have now, were more sensitive to Divine inspiration and knew the meaning of life: to know love and serve God. Death is the living proof that God exists. Let’s drive this point home another way by assuming the nihilistic approach: that God does not exist. In that case your life is as meaningless as your death – and that is horrifying to your Soul. Conversely therefore, if God does exist: His Church tells us that those that know, love and serve God faithfully will be eternally rewarded in heaven; and those otherwise will forever be tormented by their stupidity in the everlasting fire of hell. The ancients wrote in the Proverbs that hell is a place to be avoided by the wise. At this point let’s pause to contemplate the actions of an unwise fly as it surrenders unto temptation in its pursuit into hell:

For every action there is an opposite re-action: short term pleasure always leads to long term suffering. As an aside, housewives treasure great recipes for terrific food (to the heart, through the stomach, as it were). Did you know that God’s own Church also has a perfect recipe? Its called the Formula of Catholic Faith and Doctrine. If you follow the Formula you will receive eternal reward in Heaven. If you don’t, you’ll perish (beyond redemption) in hell, like an unfortunate fly. The choice is yours!

FORMULAS OF CATHOLIC FAITH

The Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (© Copyright 2005 – Libreria Editrice Vaticana) provides in concise form the essential and fundamental elements of the Church’s teaching, usually in a question and answer format.

On the matter of faith, the Compendium says: “Faith is the supernatural virtue which is necessary for salvation. It is a free gift of God and is accessible to all who humbly seek it. The act of faith is a human act, that is, an act of the intellect of a person – prompted by the will moved by God – who freely assents to Divine truth. Faith is also certain because it is founded on the Word of God; it works “through charity” (Galatians 5:6) and it continually grows through listening to the Word of God and through prayer. It is, even now, a foretaste of the joys of heaven” (Q28)

30. Why is faith a personal act and at the same time ecclesial?

Faith is a personal act insofar as it is the free response of the human person to God who reveals Himself. But at the same time it is an ecclesial act which expresses itself in the proclamation: “We believe”. It is in fact the Church that believes and thus by the grace of the Holy Spirit precedes, engenders and nourishes the faith of each Christian. For this reason the Church is Mother and Teacher.

31 Why are the formulas of faith important?

The formulas of faith are important because they permit one to express, assimilate, celebrate and share together with others the truths of the faith through a common language.

The Church has two formulas of faith: The Apostles Creed and the Nicene Creed.

PROFESSION OF FAITH – THE APOSTLES CREEED:

I believe in God the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son,  our Lord,

(at the words that follow up to and including “the Virgin Mary”, all Catholics bow)

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 rose 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.

Symbolum Apostolicum

Credo in Deum Patrem omnipoténtem, Creatorem cæli et terræ, et in Iesum Christum, Filium Eius unicum, Dominum nostrum, qui concéptus est de Spíritu Sancto, natus ex Maria Virgine, passus sub Póntio Piláto, crucifixus, mórtuus, et sepúltus, descéndit ad ínferos, tértia die resurréxit a mórtuis, ascéndit ad cælos, sedet ad déxteram Dei Patris omnipoténtis, inde ventúrus est iudicáre vivos et mórtuos.

Et in Spíritum Sanctum,
sanctam Ecclésiam cathólicam,
sanctórum communiónem,
remissiónem peccatórum,
carnis resurrectiónem,
vitam ætérnam. Amen.

PROFESSION OF FAITH – THE NICENE CONSTANTINOPOLITAN CREEED:

I believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.

I believe one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
one in Being with the Father.
Through Him all things were made.

For us men and for our salvation,
He came down from heaven:

(at the words that follow up to and including “and became man” , all Catholics bow)

by the power of the Holy Spirit He was
born of the Virgin Mary,
and became Man.

For our sake He was crucified
under Pontius Pilate;
He suffered, died, and was buried.

On the third day He rose again
in fulfillment of 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, the Giver of life,
Who proceeds from the Father and
the Son. With the Father and the Son
He is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the prophets.

I believe in one, holy, catholic,
and apostolic Church.

I acknowledge one Baptism
for the forgiveness of sins.
I look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.

Amen.

Symbolum Nicænum Costantinopolitanum

Credo in unum Deum,
Patrem omnipoténtem,
Factorem cæli et terræ,
visibílium ómnium et invisibilium
Et in unum Dóminum Iesum
Christum,
Filium Dei unigénitum
et ex Patre natum
ante ómnia sǽcula:
Deum de Deo, Lumen de Lúmine,
Deum verum de Deo vero,
génitum, non factum, consubstantiálem Patri: per quem ómnia
facta sunt;
qui propter nos hómines
et propter nostram salútem,
descéndit de cælis, et incarnátus est
de Spíritu Sancto ex Maria Víirgine
et homo factus est, crucifíxus étiam
pro nobis sub Póntio Piláto, passus
et sepúltus est, et resurréxit tértia
die secúndum Scriptúras,
et ascéndit in cælum, sedet ad
déxteram Patris, et íterum ventúrus
est cum glória, iudicáre vivos et
mórtuos, cuius regni non erit finis.

Credo in Spíritum Sanctum, Dominum et vivificántem, qui ex Patre
Filióque procédit, qui cum Patre et
Fílio simul adorátur et conglorificátur, qui locútus est per prophétas.

Et unam sanctam cathólicam
et apostólicam Ecclésiam.

Confíteor unum Baptísma
in remissiónem peccatórum.
Et exspécto resurrectiónem mortuórum,
et vitam ventúri sæculi.

Amen.

FORMULAS OF CATHOLIC DOCTRINE

The Appendix of the Compendium also contains formulas of Catholic doctrine.

The two commandments of love:

1. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.
2. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

The Golden Rule (Mathew 7:12):

Do to others as you would have them do to you.

The Beatitudes (Mathew 5:3 – 12):

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure of heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.

The three theological virtues: 1. Faith, 2. Hope, 3. Charity.

The four cardinal virtues: 1. Prudence, 2. Justice, 3. Fortitude, 4. Temperance.

The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: 1. Wisdom, 2. Understanding, 3. Counsel, 4. Fortitude, 5. Knowledge, 6. Piety, 7. Fear of the Lord.

The twelve fruits of the Holy Spirit: 1 Charity, 2. Joy, 3. Peace, 4. Patience, 5. Kindness, 6. Goodness,       7.  Generosity, 8. Gentleness, 9. Faithfulness, 10.  Modesty, 11. Self-control, 12. Chastity.

The five precepts of the Church:

1. You shall attend Mass on Sundays and on holy days of obligation and remain free from work or activity that could impede the sanctification of such days.
2. You shall confess your sins at least once a year.
3. You shall receive the sacrament of the Eucharist at least during the Easter season.
4. You shall observe the days of fasting and abstinence established by the Church.
5. You shall help to provide for the needs of the Church.

The seven corporal works of mercy: 1. Feed the hungry. 2. Give drink to the thirsty. 3. Clothe the naked. 4. Shelter the homeless. 5. Visit the sick. 6. Visit the imprisoned. 7. Bury the dead.

The seven spiritual works of mercy: 1. Counsel the doubtful. 2. Instruct the ignorant. 3. Admonish sinners. 4. Comfort the afflicted.
5. Forgive offenses. 6. Bear wrongs patiently. 7. Pray for the living and the dead.

The seven capital sins: 1. Pride 2. Covetousness 3. Lust 4. Anger 5. Gluttony 6. Envy 7. Sloth

The four last things: 1. Death, 2. Judgment, 3. Hell, 4. Heaven

The part of this blog relating to the Formulas of Catholic Faith and  Formulas of Catholic Doctrine were adapted from the pamphlet titled “What we Believe: Formulas of Catholic Faith and Doctrine”  © Copyright St Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta – revised Nov 2011.

Keeping your Soul pure is very simple! The strength of your Faith purifies your Soul.

Prowadzenie swą Duszę czystą jest bardzo proste! Moc waszej Wiary oczyszcza waszą Duszę.

God told us to celebrate the miracle of the Blessed Eucharist at Mass in His Catholic Church, to keep our Faith strong and our Soul worthy of His eternal reward.

Oznajmił nam Bóg zebyśmy uczcili cud Eucharistii Świętej przez naszą obecność na Mszy Świętej w jego Katolickim Kościele, by utrzymać silną Wiarę i czystą Duszę godne Jego wiecznej nagrody.

Celebrating the Blessed Eucharist and practicing your Faith in the traditional, disciplined and strict Polish way, by attending Masses at our Catholic Church, Our Lady of Czestochowa, Queen of Poland at Marayong, will provide you with world class training to nourish and fuel your soul, guaranteeing that you will develop rational happiness and perfection as a civilized human being.

Obchodzenie Eucharistii Świętej i praktykowanie Wiarę waszą oparte na tradycyjny, zdyscyplinowany i ścisły Polski sposób, przez uczęszczanie na Mszy Świętej w naszym Kościele Katolickim. Najświętszej Maryi Panny Częstochowskiej, Królowej Polski, w Marayong, zapewni Państwu światowej klasy szkolenia na karmienie i rozpaliwanie swą Duszę, gwarantując, że państwo będzie się rozwijać racjonalnego szczęśliwości i doskonałość jako zcywilizowany człowiek.

Our beloved Catholic Church is an indestructible spiritual fortress of good securely protecting you against the corrosive forces of evil!

Nasz ukochany Kościół Katolicki jest niezniszczalną, twierdzą duchową dobra, bezpiecznie broniący nas przed korozyjne siły zła !