The words we say to profess our faith are also changing, but our faith is as strong as ever and is not changing! In just a few weeks, we will start using the words on the cards you have to recite the Nicene Creed. There are a number of important changes in the translation of the creed… probably more in this text than in any other words you’ll say at Mass.
The guiding principle for the new translation has been to make the English close to the Latin original. Translators have learned a lot in the past 40 years. This new translation better expresses our common faith with more precision. Catholics profess the creed each Sunday in various languages all around the world. Especially for this part of the Mass, we should all be saying the same words; there is after all, one faith.
The creed we proclaim on most Sunday’s is the Nicene Creed given to us from the Council of Nicea ~ found in present day Turkey ~ a gathering of church leaders in 325… called to settle disputes of our faith and to settle on just what it is Catholics believe.
Take a look at the Nicene Creed. You’ll notice right off that the Creed begins with “I” instead of “we.” The creed is still the faith of the church, but each of us proclaims it to assert our personal faith together with other believers.
“I believe” is a literal translation of the Latin word “credo”, and is consistent with the translation that’s used in many countries around the world for the last 40 years. At first it will sound a little unusual for English speakers, but not to Spanish speakers, for example.
“Of all things visible and invisible.” The choice of words over “seen and unseen” makes this line a little more precise. Some things that are visible by nature are actually unseen at certain times and places. Your relatives who live across the country are visible, but unseen. Your great-great grandfather vase visible once upon a time, but now he is unseen. We believe that God is the maker not only of things we cannot see for whatever reason, but also of things that are in fact invisible ~ for example, the saints and angels who occupy a place in our belief and worship.
“Only Begotten” These words also appear in the Gloria. They replace the word “only,” and they translate the Latin a little more fully. They reaffirm our faith that Jesus had always been part of the Divine plan.
“He was born of the Father before all ages.” This replaces the words “eternally begotten of the Father,” and makes it more precise. Jesus dwelled with the father before time began.
The big word in the Creed is “consubstantial.” It’s a mouthful! In the entire revised translation of the Mass, this is probably the one word that will raise eyebrows. It replaces the expression “one in being.” It describes the relationship between Jesus and the Father. It was one of the main reasons why the Council of Nicea was called in 325 A.D. The word “consubstantial” is thought to be more understandable and closer to the original Latin.
The question of how Jesus relates to the Father has great importance. The Church is filled with problems that arose over this very issue. The council of Nicea chose this word to express the belief of the very divinity of Jesus. The Latin word means having the same substance. It is describing the very nature of Jesus. He is not like anyone else.
The word “incarnate” is another word we don’t use very often. It replaces the word “born” in the previous translation. It means something like “given flesh.” It professes our belief that the very Word of God became flesh when Jesus was born.
The next phrase seems to be little different that the previous… “in accordance with the scriptures” and “in fulfillment of the scriptures.” In Latin, the word more nearly means the bible is being fulfilled… that the work of Jesus death and resurrection is all part of God’s great plan, and the revised translation brings the bible alive once more.
In place of acknowledging, we confess… we profess our belief in as a more profound belief in one baptism for the forgiveness of sins because it involves the heart, not just the head.
“I look forward to the resurrection.” At the end of the creed, instead of saying that we look for the resurrection, we say we look forward to it. This is not only a clearer translation, but it resounds with confidence, as we state belief in a God who gives us faith.
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