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Introduction To The Course On The Creed
Introduction To The Course On The Creed
Contents
Introduction
to
the
course
on
the
Creed
.................................................................................
1
I.
The
challenge
to
believe
...................................................................................................................
1
II.
“Credo”
as
the
central
Christian
word
.......................................................................................
2
Conversion
as
foundation
for
the
Creed
.......................................................................................................
3
The
invisible
became
visible
..............................................................................................................................
4
Faith
as
a
decision
...................................................................................................................................................
4
Faith
as
answer
on
the
sense
of
life
................................................................................................................
5
The
reason
of
Faith
.................................................................................................................................................
5
III.
Personal
and
ecclesiastic
dimension
of
Faith
........................................................................
6
IV.
Brief
history
of
the
Creed
..............................................................................................................
7
1
Francis, Encyclical Lumen Fidei, in: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/francesco/encyclicals/documents/papa-
francesco_20130629_enciclica-lumen-fidei_en.html [10.09.2013] 3.
2
Joseph Card. Ratzinger, Homily Pro eligendo Romano Pontifice, 18 April 2005, in:
http://www.vatican.va/gpII/documents/homily-pro-eligendo-pontifice_20050418_en.html [6.8.2013].
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Dr. Ralph Weimann The Creed
More basically than to ask how we believe is at first the question in what the
belief consists. “Credo” is the expression of the central Christian word; it
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Dr. Ralph Weimann The Creed
reflects more a posture than an abstract belief. Therefore the question what it
really means when someone says “I believe” is essential. How do we believe,
why is it so difficult to believe? It is quite certain that it was never easy to
believe, to make one’s own the word “I believe”. In all times there were always
just “fellow travelers”, people who believed because the society imposed or
required this attitude from them. In most parts at least of the Western world this
has changed entirely. Today people believe in spite of opposition.
One of the most remarkable characteristics of the word credo is that it
provides a second access (the first through reason) to reality; it is an access
through faith. The word credo includes therefore a basic conviction that things
we do not see are not unreal, but the foundation of what is. The letter to the
Hebrews says therefore: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the
conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval.
By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so
that what is seen was made from things that are not visible” (Heb 11:1-3). Pope
Francis said that “Christian faith is centered on Christ.”3
3
Francis, Encyclical Lumen Fidei, 15.
4
Cf. Ebd., 13.
5
Cf. R. Weimann, Dogma und Fortschritt bei Joseph Ratzinger. Prinzipien der Kontinuität, Paderborn 2012.
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Dr. Ralph Weimann The Creed
Faith as a decision
Christian Faith is a response to God, who reveals himself, it is a
fundamental decision. Every believer has to take a stand, he has to answer to
God who reveals himself. The Catechism expresses this fact with the following
words: “Faith is man's response to God, who reveals himself and gives himself
to man, at the same time bringing man a superabundant light as he searches for
the ultimate meaning of his life.“8 Already Cyrill of Jerusalem († 386) said that
the word “faith” is not only a linguistic expression, but faith is referred to the
doctrine and implies the consent of the soul to this or that truth. An inner
adherence to what is believed is essential for the Christian understanding of
Faith. To believe is above all a decision, which implies the whole man; it is an
answer to God who revealed himself as the truth (cf. Jn 14:6). The decision to
believe can be made only in freedom, respecting one’s personal will, because
“man commits his whole self freely to God, offering the full submission of
intellect and will to God who reveals and freely assenting to the truth revealed
6
Cf. Joseph Ratzinger, Einführung in das Christentum, München 2000, 46-51.
7
DV, 2, in:
http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19651118_dei-
verbum_en.html [6.8.2013].
8
Catecism of the Catholic Church, 26.
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Dr. Ralph Weimann The Creed
by Him.”9 This decision requires as well the grace of God, the interior help of
the Holy Spirit, who turns man’s heart towards God.
9
DV, 5, in:
http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19651118_dei-
verbum_en.html [6.8.2013].
10
John Paul II, Encyclical Fides et Ratio, on the relationship between Faith and Reason, in:
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_15101998_fides-et-
ratio_en.html, Nr. 107, [6.8.2013].
11
Cf. Francis, Encyclical Lumen Fidei, 26-28.
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Dr. Ralph Weimann The Creed
human heart a desire to know the truth – in a word, to know himself – so that, by
knowing and loving God, men and women may also come to the fullness of
truth about themselves.”12 Faith is and remains a mystery, but reason tries to
understand this mystery, tries to make it understandable. “Revelation therefore
introduces into our history a universal and ultimate truth which stirs the human
mind to ceaseless effort; indeed, it impels reason continually to extend the range
of its knowledge until it senses that it has done all in its power, leaving no stone
unturned.”13
12
John Paul II., Encyclical Fides et Ratio, 1.
13
Ebd., 14. Cf. Francis, Encyclical Lumen Fidei, 32-34.
14
CCC, 166.
15
Ebd., 168.
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16
Paul VI, Moto Proprio Solemni hac Liturgia, in:
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/motu_proprio/documents/hf_p-vi_motu-
proprio_19680630_credo_en.html [6.8.2013].
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