Thank you to the members of the Knights of Columbus Peace Council 4518 for their Mother’s Day brunch on 11 May at Nelson Hall. The Knights arranged a beautiful setting with pastel tablecloths decorated with aromatic flowers. They prepared and served a hearty meal of eggs, pancakes, potatoes, breakfast meats, and breakfast pastries along with coffee and orange juice. Thank you again gentlemen for your thoughtfulness and a fitting way to honor Mother’s Day.
The Nicene Creed was written as a statement of belief but also as a response to the various heresies that were circulating at that time. Most prominent of these heresies were Arianism – the misbelief that Jesus was not a divine person; and Gnosticism – the misbelief that Jesus was not a human person. The Creed emphasized the two natures of Jesus – “He came down from heaven and became man.” Subsequent heresies questioned the role of Jesus as our Messiah and Redeemer – “For us men and for our salvation.” / “For our sake he was crucified.” / “I look forward to the resurrection of the dead.”
Still others questioned the role of the Blessed Mother. The Council of Ephesus (AD 431) settled her title as the Mother of God. As St. Cyril of Alexandria states so beautifully: “Jesus never ceased to be God nor did he reject the dignity of his own preeminence while in the womb or when he came forth from the Holy Virgin.”
Macedonianism misbelieved that the Holy Spirit was a creation of the Son and a servant of the Father. Thus, the Council of Constantinople (AD 381) added the words: “I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.” Note that the current Creed states: “who proceeds from the Father and the Son.” This addition came in the seventh century and the phrase “and the Son” became a source of tension that led to the Schism of AD 1054.
It is a fitting time to reflect upon the inspiring words of the Creed and to thank the many saints, doctors, and theologians who, often while facing persecution and the threat of exile, composed these words that we humbly proclaim as our statement of belief. Blessings to our Holy Father Pope Leo XIV who leads us in upholding these beliefs.
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, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men 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 death and was buried, and rose again on the third day
in accordance with 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,
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.