he Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth;
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the
Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was
crucified; died, and was buried. He descended into hell: the third day
He arose again from the dead: He ascended into heaven, sitteth 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 Ghost, the Holy
Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the
resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Q. 50. What is a creed?
A. A creed is a summary or list of the chief truths we believe or
profess to believe. It is a compendium of doctrine.

Q. 51. Why is this creed called the Apostles'?
A. This creed is called the Apostles' because it came down to us from
the Apostles, and also to distinguish it from longer creeds in use in
the Church, such as the Nicene Creed, which is said in the Mass; the
Athanasian Creed, which is said in the priests' divine Office, and the
Creed of Pope Pius IV, which is used on solemn occasions.

Q. 52. Do all these creeds teach the same doctrines?
A. All these creeds teach the same doctrines, for the longer creeds are
only a fuller explanation of the truths contained in the Apostles'
Creed.

Q. 53 Who were the Apostles?
A. The Apostles were the twelve men selected by Our Lord to be the first
bishops of His Church.

Q. 54. How do you know the Apostles were bishops?
A. I know the Apostles were bishops because they could administer the
Sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Orders and make laws for the Church,
as we learn from Holy Scripture, and these powers belong to bishops
alone.

Q. 55. Who were the disciples of Our Lord?
A. The disciples were the seventy-two chosen followers of Our Lord, whom
He sent to preach and perform good works in every city and place whither
He Himself was to come. The Apostles also are frequently called "the
disciples."

Q. 56. Why did the Apostles leave us a creed?
A. The Apostles left us a creed that all who wished to become Christians
might have a standard of the truths they must know and believe before
receiving Baptism.

Q. 57. How many articles or parts in the Apostles' Creed?
A. There are twelve articles or parts in the Apostles' Creed. They refer
to God the Father in the works of creation; to God the Son in the works
of redemption; to God the Holy Ghost in the