Notice that one of the first tasks of the liturgical assembly is for the different members to be formed into a single body. The "I" (ie., the first person singular pronoun) of the Creed is, in a sense, the "I" of the singular Body of Christ, who worships God the Father. It is also the personal "I" of the individual believer. This "I believe" of the Creed is able to account for the personal belief and the corporate belief of Christ's mystical body. It is both a baptismal confession and a communal statement of shared faith.
Up Next in Opening Up the Treasures of the Mass
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The Bow in the Creed
There are two types of bows in the Catholic Mass: a simple bow of the head and a profound bow or bow of the body. During the recitation of the Creed, the Church asks all the faithful to make a profound bow. It is meant to be a tremendous sign of the reverence we have for the mysteries we celebrat...
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The Altar
The altar is the central feature of every Catholic church. It is the most significant element in the church building. (It is even more significant than the tabernacle, since without altar, there is no reserved Blessed Sacrament.) The altar is the focal point of every liturgical celebration. The C...
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My Sacrifice and Yours
At the end of the Preparation of the Offerings, the priest says to the people: "Pray, brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice and yours (meum ac vestrum sacrificium) may be acceptable to God the Almighty Father." There are not two sacrifices. Rather, we share in the singular sacrifice of Christ, ...
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