The Source of the Holy Creed of our Catholic Faith

 Then the most blessed Mary asked each of the Apostles to define a mystery, according as the divine Holy Spirit should inspire them:

Thereupon Saint Peter began, and was followed by the rest in the following order;

1 Saint Peter: I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth

2. Saint Andrew: and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord

3 and 4. Saint James the Greater: Who was conceived through operation of the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary

5. Saint John: suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried

6 and 7. Saint Thomas: Descended into hell, arose from the dead on the third day

8. Saint James the Less: Ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty

9. Saint Philip: From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead

10. Saint Bartholomew: I believe in the Holy Ghost

11. Saint Matthew: In the holy Catholic Church, the Communion of saints

12. Saint Simon: Forgiveness of sins

13. Saint Thaddeus: The resurrection of the flesh

14. Saint Mathias: Life everlasting  Amen.

This symbol, which we ordinarily call the Creed, the Apostles established after the martyrdom of saint Stephen and before the end of the first year after the death of the Savior.

Afterwards, in order to refute the Arian and other heresies, the Church, in the councils held on their account, explained more fully the mysteries contained in the Apostles' Creed and composed the one now chanted in the Mass.

But in substance both are one and the same and contain the fourteen articles, which are the basis for the catechetical teaching of the Christian faith and which we are all bound to believe in order to be saved.

As soon as the Apostles had finished pronouncing this Creed, the Holy Ghost approved of it by permitting a voice to be heard in their midst saying: "You have decided well."

Then the great Queen and Lady of heaven with all the Apostles gave thanks to the Most High; and She thanked also them for having merited the assistance of the divine Spirit, so as to be his apt instruments in promoting the glory of the Lord and the good of the Church.

As soon as the symbol of the faith was established, She, both with her own hands and with the assistance of the holy angels serving as her secretaries, provided innumerable copies of the Creed, which were sent without delay to all the disciples preaching in different parts of Palestine.

She sent several copies to each one for distribution together with a special letter, in which She informed them of the measures taken by the Apostles and of their orders, that it should be accepted and professed by all the faithful.

223. As the disciples were scattered through different cities, some near and others far, She sent the symbol and letter to those in the neighborhood by some of the faithful, and to those farther off, by her angels.

To some of the disciples, in fact to the greater number of them, the angels appeared visibly; while to others they did not appear, but they placed these documents into their hands in an invisible manner, at the same time admirably moving their hearts.

As well through these inspirations, as from the letter of the Queen, the disciples knew whence these messages had come.

Moreover She exhorted the Apostles to distribute the written Creed in Jerusalem and in other places and to instruct the faithful, how the Lord had sent the Holy Ghost to inspire and approve it in such a signal manner and thereby imposed its veneration upon all.

She told them to omit no means of making it well understood, that this was the only, invariable and secure doctrine, which was to be believed, confessed and preached throughout the Church as the sole means of obtaining grace and life everlasting.Welcome to Blessed Virgin Mary Life History and Divine Mysteries, your go-to source for all things related to faith and religion. We're dedicated to providing you with valuable insights and resources to help you navigate your spiritual journey. Whether you're looking for guidance, inspiration, or simply a community of like-minded individuals, Blessed Virgin Mary Life History and Divine Mysteries has everything you need. Join us today and start exploring the world of faith and spirituality.

After thus taking leave, the great Mistress, as the Mother of Wisdom, prepared to make her testament and last Will. When She manifested this most prudent wish to the Lord, He deigned to approve of it by His Own royal presence. For this purpose, with myriads of attending angels, the three Persons of the most blessed Trinity descended to the oratory of their Daughter and Spouse, and when the Queen had adored the infinite Being of God, She heard a voice speaking to Her: "Our chosen Spouse, make thy last will as thou desirest, for We shall confirm it and execute it entirely by Our infinite power." 

The most prudent Mother remained for some time lost in the profoundness of her humility, seeking to know first the will of the Most High before She should manifest her own. The Lord responded to her modest desires and the person of the Father said to Her: "My Daughter, thy will shall be pleasing and acceptable to Me; for thou art not wanting in the merits of good works in parting from this mortal life, that I should not satisfy thy desires." The same encouragement was given to Her by the Son and the Holy Ghost. 

Therewith the most blessed Mary made her will in this form: "Highest Lord and eternal God, I, a vile wormlet of the earth, confess and adore Thee with all the reverence of my inmost soul as the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, three Persons distinct in one undivided and eternal essence, one substance, One in infinite majesty of attributes and perfection. I confess Thee as the one true Creator and Preserver of all that has being. In Thy kingly presence I declare and say, that my last will is this: Of the goods of mortal life and of the world in which I live, I possess none that I can leave; for never have I possessed or loved anything beside Thee, who art my good and all my possession. To the heavens, the stars and planets, to the elements and all creatures in them I give thanks, because according to Thy will they have sustained me without my merit, and lovingly I desire and ask them to serve and praise Thee in the offices and ministries assigned to them, and that they continue to sustain and benefit my brethren and fellowmen. In order that they may do it so much the better, I renounce and assign to mankind the possession, and as far as possible, the dominion of them, which Thy Majesty has given me over these irrational creatures, so that they may now serve and sustain my fellowmen. Two tunics and a cloak, which served to cover me, I leave to John for his disposal, since I hold him as a son. My body I ask the earth to receive again for Thy service, since it is the common mother and serves Thee as Thy creature; my soul, despoiled of its body and of all visible things, O’ my God, I resign into Thy hands, in order that it may love and magnify Thee through all Thy eternities. My merits and all the treasures, which with Thy grace through my works and exertions I have acquired, I leave to the holy Church, my mother and my mistress, as my residuary heiress, and with Thy permission I there deposit them, wishing them to be much greater. And I desire that before all else they redound to the exaltation of Thy holy name and procure the fulfillment of Thy will on earth as it is done in heaven, and that all the nations come to the knowledge, love and veneration of Thee, the true God."

"In the second place I offer these merits for my masters the Apostles and priests, of the present and of the future ages, so that in view of them Thy ineffable clemency may make them apt ministers, worthy of their office and state, filled with wisdom, virtue and holiness, by which they may edify and sanctify the souls redeemed by Thy blood. In the third place I offer them for the spiritual good of my devoted servants, who invoke and call upon me, in order that they may receive Thy protection and grace, and afterwards eternal life. In the fourth place I desire that my services and labors may move Thee to mercy toward all the sinning children of Adam, in order that they may withdraw from their sinful state. From this hour on I propose and desire to continue my prayers for them in Thy divine presence, as long as the world shall last. This, Lord and my God, is my last will, always subject to Thy own." 

At the conclusion of this testament of the Queen, the most blessed Trinity approved and confirmed it; and Christ the Redeemer, as if authorizing it all, witnessed it by writing in the heart of His Mother these words: "Let it be done as thou wishest and ordainest." 

When the great Queen had made her testament, She gave thanks to the Almighty and asked permission to add another petition, saying: "Most clement Lord and Father of mercies, if it is according to Thy pleasure, my soul desires that at its departure be present the Apostles, my masters and Thy anointed, together with the other disciples, in order that they pray for me and bless me at my transition from this to the eternal life."

To this her Divine Son answered: "My most beloved Mother, the Apostles are already on the way to come to thee, and those that are near shall shortly arrive, while those that are far off shall be carried by my angels; because, for My and thy greater glory it is My will that all assist at thy glorious departure for the eternal mansions, so that thou and they may be consoled." For this new favor the most blessed Mary gave thanks prostrate upon the ground, and therewith the three Divine Persons returned to the empyrean heavens.

  INSTRUCTION WHICH THE QUEEN OF THE ANGELS, MOST HOLY MARY, GAVE ME

"My daughter, since thou admire my esteem and love for the Holy Church, I wish to assist thy affection in conceiving new appreciation and love for it. Thou has not in thy mortal flesh understand what passed in my soul in contemplating the Holy Church. In addition to what thou has understood already, thou will see more, if thou consider what moved my heart; namely, the loving works of my Divine Son in the interest of the Holy Church; they should be thy meditation day and night; for in what He did for the Church, thou will be able to estimate His love toward it.

 In order to be its Head and the Chief of the predestined in this world and forever (Col. 1, 18; Rom. 8, 29), He descended from the bosom of the eternal Father and assumed flesh in my womb. In order to regain His children (Luke 19, 10), lost through the first sin of Adam, He took passible and mortal flesh. In order to leave the example of His unblemished life and His true and salutary doctrine (I Pet. 2, 21), 

He lived and conversed with men thirty-three years (Baruch 3, 38). In order to redeem them effectually and merit for them infinite blessings of grace and glory, which they themselves could not merit, He suffered most cruelly, shed His blood accepting a most painful and frightful death on the Cross (Phil. 2, 8). In order that from His sacred body after its death might spring mysteriously His Church, He permitted it to be torn by the lance (John 19, 34). 

Since the eternal Father was so well pleased with His Life, Passion and Death, the Redeemer instituted in His Church the sacrifice of His body and blood (Luke 22, 19), in which His memory should live and which the faithful might offer as a satisfaction and peace-offering to the divine Justice. At the same time through it, He wished to remain perpetually present in His Church as a Sacrament for the spiritual nourishment of its children and as a fountain of grace, a viaticum and certain pledge of eternal life.

 In addition to this He sent upon His Holy Church the Holy Ghost, to fill it with His gifts and His wisdom, promising that He should guide and govern it always without error free from uncertainty and danger (John 15, 26).

 He enriched it with all the merits of His Life, Passion and Death, applying them by means of the Sacraments, furnishing all that was necessary for men from their birth to their death for cleansing them from their sins, for persevering in grace, for defending themselves against the demons and vanquishing them by the arms of His Church, for crushing their own natural passions; and at the same time He instituted fit and apt ministers for securing to His faithful all these blessings.

 In the Church militant He communicates familiarly with all the holy souls; He makes them participants in His hidden and secret favors; He works wonders and miracles for them, and when it is for His glory, assumes their works; He hears their prayers for themselves or for others, thus maintaining the communion of saints.

 He left in it also other fountains of light and truth, the Holy Gospels and writings dictated by the Holy Ghost, the decisions of the sacred councils, the assured and ancient traditions. He sends at opportune times holy doctors full of wisdom; He furnishes teachers and learned men, preachers and ministers in abundance. He spreads the renown of the Church through His wonderful saints; beautifies it with a variety of religious orders, wherein the perfect and apostolic life is professed and preserved; He governs it by many prelates and dignitaries. In order that all may proceed in harmony, He placed over it a supreme head, the Roman Pontiff, His vicar, with the plenitude of highest and divine authority, as the head of this mystical and most beautiful body. He defends and protects him to the end of the world against all the powers of the earth and the infernal abysses (Matth. 16, 18). 

Among all these blessings bestowed and still to be bestowed upon His beloved Church, not the least one was, that He left me in it after His wonderful Ascension in order that it might be spread and governed by my merits and my presence.

 From that time on and forever I hold this Church as my possession; for the Most High has consigned it to me as a gift and has commanded me to take care of it as its Mother and Mistress. 

 These, my dearest, are the greatest reasons and motives for my past and present love of the Holy Church, here made known to thee; and I desire that they rouse and enkindle thy heart to an ardent performance of all that pertains to thee as my disciple, as my daughter and that of the Holy Church. Love it, respect and esteem it from thy whole heart, enjoy its treasures, gather in the riches of heaven, deposited together with its Author Jesus, in His Church. Seek to unite it with thee and to unite thyself with it; for in it thou finds thy refuge and thy salvation, consolement in thy labors, hope in thy banishment, light and truth to guide thee in the darkness of this world. For this Holy Church I desire thee to labor during all the rest of thy life; since this is the purpose for which thou hast been called into existence; thus shalt thou imitate and follow me in my tireless solicitude for the Church on earth; this is thy greatest good fortune, for which thou owes eternal gratitude. I wish thee, my daughter, to be mindful of the fact, that with this desire and intent I have applied to thee a great portion of the treasures of the Church for the writing of my life; and the Lord has chosen thee as an instrument and as secretary of its mysteries and hidden sacraments for purposes of His greater glory."

"In this sweet violence I am perishing; tell me if possible of the qualities of my Beloved, for amid such aromatic flowers the swooning’s of my impatient love shall find recovery!" (Cant. 2, 5).

With such and other still more fervent aspirations the most blessed Mother assuaged the fires of her spirit, that She excited the wonder of the holy angels who attended upon Her and served Her. 

And as they, by means of their high intelligence and heavenly science, were able to understand these excesses, they on one occasion answered Her as follows: "Our Queen and Lady, if Thou wishest again to hear us speak of the tokens of thy Beloved that we know of, consider that He is beauty itself and that He contains within Himself all the perfections beyond all desire. He is amiable without defect, delightful beyond comparison, pleasing without the least flaw. In wisdom He is inestimable, in goodness without measure, in power boundless, in greatness immeasurable, in essence infinite, in majesty inaccessible, and all His perfections are infinite. In His judgments He is terrible (Ps. 65, 5), His counsels inscrutable (Rom. 11,33), in His justice most equitable (Ps. 118, 137), in His thoughts unsearchable, in His words most true, in His works holy (Ps. 144, 13), rich in mercies (Ephes. 2, 4). Space cannot overreach Him, narrowness cannot confine Him, sorrow cannot disturb Him, joy cannot cause any change in Him; nor does He ever fail in His wisdom, or change in His will (Jas. 1, 17); abundance cannot overwhelm, or want come near Him, memory adds nothing, forgetfulness takes away nothing from His knowledge; what was, is not past for Him, and what is to come, never happens to Him; the beginning gave no origin to His being, and time will bring to Him no end. Without being caused, He causes all things (Ecc1i. 18, 1), and He has not need of anything, but all things need participation in Him; He preserves them without labor, He governs them without confusion. Those who follow Him walk not in darkness (John 8, 12), those who know Him are happy, who love and extol Him, are blessed; for He exalts His friends, and at last glorifies them by His eternal vision and intercourse (John 17, 3). This, O' Lady, is the Good which Thou lovest and whose embraces Thou shalt shortly enjoy without intermission through all His eternities." Thus spoke the holy angels.

Read: Volume IV Book II Chapter XVIII

This doubt I proposed humbly to the Lord. After giving me an understanding and a great enlightenment, by which I perceived and understood many mysteries, He condescended to answer me. The mysteries themselves I cannot explain, because the words of the Lord comprehend and mean so much. 

But His answer was as follows: "My spouse and dove, hear: for as a Father and a Teacher I will solve thy doubt and instruct thee in thy ignorance.

Know, that the principal and legitimate end of the decree, which I had in view in resolving to communicate My Divinity in the hypostatic union of the Word with human nature, was the glory, which would redound to My name through this communication, and also that which was to redound to the creatures capable thereof. 

This decree would without doubt have been executed in the Incarnation, even if the first man had not sinned: for it was an express decree, substantially independent of any condition. Therefore, the intention of My will, which was primarily to communicate Myself to the soul and humanity of the Word, was to be efficaciously fulfilled. This was conformable to the justice and rectitude of My works, and, although it was subsequent in its execution, it was nevertheless antecedent in My intention. If I waited before sending My Onlybegotten, it was because I had resolved to prepare for Him beforehand' a holy and select congregation of the just, who, presupposing the fall of mankind, would be like roses among the thorns, that is, the sinners. 

Foreseeing the fall of the human race, I determined, by an express decree, that the Word should come in a form capable of suffering and death for the Redemption of His people, whose head He was to be. Thus My infinite love for man could be so much the more known and manifest and a just satisfaction would be rendered to My equity and justice; and if he, who was to be first in existence, was a sinner: He that was to be first in dignity, would be the Redeemer (I Cor. 15,21). Thus also men might come to know the gravity of sin, and love One and the same Creator, Vivifier, Redeemer, and Judge of all mortals. 

I also wished as it were, to compel them to make a proper return of gratitude and love. 

Refusing to punish them without reprieve, as I have punished the apostate angels, but pardoning them and looking upon them with mercy, I offered them an opportune remedy by executing the rigor of My justice upon My Onlybegotten Son and reserving for man the kindness of My great mercy." 

"And in order that thou mayest better understand the answer to thy doubt, remember, that there is neither any succession of time in My decrees, nor any need of it for the perception and the execution of them. 

Those that say that the Word became incarnate in order to redeem the world, say well; and those that say, that He would have become Incarnate also, if man had not sinned, likewise speak well, only it must be understood in the right way. 

For if Adam had not sinned, Christ would have descended from heaven in that form, which would be suitable to the state of man's innocence; but as Adam sinned, I resolved by the secondary decree, that He should be made of passible nature; since foreseeing sin, it was proper, that it should be repaired in the way in which He has done it. 

And as you desire to know, how the mystery of the Incarnation would have taken place, if man had preserved the state of innocence, know, that the human substance would have been essentially the same as now, only it would be clothed with the gifts of impassibility and immortality, such as My Onlybegotten possessed after His Resurrection and before His Ascension. He would live and converse with men; the hidden sacraments and mysteries would all be manifest; and many times would His glory shine forth as it happened once in His mortal life (Mark 17, 1). 

He would, in that state of man's innocence, have become manifest to all men in the same manner as He once showed Himself to the three apostles in His mortal state. All those on the way to heaven would see the great glory of My Onlybegotten; they would be consoled by conversing with Him and they would place no obstacle to His divine workings, for they would be without sin. 

But all this was impeded and spoiled by the guilt of sin and on that account it was proper, that He should come in passible and mortal nature."

"The existence of different opinions regarding these sacraments and other mysteries in the Church, arises from the fact that I manifest and give light concerning one set of mysteries to some teachers, and illumine others concerning other mysteries; for mortals are not capable of receiving all the light.

It is not expedient: that the knowledge of all things be given to one man, as long as men are viators. For also in the state of comprehensors, they obtain them in parts and according to the state and the merits of each. 

But the plenitude of all gifts is due only to the humanity of My Onlybegotten and to His Mother in proper proportion. The other mortals receive it neither entirely, nor is it always given so clearly, as to assure them altogether. Therefore they must acquire it by means of study and the use of Letters and Science.

There are also many truths revealed in holy Scriptures and to some men light is given from above. Yet, as I leave most men to work by their natural light, it must follow, that they understand these mysteries in different senses, and that there exist different explanations and different meanings regarding the different passages in Scripture; for each adheres to his opinion according to his understanding. Many have a good intention and the light and truth is essentially one, but it is made use of with diversity of judgment and inclinations, so that some adhere to these teachers, others to those and so the controversies arise among them." 

"One of the reasons why the opinion, that the Word came from heaven mainly for the sake of redeeming the world, is more common can be partly explained by the fact, that the mystery of the Redemption with its object has already been consummated and has been mentioned so often in Scriptures, thus causing it to be better understood and manifested. 

The impassibility of Christ on the contrary was neither effected, nor was it simply and absolutely decreed. All that pertained to this state remains concealed and nobody could be sure of it, except those particular ones, whom I select for the reception of that light, and for the revelation of this decree of My love for man. And although this would certainly be capable of moving men, if they would ponder over it and penetrate it; yet the decree and the work of His Redemption from sin is more powerful and efficacious to move them toward some acknowledgment and return of My immense love; for this is the end, which prompts My works. 

Therefore I fittingly provide, that these motives and mysteries be kept especially before the mind and be more frequently expounded. Advert also, that in one work two results can well be intended, when one of them is conditional. Thus it was that the Word would not have descended in passible flesh, if man had not sinned, and if he would sin, He would come in a body capable of suffering: whatever would happen the decree of the Incarnation would not be left unfulfilled. 

I desire, that the sacraments of the Redemption be recognized and held in esteem and that they be always remembered, in order that they may bring the proper fruit. But just as much I desire, that the mortals recognize the Word as their Head and as the final Object of all Creation and of all the rest of the human race. For, conjointly with my own kindness, His formation was the principal motive for giving existence to the creatures. Therefore He should be honored, not only because He has redeemed the human race, but also because He furnished the motive for its creation." 

"Take notice also, my spouse, that very often I permit and cause differences of opinions among the doctors and teachers. Thus some of them maintain what is true and others, according to their natural disposition, defend what is doubtful. Others still again are permitted to say even what is not true, though not in open contradiction to the veiled truths of faith, which all must hold. Some also teach, what is possible according to their supposition. By this varied light, truth is traced, and the mysteries of faith become more manifest. Doubt serves as a stimulus to the understanding for the investigation of truth. Therefore controversies of the teachers fulfill a proper and holy end. They are also permitted in order, to make it known, that real science dwells in My Church more than in the combined study of all the holy and perfect teachers, and that she can make them wise above the wisdom of the worldly wise; that there is above them One, who is the Prompter of the wise (Wis. 7, 15), namely, Myself; who alone knows all and comprehends all; who weighs and measures, without ever being measured or comprehended (Wis. 9, 13); that men, although they may search My judgments and testimonies ever so much, cannot attain them, unless I give the intelligence and light (Job 32, 8), who Am the beginning and the Author of all wisdom and science.

I desire that men, in acknowledging all this, give Me praise, exaltation, confession, supremity and glory forever." 

"I desire also that the holy doctors acquire for themselves much grace, light and glory by their earnest, laudable and sacred study, and that the truth be more and more clearly detected and purified, and be traced to its source, By humbly investigating the mysteries and the admirable works of My right hand, they come to be partakers of them and of the bread of the understanding, the holy Scriptures (Eccli. 15, 3). 

I have especially shown My Providence in regard to doctors and teachers, although their opinions and doubts have been so diverse and for such different ends. Sometimes, for My greater glory and honor, sometimes for earthly purposes, they are permitted to dispute, and to contradict each other; and there is a great inequality in the manner in which they have proceeded and do proceed to show their emulation and earnestness. 

But with all this I have directed, governed and enlightened them, giving them My protection in such a manner, that the truth may be investigated and clearly manifested. The light has spread out, so that many of My perfections and wonderful works have been made known, and the holy Scriptures have been interpreted according to high standards, which has been very pleasing to Me. 

For this reason the fury of hell, with inconceivable envy (especially in these, our times), has raised its throne of iniquity, pretending to engulf the waters of the Jordan (Job 40, 18), and obscure the light of holy faith by heretical doctrines and seeking to sow its false seeds by the help of man (Matth. 13, 25). 

But the rest of the Church and its truths are in most perfect order; the Catholics, although much involved and blind in other respects, hold nevertheless the truths of faith and its holy light without diminution. 

I call all men with fatherly love to share this happiness, yet few are the elect, who choose to respond to My call." 

"I also desire thee to understand, My spouse, how well My Providence disposes things in such a way, that the teachers, by the diversity of their opinions, and by their own diligent exertion and study, scrutinize more deeply My testimonies and thus lay bare the marrow of the holy Scriptures to wayfaring men. 

"But it would be very pleasing to Me and in harmony with My service, if learned persons would extinguish and do away with pride, envy and ambition after vain honors; also all the other passions and vices, which arise from them, together with the bad seeds, that are likely to be generated from that sort of occupation (Matth. 13, 25). But I do not root out this bad seed at present, in order that the good may not be rooted out with the bad." All this the Lord spoke to me..