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The Complete Catholic Handbook
First Article of the Creed
- What is the first article of the Creed?
- What is God?
- Why is God called Almighty?
- Why is God called Creator of heaven and earth?
- Had God any beginning?
- Where is God?
- Does God know and see all things?
- Has God any body?
- Is there only one God?
- Are there three Persons in God?
- Are these three Persons three Gods?
- What is the mystery of the three Persons in one God called?
- What do you mean by a mystery?
- Is there any likeness to the Blessed Trinity in your soul?
- Which are the three powers of your soul?
- What is the first article of the Creed?
The first article of the Creed is, ‘I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth’. Almighty. Being able to do all things; all-powerful. Creator. One who produces or makes something out of nothing.
- What is God?
God is the supreme Spirit, who alone exists of Himself, and is
infinite in all perfections.
Supreme. Greatest, highest, above all others. There can be only one who is
supreme, and that one is God.
Exists of Himself. He depends on no one for His life or being. God is the origin
of all life.
Infinite. Without end or limit in any way,
Perfections. Good qualities or attributes. God alone is perfect in all things. Some
of God’s perfections are—His omnipotence, or being able to do all things; His
omniscience, or knowing all things; His omnipresence, or being in all places; His
eternity, or having neither a beginning nor an end; His goodness, His mercy, His
justice, etc.
- Why is God called Almighty?
God is called ‘Almighty’ because He can do all
things: ‘With God all things are possible’. (Matt. 19:26)
Possible. That which one is able to do.
- Why is God called Creator of heaven and earth?
God is called ‘Creator of
heaven and earth’ because He made heaven and earth, and all things, out of
nothing, by His word.
His word. God had only to command, and what He wished was done.
- Had God any beginning?
God had no beginning; He always was, He is, He
always will be.
- Where is God?
God is everywhere.
- Does God know and see all things?
God knows and sees all things, even our
most secret thoughts.
Secret. Hidden, concealed.
- Has God any body?
God has no body: He is a Spirit.
- Is there only one God?
There is only one God.
- Are there three Persons in God?
There are three Persons in God; God the
Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
- Are these three Persons three Gods?
These three Persons are not three Gods;
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all one and the same God.
- What is the mystery of the three Persons in one God called?
The mystery of
the three Persons in one God is called the mystery of the Blessed Trinity.
Mystery. The five chief mysteries of our faith are—the Unity and Trinity of God,
who will render to every man according to his work; the Incarnation, Death, and
Resurrection of our Lord. Besides these there are many other great mysteries, as
the Creation, and the Holy Eucharist. We are bound to believe all the mysteries
of our faith, because God commands us to do so.
Mystery of the Blessed Trinity. Three Persons in one God, equal to one another
in every respect.
- What do you mean by a mystery?
By a mystery I mean a truth which is above
reason, but revealed by God.
- Is there any likeness to the Blessed Trinity in your soul?
There is this likeness
to the Blessed Trinity in my soul, that as in one God there are three Persons, so
in my one soul there are three powers.
- Which are the three powers of your soul?
The three powers of my soul are my
memory, my understanding, and my will.
Memory. That power which helps us to retain or keep what we have learnt.
Understanding. That power of the soul by which it grasps the meaning of things.
Will. The power by which we determine our choice, or by which we act.
Next: Second Article of the Creed
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