The Creed as Symbol

Book excerpt: From its probable beginnings as an interrogatory creed for catechumens to its current place in the Sunday liturgy, the Apostoles' Creed has played an integral role in the sacraments of the church. The symbol of faith, as it was called by generations of Christians, was not only a vehicle of orthodox instruction but a profession of faith of profound beauty and meaning to be memorized and pondered for a lifetime. It is this Creed, a lasting achievement of the Christian tradition that Nicholas Ayo, C.S.C., presents to the general reader in The Creed as Symbol. A meditative yet thought-provoking study, this volume presents the Apostles' Creed as more than a basic confession of faith but as a symbol/metaphor of the mystery of God. Ayo holds that the Apostles' Creed is a sacred poem, an ancient psalm, holy and beautiful in its form as well as in its content. Basic literary criticism and linguistics are used to explicate the figurative body of the Creed--its words--as well as the theological meditation of its soul--the mysteries it seeks to teach. And as Ayo balances the study of the medium with the message, he does so with the conviction that the two are inextricably linked together and can never be separated. Ayo divides the Apostoles' Creed into its 12 historically recognized articles, each with its own chapter. In addition to his introduction, Ayo has included a brief history of the Creed's formation, a full summary of the ideas covered, an appendix containing differing versions of the Creed, a bibliography, and complete notes. This work is an ideal companion piece to any student religious text or standing alone, as a parish renewal source book or primary text for catechumens. The Creed as Symbol will enrich anyone's understanding of the Creed, the perennial and core doctrine of Christianity.