PRESENTATION OF THE CREED

for candidates preparing themselves

to receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist and Confirmation

After the homily, the celebrant or an assisting minister says:

Let the candidates for 1st Holy Communion and Confirmation come forward to receive the Creed
from the Church.

Before beginning the Apostle’s Creed, the celebrant addresses the candidates in these or similar words.
My dear friends, listen carefully to the words of that faith by which you will be justified. The
words are few, but the mysteries they contain are great. Receive them with a sincere heart and
be faithful to them.

The celebrant alone begins:

I believe in God,
As the candidates listen, he continues with the assembly of the faithful.
the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth.
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son our Lord,
(At the words that follow, up to and including the Virgin Mary, all bow.)
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
He descended into hell;
on the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting,
Amen.

The candidates then recite the Creed.

Prayer over the Candidates

Celebrant: Let us pray for the these candidates preparing themselves for 1st Holy Communion
and Confirmation, that God in his mercy may make them responsive to His love.
(with hands outstretched over the candidates)
Lord, Eternal source of light, justice and truth,
Take under your tender care your servants.
Purify them and make them holy;
Give them true knowledge, sure hope and sound understanding,
And make them worthy to receive the grace of your holy sacraments.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

The presentation is an oral (by the faithful) and aural (by the candidates) one, a verbally presented hearing of the
beloved text. It is a ritual summary of the teaching and formation already received during the process of catechesis that
will help make them ready to profess that same faith in their personal lives.

Do not give any printed text of the Creed during the Liturgy; the rite does not call for it.
The candidates can be given a simple paper copy of the chosen Creed after the Liturgy
– one they can fold up and tuck in purse or pocket to do what they are charged to do: put it to memory.