Cardinal Donald Wuerl - Faith That Transforms Us: Reflections on the Creed

Praise for Faith That Transforms Us

The Year of Faith... the New Evangelization... are just slogans if we do not first appreciate the truth, beauty, and wisdom of what we believe. How to do that? Start with this crisp yet compelling book by Cardinal Wuerl on the Creed!

Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, Archbishop of New York.

Clear, concise, confident, and a certain sign that the renewal of catechesis is truly underway, Cardinal Wuerls Faith That Transforms Us is a must-use resource for preaching and teaching the faith and an essential tool for the New Evangelization.

Very Rev. Robert Barron, creator of the Catholicism series, founder of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries, and Rector/President of Mundelein Seminary/University of St. Mary of the Lake, Illinois

Every Catholic will benefit from Cardinal Wuerls insightful and practical reflections on the articles of the Creed. Not only will we understand more clearly what we believe, but we will know how to apply our beliefs to how we live our lives. This book makes a significant contribution to restoring clarity and confidence to Catholics regarding both the truthfulness and relevance of our foundational beliefs.

Ralph Martin, President, Renewal Ministries, and author of Will Many Be Saved? What Vatican II Actually Teaches and Its Implications for the New Evangelization

For any Catholic who has ever felt that they were just going through the motions at Mass, or for any Catholic desiring a deeper appreciation of our core beliefs, this book is for you. Cardinal Wuerl, as a teacher and shepherd, knows some of the struggles Christians face in todays frenetic and noisy world. Faith That Transforms Us, with its practical and very readable format and helpful discussion questions, will do just that. Through a better understanding of the Creed, this book will transform your Mass experience and bring you closer to Christ and his Church.

Teresa Tomeo, Catholic author and syndicated talk show host

Every Sunday we publicly profess the Creed. Cardinal Wuerl offers a powerful reminder that our faith, while very personal, must never remain private. We must believe what we profess, we must understand what we believe, and we must act upon what we understand. Our belief in Jesus Christ is a Faith That Transforms Us.

Curtis Martin, President and founder, FOCUSThe Fellowship of Catholic University Students

With the aid of Faith That Transforms Us by Cardinal Donald Wuerl, believers have the potential to move beyond rote recitation of the simple words we speak in the Creed to embracing in our hearts the truths that lie at the core of our faith. A perfect resource for lifelong Catholics who long for a deeper connection to Christ and his Church or for those who seek to know more about the beliefs we profess, Cardinal Wuerls book belongs in every home and parish.

Lisa M. Hendey, founder of CatholicMom.com and author of A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms

Cardinal Wuerl offers Catholics a powerfully simple reflection on a few wordsbut not just any words. These are words that open hearts and minds to the immense depths of our faith: the Nicene Creed. Through this deep and profound yet clear and straightforward reflection, we can find life, and find it more abundantly.

Helen Osman, Secretary of Communications, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

This volume is a must-have for pastors, catechists, evangelists, teachers, and any Catholic who seeks to know, to be transformed by, and to share their Catholic faith. Not only does it present deeply theological and engaging pastoral reflections on the Churchs apostolic faith, but the reader is invited to move from a deeper understanding of the Creed to an authentic living and sharing of the faith through daily conversion of life. In this Year of Faith, this book is a timely gift to the Church, offered by a master teacher and educator of faith.

Jem Sullivan, author and Director of Research, Blessed John Paul II Shrine, Washington, D.C.

Reflections on the Creed

Cardinal Donald Wuerl
Archbishop of Washington

Copyright 2013 by Cardinal Donald Wuerl

All rights reserved

Published by The Word Among Us Press
7115 Guilford Drive
Frederick, Maryland 21704

17 14 15 14 13 1 2 3 4 5
ISBN: 978-1-59325-244-1
eISBN: 978-1-59325-449-0

Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970, Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C., and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All rights reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Excerpts from the English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church for use in the United States of America, copyright 1994, United States Catholic Conference, Inc.Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Used with permission.

Back cover photo: Cardinal Wuerl with Pope Benedict XVI at the Synod on the New Evangelization in October 2012. Copyright Servizio Fotografico de LOsservatore Romano. Used with permission.

Cover design by John Hamilton Designs

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the author and publisher. Made and printed in the United States of America.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012954747

I believe in one God,

the Father almighty,

maker of heaven and earth,

of all things visible and invisible.

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,

the Only Begotten Son of God,

born of the Father before all ages.

God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;

through him all things were made.

For us men and for our salvation

he came down from heaven,

and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,

and became man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,

he suffered death and was buried,

and rose again on the third day

in accordance with the Scriptures.

He ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory

to judge the living and the dead

and his kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,

who has spoken through the prophets.

I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.

I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins

and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead

and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Every Sunday at Mass, we recite the words of the Nicene Creed. Each of us makes a personal and public commitment of faith, in the presence of our neighbors. We say, I believe to a rather long list of demanding propositions. I believe...

in one God who is three divine persons;

in a fatherly God who relates to me as his child;

in a God who became man;