The Symbolum Nicaenum, or Nicene Creed, is a fusion of the creeds drawn up at the Council of Nicea (325) and the Council of Constantinople (381). It was at these councils that the true nature of Jesus was defended against two heresies that had sprung up. The Arians denied Christ's divinity and the Monophysites denied Christ's humanity. The councils, drawing upon the traditions handed down to them from the Apostles, condemned both heresies and declared that Jesus was indeed both true God and true man. In the 11th century this creed became part of the Mass. A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who recite the Symbolum Nicaenum.

(Note from the Catechism: The "filioque" in the creed did not appear in the creeds of 325 or 381. The doctrinal point was confessed dogmatically by Pope St. Leo I in 447, and affirmed by the Council of Chalcedon in 451. The "filioque" was introduced into the Latin liturgy between the 8th and 11th centuries. --spok)

Credo in unum Deum, Patrem omnipotentem, factorem caeli et terrae, visibilium omnium et invisibilium.

Et in unum Dominum Iesum Christum, Filium Dei unigenitum, et ex Patre natum ante omnia saecula.

Deum de Deo, Lumen de Lumine, Deum verum de Deo vero, genitum non factum, consubstantialem Patri; per quem omnia facta sunt.

Qui propter nos homines et propter nostram salutem descendit de caelis.

Et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto ex Maria Virgine, et homo factus est.

Crucifixus etiam pro nobis sub Pontio Pilato, passus et sepultus est, et resurrexit tertia die, secundum Scripturas, et ascendit in caelum, sedet ad dexteram Patris.

Et iterum venturus est cum gloria, iudicare vivos et mortuos, cuius regni non erit finis.

Et in Spiritum Sanctum, Dominum et vivificantem, qui ex Patre Filioque procedit.

Qui cum Patre et Filio simul adoratur et conglorificatur: qui locutus est per prophetas.

Et unam, sanctam, catholicam et apostolicam Ecclesiam.

Confiteor unum baptisma in remissionem peccatorum.

Et expecto resurrectionem mortuorum, et vitam venturi saeculi. Amen.

I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And 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, one in being with the Father. Through Him all things were made.

Who for us men and for our salvation He came down from heaven.

And was made flesh by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary and was made man.

For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered, died, and was buried. And on the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures; He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and of His kingdom there shall be no end.

And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son.

Who together with the Father and the Son, he is adored and glorified: Who has spoken through the Prophets.

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

I confess one baptism for the remission of sins.

And I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.