Learn Latin Prayers
Chapter 3 - Prayers of the Holy Rosary & Marian Devotions

1. Apostles' Creed (Credo in Deum)

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The Foundational Profession of the Catholic Faith

The Apostles’ Creed (Credo in Deum) is one of the most ancient and foundational expressions of the true Catholic Faith, handed down from the Apostles themselves and preserved inviolate by the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church for centuries. It is a concise summary of what every Catholic must believe to be saved. In these perilous times—when the true Church is eclipsed by the modernist, heretical sect spawned by the false Second Vatican Council—learning, understanding, and professing the authentic Faith is more crucial than ever.

The post-Vatican II "Church" has introduced ambiguity, doctrinal corruption, and novelty under the guise of continuity, misleading countless souls. But the Apostles’ Creed remains a pure beacon of truth, a doctrinal anchor that binds us to the timeless Faith of our Fathers. By learning it in Latin—the sacred and universal language of the Church—we not only preserve Tradition but also unite ourselves with the countless saints and martyrs who lived and died professing these very words.

1. Credo in Deum

Latin:

Credo in Deum, Patrem omnipoténtem, Creatórem cæli et terræ.
Et in Jesum Christum, Fílium ejus únicum, Dóminum nostrum,
qui concéptus est de Spíritu Sancto, natus ex María Vírgine,
passus sub Póntio Piláto, crucifíxus, mórtuus, et sepúltus,
descéndit ad ínferos, tértia die resurréxit a mórtuis,
ascéndit ad cælos, sedet ad déxteram Dei Patris omnipoténtis,
inde ventúrus est judicáre vivos et mórtuos.
Credo in Spíritum Sanctum,
sanctam Ecclésiam cathólicam, Sanctórum communiónem,
remissiónem peccatórum, carnis resurrectiónem,
vitam ætérnam. Amen.

English Translation:

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost,
the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting. Amen.

📌 Key Notes:

  • The Apostles' Creed predates the Nicene Creed, being an earlier profession of the Catholic Faith.

  • It is used in Baptisms, the Rosary, and private devotions.

  • The phrase "descéndit ad ínferos" refers to Christ descending to the Limbo of the Fathers, where He freed the just souls.

2. Pronunciation Guide

Here is a word-by-word pronunciation breakdown using Ecclesiastical Latin:

Apostles' Creed Pronunciation Guide

Apostles' Creed (Credo in Deum) Pronunciation Guide

Latin Word Phonetic Pronunciation Meaning
CredoKRAY-dohI believe
InEenIn
DeumDAY-oomGod
PatremPAH-tremFather
OmnipoténtemOhm-nee-poh-TEN-temAlmighty
CreatóremKreh-ah-TOH-remCreator
CæliCHAY-leeHeaven
EtEtAnd
TerræTEHR-rehEarth
JesumYAY-soomJesus
ChristumKREES-toomChrist
FíliumFEE-lee-oomSon
EjúsEH-yusHis
ÚnicumOO-nee-koomOnly
DóminumDOH-mee-noomLord
NostrumNOH-stroomOur
ConcéptusKohn-CHEP-toosConceived
SpírituSPEE-ree-tooSpirit
SanctoSAHNK-tohHoly
NatusNAH-toosBorn
ExEksFrom
MaríaMah-REE-ahMary
VírgineVEER-jee-nehVirgin
PassusPAH-soosSuffered
SubSoobUnder
Póntio PilátoPON-tee-oh Pee-LAH-tohPontius Pilate
CrucifíxusKroo-chee-FEEK-soosCrucified
MórtuusMOR-too-oosDead
SepúltusSeh-POOL-toosBuried
DescénditDeh-SHEN-deetDescended
ÍnferosEEN-feh-rohsHell
Tértia dieTER-tee-ah DEE-ehThird day
ResurréxitReh-soo-REK-seetRose again
MórtuisMOR-too-eesFrom the dead
AscénditAh-SHEN-deetAscended
CælosCHAY-losHeaven
DéxteramDEH-ksteh-rahmRight hand
JudicáreYoo-dee-KAH-rehTo judge
VivosVEE-vosThe living
MórtuosMOR-too-oosThe dead
SanctórumSahnk-TOH-roomSaints
CommuniónemKoh-moo-NEE-oh-nemCommunion
PeccatórumPeh-kah-TOH-roomSins
ResurrectiónemReh-soo-rehk-TSEE-oh-nemResurrection
VitamVEE-tahmLife
ÆtérnamEh-TER-nahmEternal
AmenAH-menAmen

📌 Key Pronunciation Notes:

  • Credo (KRAY-doh) – The "e" is pronounced as a long "ay" sound.

  • Jesum (YAY-soom) – In Ecclesiastical Latin, "J" is pronounced like "Y", so Jesus is said as YAY-soos.

  • Christum (KREES-toom) – The "ch" in Christum is pronounced like "K", not "Ch" as in English.

  • Cæli / Cælos (CHAY-lee / CHAY-los) – The Latin "æ" is pronounced as "ay" (like "say").

  • Omnipoténtem (Ohm-nee-poh-TEN-tem) – The stress is on the third-to-last syllable (po-TEN).

  • Póntio Piláto (PON-tee-oh Pee-LAH-toh) – "Pilato" is pronounced with a soft "Pee" sound, not "Pie-lay-toh."

  • Mórtuus (MOR-too-oos) – The "u" is pronounced separately in mór-tu-us (MOR-too-oos).

  • Descéndit (Deh-SHEN-deet) – The "sc" in descéndit is pronounced like "sh" (as in "shy").

  • Ínferos (EEN-feh-rohs) – NOT pronounced as "Infernos" like in English. The "I" is long, making it EEN.

  • Judicáre (Yoo-dee-KAH-reh) – "J" is pronounced as "Y", and "c" before "a" is hard ("K").

  • Sanctórum (Sahnk-TOH-room) – "C" before "T" is pronounced as "K", making it Sahnk-TOH-room.

  • Resurrectiónem (Reh-soo-rehk-TSEE-oh-nem) – "Tion" in Latin is pronounced as "tsee-oh", never like "shun".

  • Vitam ætérnam (VEE-tahm Eh-TER-nahm) – "Æ" is pronounced as "ay", so ætérnam = Eh-TER-nahm.

  • Amen (AH-men) – Pronounced "AH-men", NOT "A-men" as in English.

✅ Practice Tip: Slowly say each word aloud several times, ensuring correct pronunciation.

3. Videos

LATIN: Credo in Deum, Patrem omnipoténtem, Creatórem cæli et terræ.Et in Jesum Christum, Fílium ejus únicum, Dóminum nostrum, qui concéptus est de Spíritu Sancto, natus ex María Vírgine, passus sub Póntio Piláto, crucifíxus, mórtuus, et sepúltus, descéndit ad ínferos, tértia die resurréxit a mórtuis, ascéndit ad cælos, sedet ad déxteram Dei Patris omnipoténtis, inde ventúrus est judicáre vivos et mórtuos. Credo in Spíritum Sanctum, sanctam Ecclésiam cathólicam, Sanctórum communiónem, remissiónem peccatórum, carnis resurrectiónem, vitam ætérnam. Amen.

PHONETIC: KRAY-doh een DAY-oom, PAH-trem ohm-nee-poh-TEN-tem, Kreh-ah-TOH-rem CHAY-lee et TEHR-reh. Et een YAY-soom KREES-toom, FEE-lee-oom EH-yus OO-nee-koom, DOH-mee-noom NOS-troom, kwee kohn-CHEP-toos est deh SPEE-ree-too SAHNK-toh, NAH-toos eks Mah-REE-ah VEER-jee-neh, PAH-soos soob PON-tee-oh Pee-LAH-toh, kroo-chee-FEEK-soos, MOR-too-oos, et seh-POOL-toos, deh-SHEN-deet ahd EEN-feh-rohs, TER-tee-ah DEE-eh reh-soo-REK-seet ah MOR-too-ees, ah-SHEN-deet ahd CHAY-los, SEH-det ahd DEH-ksteh-rahm DAY-ee PAH-trees ohm-nee-poh-TEN-tees, EEN-deh ven-TOO-roos est yoo-dee-KAH-reh VEE-vos et MOR-too-oos. KRAY-doh een SPEE-ree-toom SAHNK-toom, SAHNK-tahm Ek-KLAY-zee-ahm kah-THOH-lee-kahm, Sahnk-TOH-room koh-moo-NEE-oh-nem, reh-mees-SEE-oh-nem pek-kah-TOH-room, KAHR-nees reh-soo-rehk-TSEE-oh-nem, VEE-tahm eh-TER-nahm. AH-men.

LATIN: Credo in Deum, Patrem omnipoténtem, Creatórem cæli et terræ.Et in Jesum Christum, Fílium ejus únicum, Dóminum nostrum, qui concéptus est de Spíritu Sancto, natus ex María Vírgine, passus sub Póntio Piláto, crucifíxus, mórtuus, et sepúltus, descéndit ad ínferos, tértia die resurréxit a mórtuis, ascéndit ad cælos, sedet ad déxteram Dei Patris omnipoténtis, inde ventúrus est judicáre vivos et mórtuos. Credo in Spíritum Sanctum, sanctam Ecclésiam cathólicam, Sanctórum communiónem, remissiónem peccatórum, carnis resurrectiónem, vitam ætérnam. Amen. PHONETIC: KRAY-doh een DAY-oom, PAH-trem ohm-nee-poh-TEN-tem, Kreh-ah-TOH-rem CHAY-lee et TEHR-reh. Et een YAY-soom KREES-toom, FEE-lee-oom EH-yus OO-nee-koom, DOH-mee-noom NOS-troom, kwee kohn-CHEP-toos est deh SPEE-ree-too SAHNK-toh, NAH-toos eks Mah-REE-ah VEER-jee-neh, PAH-soos soob PON-tee-oh Pee-LAH-toh, kroo-chee-FEEK-soos, MOR-too-oos, et seh-POOL-toos, deh-SHEN-deet ahd EEN-feh-rohs, TER-tee-ah DEE-eh reh-soo-REK-seet ah MOR-too-ees, ah-SHEN-deet ahd CHAY-los, SEH-det ahd DEH-ksteh-rahm DAY-ee PAH-trees ohm-nee-poh-TEN-tees, EEN-deh ven-TOO-roos est yoo-dee-KAH-reh VEE-vos et MOR-too-oos. KRAY-doh een SPEE-ree-toom SAHNK-toom, SAHNK-tahm Ek-KLAY-zee-ahm kah-THOH-lee-kahm, Sahnk-TOH-room koh-moo-NEE-oh-nem, reh-mees-SEE-oh-nem pek-kah-TOH-room, KAHR-nees reh-soo-rehk-TSEE-oh-nem, VEE-tahm eh-TER-nahm. AH-men.

4. How to Use the Apostles' Creed in Prayer

The Apostles' Creed (Credo in Deum) is a fundamental profession of faith that should be prayed regularly. It serves as a declaration of belief and a powerful reminder of Catholic doctrine.

📌 When to Pray the Apostles' Creed

✅ During the Holy Rosary – The Creed is prayed at the beginning of the Rosary, before the first Our Father.
✅ At Baptism – Parents and godparents recite the Creed when professing the faith on behalf of the baptized.
✅ In Morning and Evening Devotions – A great way to renew your faith daily.
✅ Before Receiving Holy Communion – To prepare yourself by affirming your belief in the One True God and His Church.
✅ During Personal Reflection & Catechesis – To strengthen your understanding of Catholic doctrine.
✅ As a Defense Against Heresy & Doubt – Reciting it fortifies the soul against confusion and modernist errors.

📌 Prayer Gesture:
It is traditional to bow the head at the mention of "Jesum Christum", as a sign of reverence to Our Lord.

5. Lesson Summary

The Apostles’ Creed is a profession of the true Catholic Faith, composed by the Apostles and preserved by the Church until the crisis of Vatican II. This lesson helps you learn the Creed in Latin and understand its profound truths, so you can defend the Faith, avoid the errors of the modernist counterfeit church, and remain faithful to the Church founded by Christ.

6. Final Thought – Why Does This Prayer Matter?

The Apostles’ Creed is more than a prayer; it is a lifeline to the unchanging truths of the Catholic Faith, a safeguard against error, and a declaration of allegiance to the true Church of Christ. In an age of unprecedented spiritual confusion, when the institution in Rome promotes religious liberty, ecumenism, and other condemned doctrines of Vatican II, the Creed serves as a concise refutation of modernist heresies. Every line affirms what the Church has always believed and taught before the great apostasy took hold in the 1960s.

Why does it matter? Because without the true Faith, there is no salvation. The counterfeit “Catholic” church established at Vatican II has led countless souls into error, offering a false gospel dressed in the trappings of Catholicism. To reject this deception, we must return to the sources of authentic Catholic teaching—like the Apostles’ Creed—and profess them without compromise. Memorizing and praying the Creed in Latin connects us not only with our ancestors in the Faith but with the universal language of the true Church. It is an act of resistance against the apostate hierarchy and a declaration that we stand with the Church of all time—not the man-centered, heresy-laden institution that falsely claims to be Catholic today. In learning and living the Apostles’ Creed, we safeguard our souls and bear witness to the one true Faith in a world darkened by error and apostasy.

“Credo in Deum, Patrem omnipoténtem, Creatórem cæli et terræ…”

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