Little Prayer Stories
Prayer for kids

The Apostles’ Creed

The Apostles’ Creed is a short summary of what Catholics believe: in God the Father, in Jesus his Son, in the Holy Spirit and in the Church. It’s the first prayer of the Rosary, said holding the crucifix, and it comes from the creed the early Church in Rome taught before Baptism.

Pray it with Clara
Stained glass of the risen Jesus in white, standing in golden light outside the open tomb

Apostles’ Creed

Pray together

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 Spirit, 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 sits 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 Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

Pray it with Clara at bedtime, in the Little Prayer Stories app.Get the app →

How to pray it with your child

  1. 1

    Learn it in three parts

    One part a week: the Father, then Jesus, then the Holy Spirit and the Church. Each part starts with “I believe”.

  2. 2

    Ask “what do we believe?”

    After praying, ask one question: what happened on the third day? Children remember what they’re asked about.

  3. 3

    Hold the crucifix

    Give your child the Rosary’s crucifix to hold while you pray it together. It ties the words to Jesus.

Questions parents ask

What’s the difference between the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed?

Both sum up the same faith. The Nicene Creed is longer and comes from the Councils of Nicaea (325) and Constantinople (381); it’s the one usually said at Sunday Mass. The Apostles’ Creed is the older baptismal creed of the Church in Rome.

Why is it called the Apostles’ Creed?

Because it faithfully sums up the faith the apostles taught (Catechism 194). An old story says each of the twelve wrote one line, but that’s a legend.

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