Earlier this month, I had the joy of witnessing the baptism of Catalina, the first daughter of my best friend Erica and her husband, Zach. The ceremony was a beautiful and intimate gathering at Fort Meade Military Base, celebrated by Archbishop Broglio. Her closest family surrounded Catalina as she was welcomed into the Church and the family of faith.

During the baptismal rite, Catalina’s parents were asked to renounce sin and profess their faith in the Triune God on her behalf. The celebrant proclaimed, “This is our faith. This is the faith of the Church. We are proud to profess it, in Christ Jesus our Lord,” and everyone responded with a heartfelt “Amen!” It was a powerful moment—a reminder that our faith is not just personal but shared. Through this profession of faith, Catalina was united to Christ and to the Church.

This sacred moment reflects the Creed that we celebrate in a remarkable way this year. This year of 2025, the Nicene Creed reached an incredible milestone—1,700 years of guiding Christians in their faith. Crafted at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, this ancient profession remains at the heart of our worship, proclaimed every Sunday and on major feast days. Like Catalina’s baptismal profession, the Nicene Creed is a powerful expression of the faith that we share as Christians.

When we recite the Creed during Mass, we echo the commitment first made at our own baptism. It’s a moment to renew our baptismal promise, affirming that this is the faith we stand by together. The Creed roots us in our identity as members of the Church, uniting us with Christians across time and space who believe in the same Triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

During the Liturgy of the Word, we listen to stories of God’s love, promises, and actions throughout the history of salvation. The readings, Gospel, and homily reveal who God is and how He continues to reach out to us. After we proclaim the Creed, we respond to the Word we’ve just heard. We’re saying, “Yes, we believe this!” It’s a declaration of faith in the God who speaks to us through Scripture and who remains present in our lives.

But the Creed isn’t just the conclusion of the Liturgy of the Word—it’s also a bridge that carries us into the Liturgy of the Eucharist. As we proclaim our faith in the Father who made us, in Jesus who came to save us, and in the Holy Spirit who unites us, our hearts are prepared to receive Christ in the Eucharist. This shared profession of faith reminds us that the Eucharist isn’t just an individual encounter but a communal celebration of the life we share in Christ. Catalina’s baptism highlights the profound connection between baptism and the Creed. Just as her parents professed the faith that will shape her life, we profess that same faith each Sunday as a Church. When we recite the Nicene Creed in the liturgy, we’re stepping into a tradition that has endured for 1,700 years. We’re joining billions of believers, past and present, who proclaim these truths together.

The Nicene Creed is a response to God’s Word and a commitment to live out the faith we profess. It roots us in the truth, connects us to the global Church, and prepares us to encounter Christ in the Eucharist. It is an ancient profession of faith—a treasure that has shaped Christians from the moment of baptism through every Mass we celebrate thereafter.