Down through the ages, many books have been written to instruct people in the Faith. God is infinite, which makes the Catholic Religion extremely rich. Fortunately, it is not necessary to know everything about the Faith. To be a Catholic, one only needs the fundamentals - a simple set of beliefs - a creed.

Before the Apostles set out to win converts around the world, they knew that people of all ages would need a basic creed so as to hold the Faith in their minds and hearts. So they gathered together, and, inspired by the Holy Ghost, they simplified the Catholic Religion into its most important aspects.

In the writings of St. Augustine, he relates that each one of the twelve holy men set forth a particular article of Faith.

St. Peter: "I believe in God the Father Almighty."

St. John: "Creator of Heaven and earth."

St. James: "And in Jesus Christ His only Son Our Lord."

St. Andrew: "Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary."

St. Philip: "Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and, buried."

St. Thomas: "He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead."

St. Bartholomew: "He ascended into Heaven, sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty."

St. Matthew: "From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead."

St. James, the son of Alpheus: "I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church."

St. Simon Zelotes: "The Communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins."

St. Jude: "The resurrection of the body."

Finally, St. Matthias: "And life everlasting."

Thus is St. Augustine's description of a prayer that has stood the test of time, and is familiar, even today, to Catholics around the globe. It comes as no surprise that it is known as "The Apostles' Creed".