The Apostles' Creed is one of the most well-known creeds of western Christianity and was developed from a second century baptismal creed. It became the official statement of Catholic faith during the reign of Pope Innocent III between 1198-1216. Today, the Apostles' Creed is prayed at the beginning of the Rosary and is recited in a question-and-answer format at Baptisms.
In the time of the early Church, when many people were illiterate, orally reciting creeds helped them learn and remember the core tenets of the Faith. Creeds set out by the Church also helped Christians distinguish between truth and heresy before there was a defined canon of Scripture or a Catechism.
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;
on the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from there he will 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.