Reading the Creed?

Week after week, this takes me by surprise in whatever church I find myself. When it's time to recite the Creed, virtually everyone, including the Celebrant, opens up their missalette and reads from his or her book.

Do Catholics not know the words to the Nicene Creed? This is the core summary of their faith. Are they afraid something changed since last week?

Good grief! I had to learn that creed by heart in order to be confirmed in the Presbyterian Church when I was 13. Even the Russians in San Francisco, who stood mute as fish through most of the Divine Liturgy, happily sang the Creed in four-part harmony (sans books) every Sunday.

One comfort though. Since they're all reading, any changes in the text, such as the translation of "homoousios," won't disturb them.

Comments

[Gere]

(Raising hand sheepishly...)
The trouble is, (I have an excuse for everything,) I memorized a slightly different translation as a child, so my brain does not default to the one we currently use.
But as you say, everyone will already be used to grabbing the books when we start proclaiming, "I believe..."

(Save the Liturgy, Save the World)

[Tony]

Our former pastor always read from the missalette. He claimed it was because ever so often he'd have a brain fart (he didn't use that term) and forget how the prayer went. He was terrified of it happening so he read from the book.

[Todd]

I would say a small percentage of parishioners in my previous parish did. Pretty much nobody in my new parish.

[Gavin]

I was taught as a child to memorize it, so I never cease to be shocked at those who stare at the missalette as they mumble. I guess now it's more a hold-over from the Low Mass "stare at your missal for 30 minutes" style of participation.

Which is interesting - my last congregation would grab the Missalettes for ANYTHING, but they wouldn't touch a leaflet with the Gregorian Gloria on it...

[Lynn]

I noticed at Mass Sunday that most people didn't use the Missalettes for the Creed.

[mwa]

Funny, though, that they don't seem to comprehend those words "all bow during the following two lines" as their eyes pass over it each week.

[Lynn]

I don't think that many post-vatican II Catholics have heard of that, mwa. Maybe a mention in a homily....

[cmg]

I think you're just trying to find something to feel superior about, personally. What difference does it make? They probably have, in fact, memorized it but it makes them feel more comfortable to read it. There's no mystery here.