Of the Holy Trinity, the Incarnation, the Invocation of Saints, and Their Images

Letter CCCLX.[1]

According to the blameless faith of the Christians which we have obtained from God, I confess and agree that I believe in one God the Father Almighty; God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost; I adore and worship one God, the Three.[2] I confess to the œconomy of the Son in the flesh,[3] and that the holy Mary, who gave birth to Him according to the flesh, was Mother of God.[4] I acknowledge also the holy apostles, prophets, and martyrs; and I invoke them to supplication to God, that through them, that is, through their mediation, the merciful God may be propitious to me, and that a ransom may be made and given me for my sins. Wherefore also I honour and kiss the features of their images, inasmuch as they have been handed down from the holy apostles, and are not forbidden, but are in all our churches.