29. The symbol, creed or profession of faith, said when the rubrics require, has as its purpose in the celebration of Mass that the assembled congregation may respond and give assent to the word of God heard in the readings and through the homily, and that before beginning to celebrate in the Eucharist the mystery of faith it may call to mind the rule of faith in a formulary approved by the Church. [58]
One ancient bishop remarked that the placement of the Creed permitted the laity to give assent to the faith in spite of whatever heresy might have crept into the homily. In all seriousness, this seems to underscore the importance of formation in the Word as a preliminary to professing faith.
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