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The Creed in Slow Motion by Ronald Knox
Unpacking the Apostles' Creed step-by-step, this rediscovered classic by Ronald Knox offers a clear, loving, and witty example of Anglo-Catholic thought at its best.
During the WWII bombing of London, Ronald Knox a priest, radio personality, detective novelist, scholar, and Catholic convert found himself the chaplain of a girls' school where students were being sheltered. When his existing homilies were exhausted, Knox began to write new ones for his students based on the Apostles' Creed. The homilies were so well-received that they were later published as The Creed in Slow Motion
With resurgent interest in the life and writings of Knox, as well as forthcoming changes to the English translation of the Creed, the new edition of this classic could not be more timely.
During the WWII bombing of London, Ronald Knox a priest, radio personality, detective novelist, scholar, and Catholic convert found himself the chaplain of a girls' school where students were being sheltered. When his existing homilies were exhausted, Knox began to write new ones for his students based on the Apostles' Creed. The homilies were so well-received that they were later published as The Creed in Slow Motion
With resurgent interest in the life and writings of Knox, as well as forthcoming changes to the English translation of the Creed, the new edition of this classic could not be more timely.
Paperback
First published November 30, 1949
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About the author
Ronald Knox
227 books108 followersMonsignor Ronald Arbuthnott Knox was a Roman Catholic priest, theologian, author of detective stories, as well as a writer and a regular broadcaster for BBC Radio.
Knox had attended Eton College and won several scholarships at Balliol College, Oxford. He was ordained an Anglican priest in 1912 and was appointed chaplain of Trinity College, Oxford, but he left in 1917 upon his conversion to Catholicism. In 1918 he was ordained a Catholic priest. Knox wrote many books of essays and novels. Directed by his religious superiors, he re-translated the Latin Vulgate Bible into English, using Hebrew and Greek sources, beginning in 1936.
He died on 24 August 1957 and his body was brought to Westminster Cathedral. Bishop Craven celebrated the requiem mass, at which Father Martin D'Arcy, a Jesuit, preached the panegyric. Knox was buried in the churchyard of St Andrew's Church, Mells.
Knox had attended Eton College and won several scholarships at Balliol College, Oxford. He was ordained an Anglican priest in 1912 and was appointed chaplain of Trinity College, Oxford, but he left in 1917 upon his conversion to Catholicism. In 1918 he was ordained a Catholic priest. Knox wrote many books of essays and novels. Directed by his religious superiors, he re-translated the Latin Vulgate Bible into English, using Hebrew and Greek sources, beginning in 1936.
He died on 24 August 1957 and his body was brought to Westminster Cathedral. Bishop Craven celebrated the requiem mass, at which Father Martin D'Arcy, a Jesuit, preached the panegyric. Knox was buried in the churchyard of St Andrew's Church, Mells.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 31, 2024
Oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh this book! I love it for all the reasons I loved The Mass in Slow Motion, for his sense of humor, for his writing, for his metaphors, for his approach to the teachings of the Church — only, in The Creed in Slow Motion, his humor is still funnier, his writing still more skillful, his metaphors fresher, his approach still more practical and thought-provoking.
In the twenty-seven chapters of this book, Father Knox takes us through the Apostle's Creed clause by clause. This means he goes very slowly indeed: chapter one is I Believe in God, chapter two is The Father Almighty, then Maker of Heaven and Earth and so on and so on. And yet he reveals so many exciting and life-changing truths throughout these chapters — I have learned so many things!!!
And beside being quite educational, this book is also enormously fun to read. I had to force myself to take this slowly, so everything could sink in. Father Knox is so funny, over a dozen times I have laughed out loud and had to tell someone about the funny stories he shares. For instance, when talking about Confession and telling the priest your sins in a clear, straightforward way, he tells a story about a man who went into Confession and said, "I have broken all the Commandments."
"All of them?" says the priest. "You mean, you've committed a murder?"
"Oh," says the man, "now I think on it, I don't actually think I've killed anybody."
"Well, why don't you leave and come back when you have straightened out which sins you have committed and which you haven't," said the priest.
The man left and said to all the other men in line for Confession, "It's no use, boys; he's only hearing murders today."
Perhaps my favorite part of this book, however, is the metaphors he uses. When Jesus Christ taught the disciples, he didn't simply say, "The kingdom of heaven is like this, and this, and this." He told them stories to illustrate these truths, using analogies that the disciples would have been familiar with: harvesting wheat, planting trees, paying debts, going to feasts. Father Knox, who is addressing these sermons to a school of teenage Catholic girls, does the same. He compares the cross to a crossed-out capital 'I', blackening our souls by sin to dropping a ink bottle on the floor, zeroing in on the teachings of the Church to sharpening a pencil, and so many more. It's so eye-opening.
Thank you, Father Knox, for both teaching me and entertaining me. This is the first non-fiction book I have read that quite easily makes it onto my list of favorite books. Next I have to read The Gospel in Slow Motion!
In the twenty-seven chapters of this book, Father Knox takes us through the Apostle's Creed clause by clause. This means he goes very slowly indeed: chapter one is I Believe in God, chapter two is The Father Almighty, then Maker of Heaven and Earth and so on and so on. And yet he reveals so many exciting and life-changing truths throughout these chapters — I have learned so many things!!!
And beside being quite educational, this book is also enormously fun to read. I had to force myself to take this slowly, so everything could sink in. Father Knox is so funny, over a dozen times I have laughed out loud and had to tell someone about the funny stories he shares. For instance, when talking about Confession and telling the priest your sins in a clear, straightforward way, he tells a story about a man who went into Confession and said, "I have broken all the Commandments."
"All of them?" says the priest. "You mean, you've committed a murder?"
"Oh," says the man, "now I think on it, I don't actually think I've killed anybody."
"Well, why don't you leave and come back when you have straightened out which sins you have committed and which you haven't," said the priest.
The man left and said to all the other men in line for Confession, "It's no use, boys; he's only hearing murders today."
Perhaps my favorite part of this book, however, is the metaphors he uses. When Jesus Christ taught the disciples, he didn't simply say, "The kingdom of heaven is like this, and this, and this." He told them stories to illustrate these truths, using analogies that the disciples would have been familiar with: harvesting wheat, planting trees, paying debts, going to feasts. Father Knox, who is addressing these sermons to a school of teenage Catholic girls, does the same. He compares the cross to a crossed-out capital 'I', blackening our souls by sin to dropping a ink bottle on the floor, zeroing in on the teachings of the Church to sharpening a pencil, and so many more. It's so eye-opening.
Thank you, Father Knox, for both teaching me and entertaining me. This is the first non-fiction book I have read that quite easily makes it onto my list of favorite books. Next I have to read The Gospel in Slow Motion!
July 27, 2018
Third reading - a great book to come back to frequently.
Still an amazing book the second time through. Fr. Knox makes the Creed easy to understand while taking the reader much deeper into the Creed than the surface level. This is a must read for any Catholic!
Still an amazing book the second time through. Fr. Knox makes the Creed easy to understand while taking the reader much deeper into the Creed than the surface level. This is a must read for any Catholic!
June 12, 2018
One of the most elegant and accessible works on the nuances of our creed.
February 17, 2018
3.5 stars
My Sunday reading for half a year. There was not a great deal of new information for me, but I appreciated the new perspective often offered and Knox's sense of humor and style.
I would definitely like to read his The Mass in Slow Motion.
I would note that this edition had a significant number of typesetting errors where two words that should be spaced are smushed together. Like so:
The creed isa very important prayer. Becauseof its vast importance. (That is just an example and is not from the book.)
It can be very distracting and it is a shame that they did not catch this and correct it. I want to look at the other edition and see if their text is clean and easier to read.
My Sunday reading for half a year. There was not a great deal of new information for me, but I appreciated the new perspective often offered and Knox's sense of humor and style.
I would definitely like to read his The Mass in Slow Motion.
I would note that this edition had a significant number of typesetting errors where two words that should be spaced are smushed together. Like so:
The creed isa very important prayer. Becauseof its vast importance. (That is just an example and is not from the book.)
It can be very distracting and it is a shame that they did not catch this and correct it. I want to look at the other edition and see if their text is clean and easier to read.
June 3, 2018
Perfect explained study of the Creed. Each chapter was a Sunday sermon to young girls at a boarding school. This would be a perfect morning read for a homeschooling family!
January 29, 2021
Excellent book for youth Confirmation class. Clearly written with humor and a love for Mother Church. A few ideas have changed since its writing; however, these were easily explained. I read aloud in my class and explained as we moved through the book - the class enjoyed it as well.
Added upon reread: just reread with my eldest children and it elicited many great conversations
Added upon reread: just reread with my eldest children and it elicited many great conversations
March 26, 2024
Catholic Theology made simple
I was born in the forties and I’ve seen the evolution of the Church since Vatican II. I might not have remained a Catholic because of the teaching I received in those days. This book teaches from that time, and yet its teaching seems to me perfectly modern and in keeping with the modern Church. It is a great comfort to be helped to understand and think about one’s faith. Monsignor Knox’s homilies were addressed to youngsters, yet I believe that if we oldsters would be humble enough, we shall learn much from this erudite priest.
I was born in the forties and I’ve seen the evolution of the Church since Vatican II. I might not have remained a Catholic because of the teaching I received in those days. This book teaches from that time, and yet its teaching seems to me perfectly modern and in keeping with the modern Church. It is a great comfort to be helped to understand and think about one’s faith. Monsignor Knox’s homilies were addressed to youngsters, yet I believe that if we oldsters would be humble enough, we shall learn much from this erudite priest.
April 29, 2023
I’m surprised that this book is not more well known. It is a clear, often humorous (but always serious) review of the Apostle’s Creed. Knox is a great writer of sermons that both spoke to his audience (school-age young girls) and challenged them as well (I’m sure). In fact, this was fairly hard hitting in his Frank description of sin which is something that has gotten downplayed in the years after Vatican 2. All in all, a wonderful read that I would encourage all Catholics to read.
December 13, 2018
Fr. Knox had an amazing ability to take otherwise complex theological truths and break them down in a way that made them completely accessible. He did so with wit and humor and a genuine love of Christ and His Church.
September 11, 2021
Every Catholic should read this book. It is an excellent study of each phrase in the Apostles’ Creed. If that sounds boring, I can assure you that it is not. It is intellectually stimulating, even witty at times, and a pleasure to read.
December 4, 2019
Loved it. Knox dissects the apostle's creed with simple, clear explanations.
June 6, 2020
Really interesting way to look at the Apostle’s Creed and i think it makes praying the creed a different experience. I loved the breakdown and the very conversational tone of the sermons.
February 2, 2025
I have read The Mass in Slow Motion previously, and this one was even better!
October 8, 2013
Ronald A. Knox was a convert and a Catholic Priest who was assigned to do some literary work outside of London just prior to the outbreak of WWII.
Suddenly the monastery, where he was working, had an influx of young girls sent there to be away from the German Blitz in London. Now, instead of being a researcher, he found himself in the role of a Chaplain.
The Creed in Slow Motion is just that. It is a collection of his homilies (then called sermons) based on the Apostles Creed. Now if you're one of those people who feel that the purpose of a homily is to give you a chance to nap during mass, this book isn't for you.
It takes time to read (and wonder how young girls put up with this) to understand what he is saying. He does a fairly good job but I must admit, on occasions, I too felt like napping.
Suddenly the monastery, where he was working, had an influx of young girls sent there to be away from the German Blitz in London. Now, instead of being a researcher, he found himself in the role of a Chaplain.
The Creed in Slow Motion is just that. It is a collection of his homilies (then called sermons) based on the Apostles Creed. Now if you're one of those people who feel that the purpose of a homily is to give you a chance to nap during mass, this book isn't for you.
It takes time to read (and wonder how young girls put up with this) to understand what he is saying. He does a fairly good job but I must admit, on occasions, I too felt like napping.
October 17, 2013
Good, straightforward Catholicism with a wit and humour. If all homilies were of this kind, I wouldn't mind sitting for all twenty minutes of them (for that's how long it takes to read each one). Above all, the author provides a lesson in engaging ordinary people (here, schoolgirls) with simple language while not watering down or trivialising the fairly complicated material that is the Catholic faith.
June 25, 2014
If you want to read Ronald Knox this is the book to start with. A fantastic book that is a series of sermons on the Apostles Creed. The sermons were given to young girls so the language is not his usual Oxford style but is still contains all his wit. I only wish I could find a recording of his voice.
I have bought 3 copies of this book as gifts for others. It will continue to be one of my faith gift books.
I have bought 3 copies of this book as gifts for others. It will continue to be one of my faith gift books.
March 20, 2011
Written during WWII, it is a collection of homilies given by Ronald Knox that center around the Apostles Creed. It's a thought-provoking study of each part of the ancient prayer.
October 16, 2011
Fantastic series of sermons, taking one clause of the Creed at a time and unpacking it...
February 28, 2014
Excellent fast read, very accessible but not overly simplistic.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews