"You see the revolving circle of the glory moving from Like to Like. The Son is glorified by the Spirit; the Father is glorified by the Son; again the Son has His glory from the Father; and the Only-begotten thus becomes the glory of the Spirit. For with what shall the Father be glorified, but with the true glory of the Son: and with what again shall the Son be glorified, but with the majesty of the Spirit? In like manner, again, Faith completes the circle, and glorifies the Son by means of the Spirit, and the Father by means of the Son" (St. Gregory of Nyssa).
In this life we can never fully understand the nature or the true unity of the Holy Trinity, but in Heaven we shall finally understand the beauty of the Trinity. The feast of the Blessed Trinity was first introduced in the 9th century and was only made part of the general calendar of the Church in the 14th century by Pope John XXII. Yet, the mystery of the Trinity goes back further to the time of the early Apostles. The Holy Trinity can be observed in the Gospel through the words of our Lord: "Go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matthew 28:18).
Since the beginning, many lies and heresies have sprouted as Our Lord warned that many anti-christs would come. Some heretics taught Jesus was not God, there were 3 gods, and the 3 persons were just three different roles of the same person. All of these lies and heresies were condemned.
Truths of the Holy Trinity
- The Trinity is one. There are three persons but only one God. Each person is God wholly and entirely.
- Each person is different the other two. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not different roles of the same person. Each person has a different origin.
- The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all share one nature. They are related but not the same person while each of them is fully God.
- The Father sent His only Son: "When the appointed time came, God sent his Son." (Gal. 4:4) also John 8:42
- The Son came to die our death and free us
- The Holy Spirit as one who proceeds from the Father and the Son
While all of this is certainly confusing, we can only pray that through the Holy Spirit's inspiration, we can hope to understand the Trinity. In time we can understand the Trinity and the nature of Our One God better, but only in Heaven will we truly experience the joy of serving the One God and seeing the mystery of the Holy Trinity face to face.
As for now, let us begin everything we do with the Sign of the Cross: "In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" as we recall this most important belief of the Christian faith.
Click here to read today's Mass Propers.
2 comments:
As a Catholic, I find myself often pondering the most profound mystery for which we Catholics on Earth are aware of, and that is the very existential and ontological attributes of GOD, in particular that of the HOLY TRINITY.
We in the Western Tradition of Theology and Philosophy have a history of categorizing GOD in terms of Platonic or Ancient Greek ideals, concepts, or forms such as pure absolute infinite being, all-knowing, immutability, perfect and infinite good, and the list goes on and on.
The language of modern psychology has given us new forms of language and associated concepts such as the concept and wordage of personality, interpersonal relationships, intimacy, and the like.
GOD is not just some abstract being that is impersonal anymore than a human being is not simply something, but rather is someone. Since the primary distinction between the Three Divine Persons is the fact that they are distinct persons, we can conclude that GOD also has the perfection of personhood, personality, etc., to the ultimate and absolutely unfathomable infinite extent.
Commensurate with this infinite perfection of personality is the ability for interpersonal relation and interpersonal intimacy among the Three Divine Persons. Thus one aspect of the Holy Trinity is to be a Life of Pure Infinite Interpersonal Relationship or Intimacy.
I make these comments especially to all of those who have found themselves trapped in dysfunctional and hurtful relationships who are looking for something much greater, something that only GOD can provide.
GOD loves you with an interpersonal warmth and intimacy that we simply cannot comprehend on Earth. To paraphrase the Holy Bible, "GOD knew you before he formed you in the womb."
I can well imagine that since GOD is inexpressibly exulted beyond all that we can comprehend and define, that the mystery of the HOLY TRINITY is just one of an infinite number of mysteries concerning the existential and ontological nature of GOD that we will have access to in the depths of all Eternity in the next life. Many years ago, as I was having some personal trials and difficulties, my sister Mary who is a devout Christian would console me with the words, “Jim, this life is just a stepping stone in eternity!”
God Bless;
Jim
Jim Essig:
Greetings on the 3rd Sunday After Pentecost:
Thank you for this truly thought-stimulating reflection on the Holy Trinity. May I post this as a post on my blog?
Thank you.
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