The Blessed TrinityThe Blessed TrinityThe mystery of the Holy Trinity is The mystery of the Holy Trinity is

the central mystery of the the central mystery of the Christian faith and of Christian life.Christian faith and of Christian life.

CCC, no. 261CCC, no. 261

OutlineOutline MysteryMystery How can we speak about GodHow can we speak about God What God is notWhat God is not Who God isWho God is God is a Unity in a PluralityGod is a Unity in a Plurality The Family as a sign of the TrinityThe Family as a sign of the Trinity

God is Holy MysteryGod is Holy MysteryIt is right and just to sing of You, to It is right and just to sing of You, to bless You, to praise You, to thank You, bless You, to praise You, to thank You, to worship You – for You are God to worship You – for You are God ineffable, inconceivable, invisible, ineffable, inconceivable, invisible, incomprehensibleincomprehensible, always existing , always existing and ever the same, You and Your only and ever the same, You and Your only begotten Son and Your Holy Spirit.begotten Son and Your Holy Spirit.

Anaphora of the Liturgy of St. John ChrysostomAnaphora of the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

What is a Mystery?What is a Mystery? Biblical Greek = mysterion, "that which, being Biblical Greek = mysterion, "that which, being

outside the unassisted natural apprehension, can outside the unassisted natural apprehension, can be made known only by divine revelation.“be made known only by divine revelation.“

““The mystery of God is not a puzzle to be solved. The mystery of God is not a puzzle to be solved. It is a truth to be reverenced. It is a reality too It is a truth to be reverenced. It is a reality too rich to be fully grasped by our minds, so that rich to be fully grasped by our minds, so that while it continues to unfold, it always remains while it continues to unfold, it always remains mostly beyond our comprehension.”mostly beyond our comprehension.”

-USCCB Catechism-USCCB Catechism

““The true profession of the mystery of the Trinity The true profession of the mystery of the Trinity is to own that we do not comprehend it" is to own that we do not comprehend it"

-St. Jerome De mysterio Trinitatus-St. Jerome De mysterio Trinitatus

HOW CAN WE SPEAK ABOUT HOW CAN WE SPEAK ABOUT GOD?GOD?

4040 Since our knowledge of God is limited, our  Since our knowledge of God is limited, our language about him is equally so. We can name God language about him is equally so. We can name God only by taking creatures as our starting point, and in only by taking creatures as our starting point, and in accordance with our limited human ways of knowing accordance with our limited human ways of knowing and thinking.and thinking. - Catechism of the Catholic Church- Catechism of the Catholic Church

41 41 All creatures bear a certain resemblance to God, All creatures bear a certain resemblance to God, most especially man, created in the image and most especially man, created in the image and likeness of God. The manifold perfections of likeness of God. The manifold perfections of creatures - their truth, their goodness, their beauty creatures - their truth, their goodness, their beauty all reflect the infinite perfection of God. all reflect the infinite perfection of God. Consequently we can name God by taking his Consequently we can name God by taking his creatures’ perfections as our starting point, "for from creatures’ perfections as our starting point, "for from the greatness and beauty of created things comes a the greatness and beauty of created things comes a corresponding perception of their Creator".corresponding perception of their Creator".

- Catechism of the Catholic Church- Catechism of the Catholic Church

HOW CAN WE SPEAK ABOUT HOW CAN WE SPEAK ABOUT GOD? GOD?

42 42 God transcends all creatures. We must therefore God transcends all creatures. We must therefore continually purify our language of everything in it that is continually purify our language of everything in it that is limited, image-bound or imperfect, if we are not to confuse our limited, image-bound or imperfect, if we are not to confuse our image of God--"the inexpressible, the incomprehensible, the image of God--"the inexpressible, the incomprehensible, the invisible, the ungraspable"--with our human invisible, the ungraspable"--with our human representations.representations.1616 Our human words always fall short of the  Our human words always fall short of the mystery of God. mystery of God. - Catechism of the Catholic Church- Catechism of the Catholic Church

43 43 Admittedly, in speaking about God like this, our language is Admittedly, in speaking about God like this, our language is using human modes of expression; nevertheless it really does using human modes of expression; nevertheless it really does attain to God himself, though unable to express him in his attain to God himself, though unable to express him in his infinite simplicity. Likewise, we must recall that "between infinite simplicity. Likewise, we must recall that "between Creator and creature no similitude can be expressed without Creator and creature no similitude can be expressed without implying an even greater dissimilitude";implying an even greater dissimilitude";1717 and that "concerning  and that "concerning God, we cannot grasp what he is, but only what he is not, and God, we cannot grasp what he is, but only what he is not, and how other beings stand in relation to him.”how other beings stand in relation to him.” - Catechism of - Catechism of the Catholic Churchthe Catholic Church

Nature and PersonhoodNature and Personhood Nature - the collection of distinctive features by Nature - the collection of distinctive features by

which a species is characterized and distinguished which a species is characterized and distinguished from others.from others.

Our nature is human. A dog has a dog nature and Our nature is human. A dog has a dog nature and not a human naturenot a human nature

We are more than just our natures though. We are We are more than just our natures though. We are persons.persons.

Every human has one nature per one personEvery human has one nature per one person

Imagine if there were three different people with the Imagine if there were three different people with the exact same nature (being, substance, essence)exact same nature (being, substance, essence)

“Shield of the Trinity" or "Scutum Fidei"

What God is NotWhat God is Not

What God is NotWhat God is Not God is not three different Gods God is not three different Gods

(Polytheism)(Polytheism)

God is not one person (Monarchiansim)God is not one person (Monarchiansim)

God is not one god in three different God is not one god in three different modes (Modalsim)modes (Modalsim)

What God is Not: an What God is Not: an AnalogyAnalogy

The Trinity is neither a The Trinity is neither a democracydemocracy, nor a , nor a communist societycommunist society; this is to say that in the Trinity ; this is to say that in the Trinity there is no individualism, and no suppression.there is no individualism, and no suppression.

The Trinity is not a democracy: in America, we get The Trinity is not a democracy: in America, we get individualism, but not communion. We refuse to individualism, but not communion. We refuse to restrain ourselves and specialize in excess and restrain ourselves and specialize in excess and addiction, no matter what it costs us.addiction, no matter what it costs us.

The Trinity is not a communist society: in The Trinity is not a communist society: in communism, men suppress everything and communism, men suppress everything and obliterate the individual. Men specialize in obliterate the individual. Men specialize in compromising with the state in a way that destroys compromising with the state in a way that destroys them. Here, all goes to the communal. them. Here, all goes to the communal.

Who God IsWho God Is

Who God IsWho God Is The Trinity is One. We do not speak of three Gods but The Trinity is One. We do not speak of three Gods but

of one God. Each of the Persons is fully God. They of one God. Each of the Persons is fully God. They are a Unity of Persons in one divine nature.are a Unity of Persons in one divine nature.

The divine Persons are distinct from each other. The divine Persons are distinct from each other. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not three Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not three appearances or modes of God, but three identifiable appearances or modes of God, but three identifiable persons, each fully God in a way distinct from the persons, each fully God in a way distinct from the others.others.

The divine Persons are in The divine Persons are in relationrelation to each other. The to each other. The distinction of each is understood only in reference to distinction of each is understood only in reference to the others.the others.

-USCCB Adult Catechism-USCCB Adult Catechism

Who God IsWho God IsThe Christian communion imitates the Trinity. The Christian communion imitates the Trinity.

In the Trinity, there is no suppression of the In the Trinity, there is no suppression of the individual nor any inordinate exaltation of individual nor any inordinate exaltation of the individual. There is both the tightest the individual. There is both the tightest unity and the fullest expression and unity and the fullest expression and perfection of the individual person. The perfection of the individual person. The Trinitarian persons are most deeply in each Trinitarian persons are most deeply in each other, and most deeply being themselves. other, and most deeply being themselves. Christian communion, through charity, Christian communion, through charity, establishes a union more profound than the establishes a union more profound than the world understands, and leads to a happiness world understands, and leads to a happiness and perfection that the world knows not. and perfection that the world knows not. (Phil 2:5-8)(Phil 2:5-8)

Unity in PluralityUnity in Plurality

God is a Unity in PluralityGod is a Unity in Plurality Deuteronomy 6:4Deuteronomy 6:4 Jewish Shema Jewish Shema

Yisrael: "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our Yisrael: "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord.“God is one Lord.“

Genesis 1:26-27Genesis 1:26-27 2626  Then Then GodGod said, said, "Let "Let usus make man in make man in ourour image, image, after our likeness; ..." after our likeness; ..." 2727 So God  So God created created manman in his own image, in the in his own image, in the image of God he created him; image of God he created him; male male and femaleand female he created he created themthem..

God is a Unity in PluralityGod is a Unity in Plurality Matthew 28:18Matthew 28:18

"go and teach all nations, baptizing "go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the them in the namename of the of the FatherFather, and of , and of the the SonSon, and of the , and of the Holy GhostHoly Ghost““

Lam 4:20Lam 4:20The The breathbreath of our nostrils, the of our nostrils, the

LORD's anointedLORD's anointed, was taken in their pits, , was taken in their pits, he of whom we said, "Under his shadow he of whom we said, "Under his shadow we shall live among the nations."we shall live among the nations."

Who God is: an Who God is: an AnalogyAnalogy

The Family as a Sign and The Family as a Sign and Participation in the Trinitarian Participation in the Trinitarian

LifeLife ““God said, ‘Let us make man in our God said, ‘Let us make man in our

image, after our likeness’” (Gen 1:26)image, after our likeness’” (Gen 1:26)

Unity in plurality of God (Also see Mt Unity in plurality of God (Also see Mt 28:19)28:19)

God is not alone. Therefore man cannot God is not alone. Therefore man cannot be alone, because man is to “image” be alone, because man is to “image” God and God is a “communion of God and God is a “communion of persons”persons”

The Family as a Sign and The Family as a Sign and Participation in the Trinitarian Participation in the Trinitarian

LifeLife Thus, in order to truly be Thus, in order to truly be like like God, man God, man

needed a “suitable partner,” (Gen 2:20) needed a “suitable partner,” (Gen 2:20) who was an equal of his same essencewho was an equal of his same essence

God puts Adam into a deep sleep and God puts Adam into a deep sleep and removes a rib from his side, which he removes a rib from his side, which he created Eve from” (Gen 2:21-23). Thus, created Eve from” (Gen 2:21-23). Thus, woman is created of the same essence woman is created of the same essence of man.of man.

The Family as a Sign and The Family as a Sign and Participation in the Trinitarian Participation in the Trinitarian

LifeLife In order for this “partner” to be In order for this “partner” to be

“suitable” she would need to “suitable” she would need to complement man’s need to complement man’s need to initiateinitiate (in the Father’s image) by her need (in the Father’s image) by her need to to reciprocatereciprocate (in the Son’s image) (in the Son’s image)

““God created man in his image, in God created man in his image, in the divine image he created him, the divine image he created him, male and female he created them” male and female he created them” (Gen 1:27)(Gen 1:27)

The Family as a Sign and The Family as a Sign and Participation in the Trinitarian Participation in the Trinitarian

LifeLife The unity in plurality of Man reflects the The unity in plurality of Man reflects the

image of God. image of God.

This unity between man and woman is not This unity between man and woman is not merely one of the soul, but one of merely one of the soul, but one of the bodythe body, , for he said, “This one, at last, is bone of my for he said, “This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh” (Gen 2:23)bones and flesh of my flesh” (Gen 2:23)

This shows a unity of the whole human This shows a unity of the whole human person, body and soul person, body and soul

The Family as a Sign and The Family as a Sign and Participation in the Trinitarian Participation in the Trinitarian

LifeLife God commands man to “be fruitful and God commands man to “be fruitful and

multiply” (Gen 1:28)multiply” (Gen 1:28)

Man will not simply have his wife as a Man will not simply have his wife as a helpmate, but will create a family. God desires helpmate, but will create a family. God desires male and female to be one in an intimate male and female to be one in an intimate union with each other union with each other andand also to be also to be procreative.procreative.

This is how he most images God, for as JPII This is how he most images God, for as JPII says, “God in His deepest mystery is not a says, “God in His deepest mystery is not a solitude, but a family, since He has in Himself solitude, but a family, since He has in Himself fatherhood, sonship, and the essence of the fatherhood, sonship, and the essence of the family, which is love.”family, which is love.”

The Family as a Sign and The Family as a Sign and Participation in the Trinitarian Participation in the Trinitarian

LifeLife Therefore, man images God through his Therefore, man images God through his

body (most especially in the marital body (most especially in the marital embrace), because it is through our bodies embrace), because it is through our bodies that we are able to express/communicate that we are able to express/communicate love. love.

In this act male and female communicate In this act male and female communicate complete self-giving love which also begets complete self-giving love which also begets life. So much so that nine months later they life. So much so that nine months later they have to give that love a name.have to give that love a name.

Scriptural support Scriptural support for the Trinityfor the Trinity

Father, Son, & Holy SpiritFather, Son, & Holy Spirit 2 Corinthians 13:132 Corinthians 13:13 The grace of our The grace of our Lord Jesus ChristLord Jesus Christ, ,

and the charity of and the charity of GodGod, and the communication of the , and the communication of the Holy Holy GhostGhost be with you all.“ be with you all.“

1 Corinthians 12:4-111 Corinthians 12:4-11 There are diversities of graces, There are diversities of graces,

but the same but the same SpiritSpirit; and there are diversities of ministries, ; and there are diversities of ministries, but the same but the same LordLord: and there are diversities of operations, : and there are diversities of operations, but the same but the same God,God, who worketh all who worketh all

Eph 4:3-6Eph 4:3-6 33 Careful to keep the unity of the Careful to keep the unity of the SpiritSpirit in the in the bond of peace. bond of peace. 44 One body and one Spirit: as you are called One body and one Spirit: as you are called in one hope of your calling. in one hope of your calling. 55 One One LordLord, one faith, one , one faith, one baptism. baptism. 66 One One God and FatherGod and Father of all, who is above all, and of all, who is above all, and through all, and in us all.through all, and in us all.

Father, Son, & Holy SpiritFather, Son, & Holy Spirit 1 Pt 1:1-21 Pt 1:1-2 11 Peter, an apostle of Peter, an apostle of Jesus ChristJesus Christ, to the , to the

strangers dispersed through Pontus, Cappadocia, Asia and strangers dispersed through Pontus, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, elect, Bithynia, elect, 2 2 According to the foreknowledge of According to the foreknowledge of God the God the FatherFather, unto the sanctification of the , unto the sanctification of the SpiritSpirit, unto obedience , unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. Grace unto you and and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. Grace unto you and peace be multiplied.peace be multiplied.

Romans 15:30Romans 15:30 I appeal to you, brethren, by our I appeal to you, brethren, by our Lord Lord Jesus ChristJesus Christ and by the love of the and by the love of the SpiritSpirit, to strive together , to strive together with me in your prayers to with me in your prayers to GodGod on my behalf, on my behalf,

2 Cor. 13:142 Cor. 13:14 The grace of the Lord The grace of the Lord Jesus ChristJesus Christ and the love and the love of of GodGod and the fellowship of the and the fellowship of the Holy SpiritHoly Spirit be with all of be with all of you.you.

Father, Son, & Holy SpiritFather, Son, & Holy Spirit Hebrews 9:14Hebrews 9:14

How much more, then, will the blood of How much more, then, will the blood of ChristChrist, who , who through the eternal through the eternal SpiritSpirit offered himself unblemished to offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living so that we may serve the living GodGod!!

Acts 7:55Acts 7:55But Stephen, full of the But Stephen, full of the Holy SpiritHoly Spirit, looked up to , looked up to

heaven and saw the glory of heaven and saw the glory of GodGod, and , and JesusJesus standing at standing at the right hand of God.the right hand of God.

Matthew 3:16–17Matthew 3:16–17As soon as As soon as Jesus ChristJesus Christ was baptized, he went up was baptized, he went up

out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw he saw the Spirit of Godthe Spirit of God descending like a dove and descending like a dove and landing on him. And a voice from heaven said, 'This is my landing on him. And a voice from heaven said, 'This is my SonSon, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.', whom I love; with him I am well pleased.'

“Shield of the Trinity" or "Scutum Fidei"

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