Holy Trinity: Father, Son, & Holy Spirit

Holy Trinity: Father, Son, & Holy Spirit

Useful Information Father Keith Mathur Mr. Kevin Damitz
x40 Mr. Kevin Damitz

The picture that you see on screen is a picture of an icon
The picture that you see on screen is a picture of an icon. And an icon is a type of religious art, that originated in the Eastern Church. An icon however is not just religious art, but the Eastern Catholics believe that an icon is a window into heaven. That as you pray about what an icon depicts as religious art, you are gaining a greater insight into the mysteries of the faith. Now this icon is called “The Blessed Trinity” by a famous artist known as Rubilev. Now the one thing that you may notice is that the icon depicts 3 young men. I use this picture because it detracts from the typical way the Trinity is depicted as Father, Son, & Holy Spirit. Usually the Father is shown as an old man with a beard, the Son as a young man, and the Holy Spirit as a dove. But here we see them as equals, which they are. One 1 God in 3 persons. Ok, so now we have a depiction of the Blessed Trinity. The name is really indicative of itself – TRINITY or 3. Now, I think that it’s important that before we get started into why there is 1 God made up of 3 distinct Persons, it should be prefaced with a brief statement as to what is God. An almost back to the basics.

What is the essence of God?
Essence: what makes a “thing” what it is. So what is the essence of God? LOVE Now, philosophically essence is the word used to describe what makes a thing what it is. So what is the essence of God? Simply put, and you can’t het much simpler, or much more truer than to say that God is love.

“God is love, and he who abides in love abides in Him.”
1 JOHN 4:16 “God is love, and he who abides in love abides in Him.” Saint John in 1 John 4:16 defines God, if that’s even possible to do. St. Paul states “God is love, and he who abides in love abides in Him.” Subsequently John summarizes the Christian life in a nutshell. What makes us Christian is that we have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us.” Pope Benedict VXI’s first book addresses this truth in his book Deus est Caritas. Which is latin for “God is love.”

LOVE EROS PHILIA AGAPE Completely selfish Self-gratifying Narcissistic
English word  erotic PHILIA Brotherly love English words  filial, Philadelphia AGAPE Love spoke of in the NT Love that completely gives of itself for the sake of the other So this begs the questions, what is love? In language we can make distinctions between three fundamental types of love: eros, philia, and agape. Eros – we get the English word erotic which is a completely selfish type of love. A self-gratifying and narcissistic love. Philia – we get words like filial or Philadelphia. This is a type of brotherly love. A love derived from some type of kinship. Agape – this is the love of which the NT writers especially St. Paul and St. John speak of in their writings about God. This is a love that completely gives itself for the sake of another. When Christ died for us it was because of agape love. When St. John exhorts us to give our lives for love of a friend it’s not filial love, but agape love. If the only thing that you get out of this RCIA (I hope you get more out of it) but at the very least you come to a more fuller understanding that God completely gives His entire self to you in love – it’ll be a good year.

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God is infinite, so He infinitely gives and infinitely receives love.
God is the same way God is infinite, so He infinitely gives and infinitely receives love. Ok, now. Now that we know that God is love. On a common sense level we know that love is not unidirectional. To really know what love it you can’t just receive love and you can’t just give love. We must both receive and give love to fully experience what love is. Well God is the same exact way. God must give and receive love as well. But because God is infinite He must infinitely give and infinitely receive love. Ok this is a good little preface to the essence of God. Now lets get into some of Who and What we believe God is based upon His own revelation to us. If you want a book recommendation that makes theology very understandable, pick up any book by the theologian Frank Sheed. In particular I recommend his book “Theology for Beginners.” He tackles all these big theological topics like the Trinity and makes it very easy to understand.

Basic Tenets of Revealed Truth about God
1 God, not 3 Sign of the Cross 3 Persons Father Son Holy Spirit Through their own will established a hierarchy of equality Does not relegate greatness or power – but helps us understand how the Trinity works within itself – still a mystery folks! God is a mystery. We will never completely know or understand God. Not even in the next world, because God is infinite. But there are certain things we must believe in order to have at least an accurate understanding of how God has revealed Himself to us. There is 1 God, we bless ourselves in the NAME of the Father and Son and Holy Spirit, not in the NAMES of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In order to give and receive infinite love this 1 God is made up of what we call 3 Persons. The 3 Persons of the Trinity are the: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Now within these 3 Persons, all equal to one another there is a hierarchy to the Trinity. When I say hierarchy I am not referring to levels of greatness but rather in submissiveness to one another. For example: all three Persons of the Trinity are the 1 God, but each Person is also a distinct divine Person. As far as hierarchy is concerned Sacred Scripture (Jesus Himself) tells us that the Father sent the Son into the world and that the Father and the Son sent the Holy Spirit. But no Person of the Trinity ever sends the Father – because he is the source of what it sent. The Father is the source of the Trinity (don’t get confused with language now) source you say, that may send up a red flag saying then that the Son and Holy Spirit are lesser than the Father. This is not the case and can be logically and philosophically explained. The Son is not created from the Father but begotten and is infinitely begotten. So although the Father is the source of the Trinity, if eth Son is eternally and infinitely begotten then he is infinitely and eternally as great as the Father. The Holy Spirit is not created but neither is He begotten. The theological term that is used is that the Holy Spirit is spirated from the Father and the Son. That’s just fancy theological words which in essence is saying that the love between the Father and the Son is so powerful and itself infinite and eternal is the 3rd Person of Trinity.

God the FATHER Source of the Trinity Don’t let language confuse you
Source does not mean the Son & the Holy Spirit are lesser than the Father The Father is the source of the Trinity (don’t get confused with language now) source you say, that may send up a red flag saying then that the Son and Holy Spirit are lesser than the Father. This is not the case and can be logically and philosophically explained.

God the SON Not created, but begotten
In fact eternally and infinitely begotten The Son is not created from the Father but begotten and is infinitely begotten. So although the Father is the source of the Trinity, if eth Son is eternally and infinitely begotten then he is infinitely and eternally as great as the Father

Not created, nor begotten He is SPIRATED
God the HOLY SPIRIT Not created, nor begotten He is SPIRATED The Holy Spirit is not created but neither is He begotten. The theological term that is used is that the Holy Spirit is spirated from the Father and the Son. SPIRATED – million dollar word That’s just fancy theological words which in essence is saying that the love between the Father and the Son is so powerful and itself infinite and eternal is the 3rd Person of Trinity.

Genesis 1:26 “Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” - New American Bible Now in all reality, whenever 1 Person of the Trinity acts – they all act. So the Father truly never does anything without the Son or the Holy Spirit. We can see this from the very beginning of Genesis in the creation of world: Genesis 1:26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” The one singular God is stating to make man in His own image and likeness which he states in the plural: us & our. Once again study Hebrew! 

Attribution Father – Creator – creates and makes all things possible.
Son – Redeemer – saves humanity from their sins by becoming human. Spirit – Sanctifier – continually makes things holy as a gift sent from the Father and the Son. Now in our own process of trying to understand who God is we do what is called attribution. Although the entire Trinity always acts we tend to attribute certain things to certain Persons of the Trinity. For example: Father – Creator – creates and makes all things possible. Son – Redeemer – saves humanity from their sins by becoming human. Spirit – Sanctifier – continually makes things holy as a gift sent from the Father and the Son.

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Transcendence God is transcendent and beyond all of creation – so all ideas and speech about God is going to somehow be lacking in a fully explaining who God is. Speak a little bit about each person of the Trinity with another preface. First when we speak of God and the Trinity we must first recognize that God who He is and what He does and how he acts is a completely mystery. By a mystery I don’t mean something that is not understandable but rather a Truth of faith that we cannot know unless God Himself revealed it to us. Once it is known it can be understandable and reasonable, but is never fully comprehensible. This is of course God is infinite and we are not so we are never going to fully understand God – even when we are in heaven we won’t fully understand God that why heaven won’t be boring because we will for all eternity come to know and love God with great intensity. A mystery that cannot be fully understood or surpass our present power to reason can only be shown or proven to by showing that they are non-contradictory. This is why philosophical logic is so important in Theology – because our God is not a liar and does not contradict Himself. So if a Truth of the faith contradicts itself then it really isn’t true and is certainly not of God.

Father Revealed by the Son
God is Father in as much as he is the Creator of the world God is Father because of the covenant he made with Israel to send his 1st born Son Father is the first origin of everything Father shows his goodness and loving care for his children Jesus Himself reveals God as the Father and as Creator Eternally God is Father by his relationship with His only Son AD 325- Council of Nicaea- Son is consubstantial with the Father Father Revealed by the Son: God is Father in as much as he is the Creator of the world God is Father because of the covenant he made with Israel to send his 1st born Son Father is the first origin of everything Father shows his goodness and loving care for his children Jesus Himself reveals God the Father as Creator Eternally God is Father by his relationship with His only Son AD Council of Nicaea - Son is dogmatically understood to be consubstantial or 1 with the Father

Father & Son Revealed by the Spirit
Jesus promises to send the Spirit The sending of the Spirit is after Jesus’ glorification Holy Spirit is not the “spirit” of the Father Spirit least understood of the Trinity: marked difference in the Eastern & Western Church (both Catholic & Orthodox) Father and Son revealed by the Spirit Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit who is at work since creation, spoken through the prophets, and will guide the apostles to the truth Spirit is a Divine Person with Jesus and the Father The sending of the Spirit after Jesus’ glorification reveals it as the fullness of the mystery of the Trinity By ‘who proceeds from the Father and the Son,’ the Church recognizes the Father as the source and the origin of the whole Triune God But the eternal origin of the Spirit is nor unconnected with the Son’s origin. The Holy Spirit, the 3rd Person of the Trinity is God, one and equal with the Father and the Son and is of the same substance and nature. Holy Spirit is not the Spirit of the Father alone, but both the Spirit of the Father and the Son and ‘with the Father and the Son He is worshipped and glorified’. Understanding of how the Spirit proceeds is different in the Eastern Tradition of the Church than it is in the Western Tradition of the Church Eastern Tradition- proceeds from the Father through the Son Western Tradition- proceeds from the Father and the Son Although it is not heresy to believe what the East believes. When the Holy Father, the Pope, says the Creed with Patriarchs from the East the phrase ‘proceeds from the Father and the Son’ and substitutes ‘proceeds from the Father through the Son’ All of our Liturgies in the Church have a mindset of worship the 1 True God while recognizing the 3 distinct Divine Persons. Some example: I already mentioned the Sign of the Cross which we make at the beginning and end of every prayers. In the name of…. At the beginning of Mass after the Sign of eth Cross, the priest greets everyone in these or similar words: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” The Mass itself is a prayer directed to the Father, through the Son, in the Holy Spirit.

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How Do We Understand the Trinity
Legend has it that St. Patrick was responsible for ridding the Emerald Isle of snakes; but more importantly, it is said that Patrick used the shamrock as a symbol to explain the Trinity to Unbelievers, i.e., how God is One God in Three Persons. "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matthew 28:19). Patrick would hold up a shamrock and challenge his hearers, "Is it one leaf or three?" "It is both one leaf and three," was their reply. "And so it is with God," he would conclude. "19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of Him from The Creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His Eternal Power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse" (Romans 1:19-20). Of course, doctrines such as the Trinity or the Divinity of Jesus Christ can only be received by willing hearts, who have committed themselves to obey whatever the Spirit reveals from the Scriptures. "If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine" (John 7:17). St. Patrick, no doubt, was careful not to confuse pagan idolaters with the idea of Polytheism, i.e., the false notion that there are many separate gods; but, his dependence upon the Holy Spirit to give him the illustration of the shamrock to illustrate the Trinity, gave him success in preaching the Gospel. "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the Power of God unto Salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Romans 1:16).

Dogma of the Trinity In the 1 Divine Nature (when we say nature, philosophically it means the essence of being – so there is 1 Divine Nature consisting of 3 Divine Persons: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). No one of the 3 Divine Persons is either of the other Divine Persons – but rather each Person of Trinity is wholly Himself. The Father is the 1 true God, the Son is the 1 true God, and the Holy Spirit is the 1 True God. There are not 3 Gods, but 1 God. The Dogma of the Trinity In its barest outline the dogma contains 4 truths: In the 1 Divine Nature (when we say nature, philosophically it means the essence of being – so there is 1 Divine Nature consisting of 3 Divine Persons: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). No one of the 3 Divine Persons is either of the other Divine Persons – but rather each Person of Trinity is wholly Himself. The Father is the 1 true God, the Son is the 1 true God, and the Holy Spirit is the 1 True God. There are not 3 Gods, but 1 God.

The Importance of Words in Theology and Philosophy
Possessive Statements Very important for natures Who vs. What What = nature (1 God) Who = person (3 Persons) Nature decides what I can do Person describes who we are If you were to ask God: Q: What are you? A: God would respond together, “GOD!” Q: Who are you? A: They would each respond “Father, “Son,” or “Holy Spirit.” Words in theology are extremely important. When we say there are 3 Divine Persons in 1 Divine Nature. What does that mean. We usually just conjure up numbers. Let me try to give you a simple demonstration. When we say, “my nature” it is possessive statement. There is a person to whom the nature belongs. So a person cannot exist without a nature. This is important the person possesses the nature, and not vice versa. Ok, now. Further we can reason that the words person and nature answer two different questions. For example: If you see something in a badly lit dark room you might ask, “What is that?” If we can see that it is a human being, but cannot distinguish who it is we ask, “Who is it?” When we ask “What is it?” we are asking nature. When we ask “Who is it?” we are asking about the person. My nature decides what I can do. I can raise my hand, I can eat, I can laugh, I can think, sleep, etc. I cannot lay an egg because that goes along with the nature of a bird. I cannot raise the dead because that goes along with the nature of God. Our natures decide what we can do and our Persons do them. If we apply this to God we can say that there is but 1 Divine Nature to which you ask the question “What is God?” God is the 1 source of Divine being. But there are 3 Persons who totally and completely possess that 1 nature. To this we ask the question, “Who are you?” Father, Son, or Holy Spirit. If we asked each Person of the Trinity “What are you?” They each will respond together “God.” If we asked God, “Who are you?” They would respond, “Father” or “Son”, or “Holy Spirit.” I just want to mention here that it is important to note that the 3 Divine Persons to not share the Divine Nature Sacred Scripture gives us encouragement when it reminds us that although these Divinely Reveled Truths are indeed true and may be not fully understandable, we believe them because as True because of the Spirit who draw us closer to the Father and His Son.

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! ! ! You are now all EXPERTS on the Most Holy Trinity ! ! !

Holy Trinity: Father, Son, & Holy Spirit

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