1. The Trinity and Incarnation The Twin Mysteries of Faith

2. References to Add ¶234 Matthew 11:27 John 10:30 Matthew 28:19 John 1:1

3. Jesus Reveals the Trinity You’re hoping to spend eternity with the Blessed Trinity and expect it to be a wholly blissful experience… You’re hoping to spend eternity with the Blessed Trinity and expect it to be a wholly blissful experience… Because of the gap between us and God, the Trinity will always be a mystery (like an ant to a human), and yet, we can have some insight via analogy and should therefore pursue this knowledge. Because of the gap between us and God, the Trinity will always be a mystery (like an ant to a human), and yet, we can have some insight via analogy and should therefore pursue this knowledge. P. 114 in Fundamentals P. 114 in Fundamentals

4. Mysterious Trinity Why dive into something so mysterious? Why dive into something so mysterious? For Love: love of God, love of others, love of yourself For Love: love of God, love of others, love of yourself “We must often remember what Christ said, that not he who begins, but he that perseveres to the end, shall be saved.” “We must often remember what Christ said, that not he who begins, but he that perseveres to the end, shall be saved.” “One of the most excellent means of obtaining perseverance is discretion; we must not wish to do everything at once, or become a saint in four days.” (or understand the Trinity in 16-18 years of life) “One of the most excellent means of obtaining perseverance is discretion; we must not wish to do everything at once, or become a saint in four days.” (or understand the Trinity in 16-18 years of life) -St. Philip Neri

5. Trinity ¶234 The mystery of the most Holy Trinity is the central mystery of Christian faith and life…the source of all the other mysteries of faith. ¶234 The mystery of the most Holy Trinity is the central mystery of Christian faith and life…the source of all the other mysteries of faith. Our job, today and whenever discussing mysteries of faith (alone) is to show how they are not irrational even if we can not get to them through reason alone. Our job, today and whenever discussing mysteries of faith (alone) is to show how they are not irrational even if we can not get to them through reason alone.

6. Analogy The way we talk about God is through analogy. The way we talk about God is through analogy. While analogies can provide us with some insight and truth they will all necessarily fall short. While analogies can provide us with some insight and truth they will all necessarily fall short. Anything we ever say about God will always be more dissimilar than similar, that is, analogies will always be less true than true. Anything we ever say about God will always be more dissimilar than similar, that is, analogies will always be less true than true.

7. Life Involves movement or activity Involves movement or activity Immanence: comes from within Immanence: comes from within Transitive (transcendence): from without Transitive (transcendence): from without The greater the immanent activity the higher the life. The greater the immanent activity the higher the life.

8. Human Powers 1. Humans generative power of the mind (thinking): to beget thoughts, ideas, words The fruit of our mind stays in our mind. It is distinct from the mind but it is not separate from the mind. The fruit of our mind stays in our mind. It is distinct from the mind but it is not separate from the mind. 2. Power to love that which we think about (truth) Our love is not something outside of ourselves. Our love is not something outside of ourselves.

9. God’s Powers God thinks a perfect thought, one word (John 1:1), which is distinct from his mind but not separate from his mind. (Father and Son) God thinks a perfect thought, one word (John 1:1), which is distinct from his mind but not separate from his mind. (Father and Son) The other power is to love (Holy Spirit) which is a mysterious bond uniting the Father and Son. The other power is to love (Holy Spirit) which is a mysterious bond uniting the Father and Son. Love is distinct from the thought (SON) but proceeds from it and from the thinker. (FATHER) Love is distinct from the thought (SON) but proceeds from it and from the thinker. (FATHER) God loves perfection: his thought/son/word God loves perfection: his thought/son/word God expresses his love through a sigh (breath of the Spirit) God expresses his love through a sigh (breath of the Spirit)

10. The Doctrine Outlined Reminder: this doctrine is a mystery which we could not know at all unless it had been revealed. Reminder: this doctrine is a mystery which we could not know at all unless it had been revealed. “But it cannot be wholly dark. God would not mock us by revealing something of which we could make nothing at all.” “But it cannot be wholly dark. God would not mock us by revealing something of which we could make nothing at all.” 1. One divine nature, three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit 2. No one of the persons is either of the others, each is wholly himself. 3. The Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God. 4. They are not three Gods but one God.

11. The Doctrine Outlined There is no mathematical contradiction because it’s not simply 1 and 3. There is no mathematical contradiction because it’s not simply 1 and 3. Nature is what a thing is (1) Nature is what a thing is (1) Person is who a thing is (3) Person is who a thing is (3) Person possesses nature, not vice versa. (my nature) Person possesses nature, not vice versa. (my nature) What actions are possible depends on the __________ What actions are possible depends on the __________ The ___________ does the actions. The ___________ does the actions. Can all 3 persons of the Trinity create? (Is it in their nature?) Can all 3 persons of the Trinity create? (Is it in their nature?) Who creates? Who creates? Can all 3 persons become incarnate? Can all 3 persons become incarnate? Who became incarnate? Who became incarnate?

12. Mystery not Contradiction Who else is a mystery? Each and everyone of us. Who else is a mystery? Each and everyone of us. We know that we have a self but have a hard time grasping it. We know that we have a self but have a hard time grasping it. Though our experience of ourselves is one nature with one person, who’s to say that this is the only possible relationship, especially since we even struggle understanding our own natures and persons. Though our experience of ourselves is one nature with one person, who’s to say that this is the only possible relationship, especially since we even struggle understanding our own natures and persons. God reveals his Trinitarian nature. We have no experience with this kind of nature therefore we have to trust him and do our best to grasp what he is saying. God reveals his Trinitarian nature. We have no experience with this kind of nature therefore we have to trust him and do our best to grasp what he is saying.

13. Final Confusion (for today) 3 different men (persons) cannot know with another’s intellect or love with another’s will. Though one nature, each person has their own share/part of that nature. 3 different men (persons) cannot know with another’s intellect or love with another’s will. Though one nature, each person has their own share/part of that nature. In God the 3 persons know with the same intellect and love with the same will. God’s nature is simple and cannot be divided and thus must be used by all at once. In God the 3 persons know with the same intellect and love with the same will. God’s nature is simple and cannot be divided and thus must be used by all at once.

14. If this was all… If the only thing we knew about the Trinity was that it was not a logical contradiction and that it was 3 persons in 1 nature it seems that we have not achieved more knowledge but only confusion. If the only thing we knew about the Trinity was that it was not a logical contradiction and that it was 3 persons in 1 nature it seems that we have not achieved more knowledge but only confusion. Therefore, “it is in learning about the personalities of the persons that we begin to find ourselves growing in the light.” Therefore, “it is in learning about the personalities of the persons that we begin to find ourselves growing in the light.” God the Father: Creator God the Father: Creator God the Son: Redeemer (Incarnation/Resurrection) God the Son: Redeemer (Incarnation/Resurrection) God the Holy Spirit: Advocate/Paraclete God the Holy Spirit: Advocate/Paraclete

15. Incarnation Humans are 1P possessing 1N Who are you? 1 answer. What are you? 1 answer. Trinity is 3P possessing 1N Who are you? 3 answers. What are you? 1 answer. Incarnation is 1P possessing 2N =Jesus Incarnation is 1P possessing 2N =Jesus Who are you? 1 answer. What are you? 2 answers.

16. In order to properly understand Scripture, it is important to always keep the 1 person/2 natures of the Incarnation in mind. There are things that Jesus could do because he was human and there are things that he could do because he was God. But, there was only 1 person who performed either the human or divine actions.

17. Transubstantiation Catholics refer to the Eucharist as the Real Presence, that is, that Christ is really truly present in the Eucharist and not just symbolically, figuratively, or in any other way. How does it work? Trans: Substantia: Tion: *John 6: Bread of Life Discourse *Luke 22:19: Last Supper “This is my body”

18. Literal vs. Figurative Where in the Bible do we turn? (3 places) John 6: Bread of Life Discourse Luke 22:19 “Then he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.”” 1 Corinthians 10/11

19. Is the Eucharist Cannibalism? “If it were truly immoral in any sense for Christ to give us his flesh and blood to eat, it would be contrary to his holiness to command anyone to eat his body and blood—even symbolically. Symbolically performing an immoral act would be of its nature immoral.” –Tim Staples

20. “Do this in memory of me” ¶1362: Anamnesis what type of memory, remembrance, remembering are we talking about?

23. Jesus Reveals the Trinity You’re hoping to spend eternity with the Blessed Trinity and expect it to be a wholly blissful experience… You’re hoping to spend eternity with the Blessed Trinity and expect it to be a wholly blissful experience… Because of the gap between us and God, the Trinity will always be a __________________ (like an ant to a human), and yet, we can have some insight via __________________and should therefore pursue this knowledge. Because of the gap between us and God, the Trinity will always be a __________________ (like an ant to a human), and yet, we can have some insight via __________________and should therefore pursue this knowledge.

24. Mysterious Trinity Why dive into something so mysterious? Why dive into something so mysterious? For ______________ For ______________ “We must often remember what Christ said, that not he who begins, but he that _________________to the end, shall be saved.” “We must often remember what Christ said, that not he who begins, but he that _________________to the end, shall be saved.” “One of the most excellent means of obtaining perseverance is discretion; we must not wish to do everything at once, or become a saint in four days.” (or understand the Trinity in 16-18 years of life) “One of the most excellent means of obtaining perseverance is discretion; we must not wish to do everything at once, or become a saint in four days.” (or understand the Trinity in 16-18 years of life) -St. Philip Neri

25. Trinity ¶234 The mystery of the most Holy Trinity is the ___________________mystery of Christian faith and life…the source of all the other mysteries of faith. ¶234 The mystery of the most Holy Trinity is the ___________________mystery of Christian faith and life…the source of all the other mysteries of faith. Our job, today, and whenever discussing mysteries of faith (alone), is to show how they are not ___________________even if we can not get to them through ___________________alone. Our job, today, and whenever discussing mysteries of faith (alone), is to show how they are not ___________________even if we can not get to them through ___________________alone.

26. Analogy The way we talk about God is through analogy. The way we talk about God is through analogy. While analogies can provide us with some insight and truth they will all necessarily fall short. While analogies can provide us with some insight and truth they will all necessarily fall short. Anything we ever say about God will always be more dissimilar than ________________, that is, analogies will always be less true than true. Anything we ever say about God will always be more dissimilar than ________________, that is, analogies will always be less true than true.

27. Life Involves __________________ or activity Involves __________________ or activity Immanence: comes from _____________ Immanence: comes from _____________ Transitive (transcendence): from without Transitive (transcendence): from without The greater the immanent activity the _________________ the life. The greater the immanent activity the _________________ the life.

28. Human Powers 1. Humans generative power of the mind (____________________): to beget thoughts, ideas, words The fruit of our mind stays in our mind. It is distinct from the mind but it is not separate from the mind. The fruit of our mind stays in our mind. It is distinct from the mind but it is not separate from the mind. 2. Power to _______________ that which we think about (truth) Our love is not something outside of ourselves. Our love is not something outside of ourselves.

29. God’s Powers God thinks a thought, __________________ __________, which is distinct from his mind but not separate from his mind. (Father and Son) God thinks a thought, __________________ __________, which is distinct from his mind but not separate from his mind. (Father and Son) The other power is to _____________(Holy Spirit) which is a mysterious bond ______________ the Father and Son. The other power is to _____________(Holy Spirit) which is a mysterious bond ______________ the Father and Son. Love is distinct from the thought but proceeds from it and from the thinker. Love is distinct from the thought but proceeds from it and from the thinker. God loves _______________: his thought/son God loves _______________: his thought/son God expresses his love through a _______________(breath of the Spirit) God expresses his love through a _______________(breath of the Spirit)

30. The Doctrine Outlined Reminder: this doctrine is a mystery which we could not know at all unless it had been revealed. Reminder: this doctrine is a mystery which we could not know at all unless it had been revealed. “But it cannot be wholly dark. God would not mock us by revealing something of which we could make nothing at all.” “But it cannot be wholly dark. God would not mock us by revealing something of which we could make nothing at all.” 1. _______divine nature, ____________ persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit 2. No one of the persons is either of the others, each is ___________ himself. 3. The Father is ______, the Son is ______, the Holy Spirit is _______. 4. They are ______ three Gods but one God.

31. The Doctrine Outlined There is no mathematical ___________________ because it’s not simply 1 and 3. There is no mathematical ___________________ because it’s not simply 1 and 3. Nature is ____________ a thing is (1) Nature is ____________ a thing is (1) Person is _________ a thing is (3) Person is _________ a thing is (3) Person possesses nature, not vice versa. (______nature) Person possesses nature, not vice versa. (______nature) What actions are possible depends on the __________ What actions are possible depends on the __________ The ___________ does the actions. The ___________ does the actions. Can all 3 persons of the Trinity create? (Is it in their nature?) Can all 3 persons of the Trinity create? (Is it in their nature?) Who creates? _____________________ Who creates? _____________________ Can all 3 persons become incarnate? Can all 3 persons become incarnate? Who became incarnate? _____________________ Who became incarnate? _____________________

32. Mystery not Contradiction Who else is a mystery? Each and everyone of us. Who else is a mystery? Each and everyone of us. We know that we have a self but have a hard time grasping it. We know that we have a self but have a hard time grasping it. Though our experience of ourselves is one nature with one person, who says that this is the only possible relationship, especially since we even struggle understanding our own natures and persons. Though our experience of ourselves is one nature with one person, who says that this is the only possible relationship, especially since we even struggle understanding our own natures and persons. God reveals his ____________________ nature. We have no experience with this kind of nature therefore we have to trust him and do our best to grasp what he is saying. God reveals his ____________________ nature. We have no experience with this kind of nature therefore we have to trust him and do our best to grasp what he is saying.

33. Final Confusion (for today) 3 different men (persons) _____________ know with another’s intellect or love with another’s will. Though one nature, each person has their own share/part of that nature. 3 different men (persons) _____________ know with another’s intellect or love with another’s will. Though one nature, each person has their own share/part of that nature. In God the 3 persons know with the same intellect and love with the same will. God’s nature is simple and cannot be divided and thus must be used by all at once. In God the 3 persons know with the same intellect and love with the same will. God’s nature is simple and cannot be divided and thus must be used by all at once.

34. If this was all… If the only thing we knew about the Trinity was that it was not a logical contradiction and that it was 3 persons in 1 nature it seems that we have not achieved more knowledge but only confusion. If the only thing we knew about the Trinity was that it was not a logical contradiction and that it was 3 persons in 1 nature it seems that we have not achieved more knowledge but only confusion. Therefore, “it is in learning about the personalities of the persons that we begin to find ourselves growing in the light.” Therefore, “it is in learning about the personalities of the persons that we begin to find ourselves growing in the light.” God the Father: ___________________ God the Father: ___________________ God the Son: ___________________ (Incarnation/Resurrection) God the Son: ___________________ (Incarnation/Resurrection) God the Holy Spirit: __________________________ God the Holy Spirit: __________________________