Saturday, June 2, 2007
The Blessed Trinity
we will give glory to Him, because He hath shown His mercy to us.
O Lord, our Lord, how wonderful is Thy name in all the earth!"
Tob 12:6, Ps 8:2
We have celebrated the arrival of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost last Sunday. Today, Holy Mother Church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Trinity. The Trinity is the fundamental dogma of our Faith.
"This time is well chosen," says St. Rupert, "for, immediately after the descent of this Divine Spirit, began the preaching and belief and Baptism and confession in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit."
At today's vigil Mass- which I served- at St. Joseph's, PM, Father Rector Michael Teo gave an illustrous homily on the the "Godhead" (Fr. Teo likes to refer to the Trinity as the Godhead three-in-one).
The Father, Son & Holy Sprit is the Trinity. To the non-believer, the concept of the Trinity may be polytheistic.
The word "trinity" is a term used to denote the Christian doctrine that God exists as a unity of three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Trinity is NOT POLYTHEISTIC. The Trinity is a strict monotheism; there exists in all the universe a single being known as God who is self-existent and unchangeable (Isaiah 43:10; 44:6,8). Therefore, it is important to note that the doctrine of the trinity is not polytheistic as some of its critics proclaim. Trinitarianism is MONOTHEISTIC by definition and those who claim it is polytheistic may demonstrate a lack of understanding of what it really is.
The Trinity:
- God is three persons
- Each person is divine
- There is only one God
Each- Father, Son, or Holy Spirit- is fully divine in nature, but each is not the totality of the Trinity. In other words, the Father is not the same person as the Son who is not the same person as the Holy Spirit who is not the same person as the Father. Each is divine, yet there are not three gods, but one God.
We can refer to the three different 'entities' of the Trinity as either: Person or Subsistence. The word "subsistence" means something that has a real existence. The word "person" denotes individuality and self awareness. (The latter has become a more common term to describe the Trinity.)
The Doctrine on the Trinity is difficult to grasp as the Trinity is a mystery that cannot be fathomed by the human intellect. The fact that it is a mystery is an argument for its truth.
Sacred Scripture is the self revelation of an infinite God. Therefore, we are bound to encounter concepts which are difficult to understand; especially when dealing with an incomprehensible God who exists in all places at all times.
"The Trinity cannot be understood by the human intellect, it is not a mathematical problem, even if it were, we could not solve it mathematically. The Trinity is a mystery. St. Thomas, one of the great Doctors of the Church tells us that 'we cannot walk around the mystery, we need to enter the mystery- enter into a relationship with God.' " Rev. Fr. Michael Teo, in his homily today.
Oremus:
O ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, Who has enabled Thy servants, in confessiong the true Faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of Majesty to adore Its Unity: we beseech Thee, that be steadfastness in the same Faith, we ever be defended against all adversity. Through our Lord. Amen.
In the Holy Trinity,
J-PDM
The Most Holy Trinity 2007
Labels: Apologetics, Catholic Belief, Quote, Spirituality, Trinity
: Sunday, June 03, 2007 2:48:00 AM : Sunday, June 03, 2007 4:45:00 AMI believe that in order to be a true Latin-rite Roman Catholic is to love Sacred Scripture + the Holy Office- Magisterium + and Apostolic Tradition. We are in no position to pick and choose; we need to embrace all these elements.
In the our mordern world, the words of the young Mary in the garden echos amidsts all the noise, "... they have hidden my Lord, I know not where to find Him..." Very true indeed... if our Catholic spirituality and parishes are going be be as 'mordern' and 'noisy' as the secular world, how are we going to find our Lord who only reveals himself in the silence? "Be still and know that I am God". Take a look at the Lod's creation; flowers, trees, etc... everything grows in silence. Read Scripture, and see how God revealed himself to his prophets.
The Church in the modern world has to be a CONTRIDICTION. Catholic Christians are called to be world changers. It would be a grave mistake to revolve round the world...
Imagine 50 years down the road, the world- which has become evermore bustling and 'noisy'- pauses and looks at the Church, the world will ponder and re-look at the Church, "heck," they'll say, "there must be something special about Catholicism... look at the 'smells and bells (to quote you)'... it's amazing that in this time and age, they're able to remain faithful to age-old traditions and doctrines... there MUST BE SOMETHING that is keeping them going." That's what we need to do, to contridict... but this isn't for the sake of contridicting... By doing so, the manisfestation of the Holy Spirit in the Church be illustrated. What glorious day when the Spirit illuminates the hearts of all those who pause and ask themselves what the 'archaic' Church is able to remain so robust in such a time and age.
Now, some might point out saying that all the rites and rituals are devoid of authentic spirituality and relationship. I beg to differ... Are you saying that my grandmother- who doesn't understand scripture- was able to convert several friends because of her piety? Or that the long line of penitents before each Mass had nothing better to do? Or the women who veiled their heads wanted to look good rather that show external reverence to the Real Presence? Or the thousands who genuflected each time as they passed the Tabernacle did so to look good rather than adore the Sacrament? Or that millions received the Eucharist on their tongue because they were lazy to stick out their hands?
God was as real then as He is now.
Remember that the Jesus we adore is not the Jesus who walked on the earth 2000 years ago, but the Jesus who is risen, glorified and wears the crown of victory and is sitted at the right hand of God the Father the Almighty. (This goes out to those who believe in chit-chatting before the sacrament, etc...).
"Real world Catholics" need to see the real Roman Catholicism of the Latin rite that their ancestors practiced and gave their lives for. I'm am not in contempt of the Church visible here... the true faith is very much present in our day and age. We need to embrace our faith in it's entirety before we can see how beautiful she indeed and truly is.
I pray that we may all be oneday united in the Christ that cannot be divided. I don't know who shall 'give in' to who... all I know that "smells and bells" kinna people like myself have a rich and diverse Catholic history and tradition to back ourselves.
These are some of my views; not presented in it's entirety. Any 'negative' tones were not intended and regretted.
Happy Feast of the Blessed Trinity!
Conservative Catholic, Traditional Catholic, Liberal Catholic, Neo-Conservative Catholic, Charismatic Catholic, Progressive Catholic, etc... We are all called to be ROMAN CATHOLICS OF THE LATIN-RITE who profess the Church to be, One, Holy, Universal and Apostolic, who embrace Sacred Scripture, adhere to the magisterial, and love Apostolic Tradition.
And the only reason why we should call ourselves ROMAN CATHOLICS OF THE LATIN-RITE and profess the Church to be, One, Holy, Universal and Apostolic, who embrace Sacred Scripture, adhere to the magisterial, and love Apostolic Tradition is because of our Great Lord, King, and Savior who was and is and is to come.
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