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Daily Feed TrinityLooking into the doctrine and mystery of the TrinityTrinity as expressed in ScriptureThe term Trinity is not really found in Scripture. However, there are many times that the truth about the persons of the Trinity is mentioned in the passages of Scripture. One such example is in Matthew 28:19 The passage is: "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit..." The truth and doctrine of the Trinity is thus only inferred from passages such as this. Another passage to consider wherein we can infer the doctrine of the Trinity is in the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan. The passage of Matthew 3:16-17 says, "After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened [for him], and he saw the Spirit of God descending upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." From this passage, we can indeed see that there are three persons involved: Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the Father who says, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. These are two example passages whereby we can infer the truth about the doctrine of the Trinity even though it is not explicitly a term in the Scripture. The doctrine of the Trinity finalized after 381 Although many Catholics now take for granted their belief in the doctrine of the Trinity, in the early centuries a lot of controversies and conflicts arose because the early Christians were very particular about the words and terms that describe aspects and elements of our Christian faith. An example would be how they see God in terms of "persons" and "nature". We will not enter into the complications of this theological debate and controversy. What is important is that the creed adopted at the Council of Nicaea in the year 325 received the addition in the liturgy: "...and in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and the life-giver, who proceeds from the Father, who with the Father and the Son is together worshipped and together glorified, who spoke through the prophets..." Though after this conclusion, further controversies again arose in relation with the Eastern Churches which led to the complete break of the Eastern and the Western Church in 1054, the doctrine of the Trinity came to a conclusion finally after 381. It is really difficult to fathom a truth that is rooted in divine mystery. The doctrine of the Trinity is a divine mystery. There is a story of how St. Augustine one day was dwelling on the question of the Trinity - the truth about one God in three persons. He was deeply in thought while walking along the seashore. Then, as he walked he came upon a boy who was getting sea water from the sea with a cup and then pouring it on the hole that he dug on the sand. St. Augustine asked the boy, "What are you doing?" The boy answered, "I am putting the sea in the hole in the sand". Suddenly, St. Augustine suddenly understood what this experience meant in relation to his study and thought about the doctrine of the Trinity. It is truly and indeed impossible for a human mind to understand fully a divine mystery. It only takes the simple gift of faith to believe in it that will make us understand the doctrine of the Trinity. What is important therefore is not only our understanding of the doctrine of the Trinity but how we relate with the Trinity so that we can have a loving relationship with God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Liturgical and spiritual expressions of the doctrine of the Trinity Catholics express their faith in the Trinity in many ways. One way is by making the sign of the Cross. Placing the hand on the forehead, then at the middle of the chest, and then at the left shoulder and finally on the right shoulder and concluding with both hands clasped in prayer. This gesture is accompanied with the words, "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen." The hand is placed at the forehead when saying the word, "Father"; the hand is placed at the chest when saying the word, "Son"; the hand is placed at the left shoulder when saying the word, "Holy"; the hand is placed at the right shoulder when saying the word, "Spirit"; and the hands are clasped to conclude in prayer when saying the word, "Amen." It is this visible gesture that is usually done at the beginning or end of any form of prayer and worship that truly distinguishes the Catholic from the other Christians. This tradition goes way back from the early Christian centuries. Another way Catholics express their belief in the Trinity is when they pray the Glory be. The Glory be is usually a prayer in the praying of the rosary. The prayer goes this way, "Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and will be, forever. Amen." This prayer is also much used in almost all prayers and especially in the celebration of the sacraments. Probably, the most beautiful expressions of how Catholics truly believe in the doctrine of the Trinity can be found in many composed hymns that are either sung in choir or recited from the liturgy of the hours. Here is an example of a hymn to the Trinity in the breviary: All hail, adored Trinity: All praise, eternal Unity: O God the Father, God the Son, And God the Spirit, ever One. Three Persons, praise we evermore, And thee the Eternal One adore: In thy sure mercy, ever kind, May we our true protection find. O Trinity, O Unity, Be present as we worship thee; And to the angels' songs in light Our prayers and praises now unite. Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise him, all creatures here below; Praise him above, ye heav'nly host: Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. The title of this hymn to the Trinity is, "All Hail, Adored Trinity". The melody came from Old 100th L.M. and the music is attributed to Louis Bourgeouis, 1510-1561. The text of stanzas 1, 2, 3 are anonymous and originated from the 11th century. Stanza 4 is by Thomas Ken, 1709. This hymn was translated from the Latin by J. D. Chambers, 1805-1893. |