You have heard it many times; the Holy Trinity is a mystery – no one can explain or comprehend its meaning. But you still want to know what is unique about the central mystery of the Christian faith. You have questions – and you want to see how many answers are available.
Let’s clear the basic doubts. I don’t want to start with the official expression of the Church on the Trinity.
1. God wants you to know about the Trinity.
You affirm that the Bible is revealed by God: as a Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. God made this known because God wants us to believe in the Trinity. So, your quest to know more about the Trinity is not irrational or blasphemous – it’s a matter of grace. As Deuteronomy 29:29 states, “Things that are revealed belong to us.”
2. Trinity is not illogical.
‘Trinity’ may sound odd when you first hear about it. The doctrine does not teach some absurdity – God is three persons in one person or three beings in one being. The Church teaches God is three persons in one being. The claim isn’t nonsensical because there are no examples, or it is beyond rational comprehension. It does not violate logic, just because it’s beyond the realm of human thought.
3. Stop looking for illustrations of Trinity.
Most illustrations are unlike God than like God. It is best to stop searching and promoting images of Trinity as if you have figured out the mystery. Trinity is a divine reality – unparallel to human imagination.
4. The Reason why we Know about the Trinity
We know about the Trinity because the Father sent the Son and the Holy Spirit to save humanity. Trinity never came to us through logical deductions. Instead, God revealed the Trinity through the incarnation of the Son and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
5. The Trinity is Connected to the Gospel.
A God who gave his Son and Spirit to save us is always a Father who had the Son and the Spirit. Any description of the Trinity should always be salvific – the purpose of Trinity is to save. As the Bible keeps Trinity and Gospel together, so should we.
6. Trinity Makes Christian Life Work.
Christian life works because of a Trinitarian reality underlying it. God saved you and brought you into God’s fellowship. Your eagerness to learn about the Trinity is because you need to know the deeper reasons, how the Christian life works.
7. Prayer has a Trinitarian structure.
Each time, you come before God in the name of Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirt, even if you are consciously not thinking about it, it is grace that makes this possible.
8. Whom should I worship? Father, Son, or Spirit
Don’t be scrupulous! When you focus on Christ, you will not miss out on the Father and the Spirit. Yes, I often hear – people pay more attention to Jesus Christ than the Father and Spirit. Even some claim that pastors speak less about the Spirit. When you worship the Son, you are not forgetful of the Father or ignoring the Spirit.
9. Go ahead to learn about the Trinity.
You can be Trinitarian without talking about it. Trinity reveals the big picture – more than discipleship and the cross. You are not forbidden to talk about it, ponder on it – when necessary, even use the word Trinity either for worship or in daily conversations.
Let’s hear what the Catholic Church teaches about Trinity.
10. Do Not doubt Trinity as a Christian.
The Holy Trinity is the central mystery of Christianity. Yes, don’t doubt it. Every Christian is baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (CCC 44). Trinity comes from the Latin word trinitas, meaning three or triad. As a word, Trinity was first used in A.D. 170
by Theophilus of Antioch.
11. What is Trinity?
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) expresses the trinitarian faith by professing a belief in the oneness of God in whom there are three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The three divine persons are one – equally possessing the fullness of the one and indivisible divine nature. Yet, the three persons are distinct from each other. The Father generates the Son, the Son is generated by the Father; the Holy Spirit proceeds for the Father and the Son (CCC 48).
12. Trinity as a Dogma
Catholic Church defined Trinity as infallible in two stages, at the First Council of Nicaea (A.D 325) and the First Council of Constantinople (A.D 381). The divinity of the Son was settled at the First Council of Nicaea dealing with the Arian heresy, which claimed that Son was a supernatural being but not God. The First Council of Constantinople defined the divinity of the Holy Spirit, opposing a heresy that denied the divinity of the Holy Spirit.
13. Can Trinity be proved?
How to answer this one – yes, no and in between. The Trinity can be proved through divine revelation. I wouldn’t say I like the word proved – Trinity is revealed. Yes, it cannot be proved with human reason or the Old Testament alone. The incarnation of the Son and the outpouring of the Spirit makes the Trinity accessible to us. Trinity is a mystery revealed in Jesus Christ and the source of all the other mysteries (CCC 45). Although the definition of the doctrine of Trinity took centuries, the revelation is found in the scriptures, both the Old Testament and the New Testament.
About the Author
Feroz Fernandes, a Catholic Missionary, identifies himself as an Uncommon Priest. Father Feroz loves adventure in the apostolate. Check out his debut book The Uncommon Priest: Incredible Stories You Never Read on amazon. And also, the YouTube Channel: Feroz Fernandes promotes a better understanding of scripture.
Thank you so much for the special messages Father. please keep them coming, as I look forward to them. Well another black mark against our church, 215 children’s graves found in Kamloops BC at residential school.. It is really sad, don’t know what will happen to our catholic churches. More people will be leaving .I t was run by priests and nuns.. I can only keep praying for the best for our churches, I know it is not the churches , but who runs them . I also keep you in my prayers also Father
Glad to hear India is getting a bit better for the covid .
Yes, it is shocking to listen to Kamloop news of children’s graves. I hope and pray we remain faithful to the calling. I plan to continue this ministry. Yes, India is still under the dread of Covid. God save us always.
Thank You Father more information to meditate on. We are praying for you and you family. May God Bless.
Thanks for your prayers. Life is becoming covid normal. Things are bit better – hope too many people don’t die and we develop herd immunity. you too keep safe and blessings
Dear Fr. Feroz, Your inspirational messages have opened my heart even closer to God. Thank you for your continued devotion to service. Hope all is well with you and your Mom. Have you had your second vaccination? Gerald has but I’m still waiting. Terrible crisis in India. Keping you in our daily prayers. Miss you
Eileen,
Thanks. Mom and I are fine. Covid deaths are decreasing but the positivity rate is still high. I am always glad that you find these blogs motivating you to come closer to God. That the purpose. I can not say – it is being fulfilled. I do my bit. I know you do a lot – I cannot do that. blessings to you.