The Trinity

 If we were able to describe the very essence of God in one word, what would we say?  I think St. John the Apostle answers that for us when he says, “God is love.” (1 John 4:16)  The most remarkable thing about the doctrine of the Holy Trinity is that it reveals to us the great love of God.  The nature and very being of God himself is a union of three separate and unique Persons who are so intimately united in love and self-giving that they are one God.  Thus, the very nature of God is love and he desires to share this love with us. 

 The doctrine of the Holy Trinity is a great mystery of faith.  How can three separate Persons be one God?  How do we know this to be true?  First, we call the Trinity a mystery because we cannot fully fathom or understand the nature of the Trinity.  There are many things about God and about the universe that are beyond our reason, but this does not mean they are not true.  We accept in faith what God has revealed and then seek to know and understand it more fully.  The mysteries of our faith are not unreasonable, but the awesomeness of God simply surpasses our reason.  We know the doctrine of the Trinity is true because Jesus Christ fully reveals to us the Holy Trinity.  He is the Son of God made flesh who fully reveals the Father and through his redemption sends the Holy Spirit to dwell within us.  

 We are all created in the image and likeness of the Holy Trinity, and through our Baptism we come to intimately share in the life of the Trinity.  This has major ramifications regarding the dignity of the human person and the life of love and self-giving that we are called to live.  Session four of “Why Catholic?” will help us to better appreciate the mystery of the Holy Trinity and how this mystery should radically affect how we live our daily lives.