Trinity Sunday

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity is pretty special to me. In fact, the name I chose to inspire and dedicate myself to is the Blessed Trinity. My religious name is Sister Faith in the Blessed Trinity. Coincidentally, I recently learned (thank you Sister Vivian, RJM)that my great Aunt Blanche's religious name was Mother Mary of the Trinity.

I love the fact that we are celebrating a doctrine and not an event or a saint. That makes it a special day. Today we honor God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

History shows us that the Trinity is controversial. Not every religion is Trinitarian. And I can see that the concept of three distinct persons into one is mind boggling. But so is quantum physics. What of it? What good would be a religion without mystery. And by mystery, I don't mean puzzle, but rather beyond comprehension. If you understood God, would He still be God?

It has been said that mystery is not a wall to run up against, but an ocean in which to swim. The common wisdom is that if you talk about the Trinity for longer than a few minutes you will slip into heresy because you are probing the depths of God too deeply.

The Trinity is defined in the Nicene Creed. Basically the Trinity is the belief that God is one in essence, but distinct in person. He is an individual reality. We believe that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are somehow distinct from one another (not divided though), yet completely united in will and essence. How can this be? Well, think of the sight of two eyes. The eyes are distinct, yet one and undivided in their sight. Another illustration to explain the Trinity is St. Patrick's description of the three leaf clover. One flower made up of three separate leaves.

The Nicene definition of the Trinity developed over time, based on Scripture and Tradition. The Scriptures call the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit "God," yet the three are also clearly distinct. For instance, St. John gives Jesus the titles theos and monogenes theos (God and Only-Begotten God) and has Jesus saying that the Father and Son are one, yet in his gospel Jesus also states that the Father and Son are not one witness, but two (John 1:1, 18; 8:17-18; 10:30). So John tells us that Jesus is God but not God the Father? Jesus is one with the Father, but they constitute two witnesses? It is scriptures such as these that led to the development of the Trinity doctrine. The Church had to reconcile the Divinity of Christ and the Holy Spirit with Jewish monotheism. Over time, and with the aid of the Holy Spirit, the Church reflected on the implications of God's nature, and even began using the word Trinity by the middle of the 2nd century to describe the relationship between the Father, Son, and Spirit. When in the 4th century a presbyter named Arius denied the Father and Son were both true God and co-eternal, his bishop Alexander of Alexandria challenged him and deposed him. Eventually the Arian controversy spread, and the emperor Constantine, newly fascinated with Christianity, convened a council of bishops in AD 325 in Nicaea to deal with Arianism. It is there that the Church drew up the beginnings of the current Nicene Creed. In the latter half of the 4th century the Church dealt with those who specifically denied the divinity of the Holy Spirit, adding more text to the creed.

The implications of believing in Arius' God, a God unwilling to involve himself in our redemption, but who instead sent an angel of the highest order, did not escape the earliest Christians. As St. Athanasius was fond of saying "that which has not been assumed has not been redeemed," meaning that unless God truly became completely human, we could not be fully redeemed, because only God Himself is capable of truly redeeming humanity; an angel does not have this ability. Thus, the Trinity is not about Greek philosophy or pointless metaphysical speculation, but about the heart of our salvation.

I repeat: "The Trinity is not about Greek or pagan philosophy, or pointless metaphysicl speculation, but about the heart of our salvation." Amen!
(Info from Churchyear.net)

The Mystery of the Trinity

Image via Wikipedia

Trinity Sunday is my feast day.  My religious name is Sister Faith in the Blessed Trinity.  I love that name because people use it all the time, every time they pray, "In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

Non-believers may ask, "I thought you believers believed in one God?"  "We do."

Of course, this line of thought leads to an explanation of the Trinity.  No explanation can do justice to the reality of God being three unique Persons, and at the same time One Person.  One can try to explain the Trinity by referencing the Bible, but the word, Trinity, as such, is not mentioned in the Bible.  There is no verse that says "God is a Trinity."  But this doesn't prove anything.  There are many words and phrases that Christians use, which are not found in the Bible.  The word "Bible" is not found in the Bible.  But the term "Holy Trinity," has been used for centuries by Christians to embody the concept of Trinity, which is presented as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Many have tried to explain the concept of Trinity.  Sometimes they help to understand, but they all have their limitations.  I have encountered "1x1x1=1."  The Trinity is like "ice" also "water" and also "vapor,"  but all are H2O.  And then there's the egg: shell, white, yolk.  Another example is the Shamrock, i.e., three leaves but one flower.  The triangle consists of three sides, yet one triangle.  At the Quantum physics level, there are particles that are fundamentally three and one at the same time.

All explanations fall short, hence the Trinity is a mystery.

The Athanasian Creed from the fifth century states: "The Father is God; the Son is God; and the Holy Spirit is God.  But there are not three gods, only one God."  The concept is a Christian revelation -- a mystery.  It's impossible to understand.  That's why faith is called a "gift."  Those that believe have the gift.  And for those of us who have this gift -- this faith, are all the richer for it.

After all, we don't understand how our thoughts become words, or how gravity exactly works.  These are physical manifestations that all humans experience, yet don't understand.  Why would anyone expect to understand Divine mysteries?  We accept the Trinity by faith.

You Can't Make This Stuff Up.

      The Trinity has a great impact on Catholics.  We begin our prayers with “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”  Non-believers may ask, “I thought you believers believed in one God?” “We do.”

    Of course, this line of thought leads to an explanation of the Trinity.  No explanation can do justice to the magnificent reality of God being three unique Persons, and at the same time One Person.  One can try to explain the Trinity by referencing the Bible, but the word, Trinity, as such, is not mentioned in the Bible.  The term “Holy Trinity,” has been used for many centuries by Christians to embody the  concept of Trinity, which is presented as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  

      Many have tried to explain the concept of the Trinity.  Sometimes they help to understand, but they all have their limitations.  I have encountered “1x1x1=1”.  The Trinity is like ice to water to vapor, but they are all H2O.  Also there is, the egg is a shell, whites, and the yolk, but one egg.  Of course, there’s St. Patrick’s famous shamrock, made up of three leaves, but one clover.  There’s even the novel, The Shack by William P. Young.  The author has the Trinity as:  Father a black middle aged female, Son a young  Arab, and the Holy Spirit as some sort of electric current.

      All these explanations fall short.  The Trinity is a mystery.  One argument that has some merit includes a view of other religions that don’t have the Trinity.   Some of these religions seem to cater to man’s desires.  They fulfill man’s wishes.  For example, the Muslims picture heaven as being inhabited by young beautiful virgins.  Obviously, a paradise created for man.  The Hindu reincarnation may be an expression of man’s desire to live forever.  One can see that these expressions are fulfillments of man made dreams.  Then where did the idea of the Trinity come from?  What man could have ever conceived of such an idea?  

Divine inspiration can not be ruled out.

Argument over a Discussion of the Trinity

Meditating for ten minutes on the weather and listening to raindrops ping antiphonally on the tin roof has culminated in an argument.

Q.  Is it meditation or wasting time?
A.  Well, that’s a meditation in itself.
Q.  Ugh.  You’re impossible.  Aren’t you just excusing your laziness?
A.  Define Lazy.
Q.  See?  Snap out of it.  Sit up straight and get your act together, and tell me about the Trinity.
A.  Can’t.  And you know it.  Didn’t Duff and I write a formation module trying to define it?  And don’t ask me what happened to it, because I don’t know.  It was probably rejected and thrown away.  It was all straw, anyway.
Q.  What do you think about the Trinity, right this moment?
A.   Well…the first thing that comes to mind is that John Tauler said that to feel the Blessed Trinity is the sweetest experience.  And I was just wondering how does one “feel” the Trinity.
Q.  Didn’t you say, just the other day, that Mary experienced the Trinity; she felt the Father’s love, received the Holy Spirit, and conceived Jesus. 
A.  I vaguely remember.  Who was I talking to?  Father Joe?  My “cloistered brothers”?  Sister Ann?  Did I write it?  Ugh…don’t bother an old lady.
Q.  It doesn’t matter who or when or how.  We’re discussing the Trinity.
A.  You’re a haunt.  Leave me alone.
Q.  No.  Go on.
A.  Wait a minute.  I was on the verge of nodding off, pleasantly listening to the music of the rain, and you come barging in making demands.  You want to talk.  About the Trinity, of all things!!!!
Q.  Yes…and your point?
A.  Okay.  I’m awake, alert, and able.  I really wanted to say pissed off, but the alliteration was calling me.
Q.  Don’t wax poetic on me.  And don’t be coarse. 
A.  You don’t like my poetry?
Q.  I love your poetry and I think it’s very appropriate for the subject at hand—the Blessed Trinity.
A.  The Trinity can probably be best expressed in poetry.
Q.  For sure.
A.  We were made in the divine image, weren’t we?  Maybe Tauler was right after all? 
Q.  Think it over, Faith.  Keep at it.  Why don't you put it in a poem?

Defining the Trinity

My "cloistered brother", Duff, and I are writing an adult formation module on the Trinity. Where do we get the chutzpah to do this? We figure it this way. We're writing something people can read, will want to read, and should read. There are plenty of books written on the Trinity, written by theologians. How many have you read? See; I rest my case.

We've made a tentative outline to propose our subject.

Defining the Trinity:
*Where does the word "Trinity" come from (History)?
*The first known existence of a family/community -
*How can we understand the Trinity?
*Who are the members of the Trinity?

Understanding the roles of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
*What is the role of God the Father?
*What is the role of God the Son?
*What is the role of God the Holy Spirit?

How does the Father, Son and Holy Spirit function as One?

How can we apply the understanding of the Trinity to the life of the Lay Dominican?
*Dominican Spirituality
*Modern times/culture

How can we present the Mystery of the Holy Spirit to other faiths, who do not believe in the Trinity?
*
*

What do you think? Any suggestions?

Some are called to teach. We are all called to preach.

Where does "Trinity" Come From?

The term, “Trinity” was used by St. Theophilius of Antioch, in the year A.D. 180.  He wrote in his epistle to Autolycus, a pagan critic of the Catholic Church, that God, His word, and wisdom are a trinity (Greek:triados).

Some year later,  Tertullian, (A.D. 160—circa 250) a Latin theologian, coined the Latin term for trinity (trinitas), in his work “On Modesty.”  He wrote about the trinity of the One Divinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  In addition, he explained more specifically that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were of “One in essence—not one in Person.”  (Ante-Nicene Fathers 3.621; circa 213 A.D.)

The early church writers drew upon many biblical references to God’s unity and transcendence as well as old testament episodes, known as “Theophanies”—mysterious appearances of one or more persons of the Trinity.[i] 

Examples of theophanies and mysterious appearances, and sometimes implicit references to the three persons in the Trinity are Genesis 1:26, (where God speaks of Himself in the plural form), Genesis 3:22, 11:27, Psalms 2:7, 109: 1-3; Isaiah 7:14 (Emmanuel is the name prophesied for the miraculously-conceived child of a virgin.  It means “God is with us”): Isaiah 9:6, 11:2, and 8:22-31, Wisdom 7: 22-28, 8: 3-8, Ezkiel 11:5, 36:27, Joel 2:28, and Malachi 3:1.

---

What's the Trinity?

La Trinite, sculpture Joseph Pyrz

Last night, a book club member asked me a question that shocked me.  Not surprised, but shocked me.  I was showing the book club, my pictures from Besancon, France.  When a picture of this sculpture of the Trinity, by Joseph Pyrz, came up, she asked me in a voice only I could hear, "What's the trinity?"

I couldn't answer appropriately.  In fact, how could I explain it. But I was addressing the group and couldn't take the time that was needed.  All she wanted was a quick response.  And she tried to answer it herself, since I was busy lifting my jaw up off the floor.

"Is it Jesus and Mary and ....and...and..."

Finally, I said, "No, no, it's the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit."  And I continued on with my explanation of the pictures I was distributing.

I should have explained that these three persons are separate but unified, co-equal, co-eternal, and consubstantial, IOW, one being.  One God in three persons.  Each of the three is God yet separate.  Look at the sculpture.  It's one sculpture.  Maybe an egg would have helped, i.e., yolk, albumen, and shell.  It's not a perfect explanation, but what is?

I guess I " shoulda, coulda," done any number of things, but I failed again.

How could anyone not know about the Trinity?  Ok, so she's Jewish, but hasn't she ever heard of the term, before?

Guess not.  I'm the dumb one for not realizing how hard to understand the Trinity is.  Being born Catholic is growing up with the Trinity.  From a child's understanding of faith, to an adult's concept of the Trinity, was just a maturation process.

  I needed to be reminded that not everyone is so blessed.

The Trinity

We went to Mass this morning at Our Lady of the Mountains.  The priest said we couldn't understand the Trinity with our mere intelligence.  It's beyond us.  Of course that got me thinking.

I can try can't I?

The Trinity is like:

An egg--shell, yolk, egg white.

Sun--sun, light, heat.

H2O--water, steam, ice.

Triplets--3 persons with same DNA.

Towel--one towel with three folds.

Shamrock--flower with three leaves.

Cake--one three layer cake.

You can't help but try to understand.  Otherwise, one wouldn't have any idea and give up--no image, no picture=no god.

OK.  instead of nouns how about verbs:

The Trinity is like an action verb:

Shine--radiate, warm, glow.

Whisper--murmur, buzz, purr.

Love--feel, embrace, yearn.

Speak--talk, articulate, verbalize.

But there's too many ways to express the ineffable.

How about the verb to be?

The Trinity is like verb to be:

I am!

The Pelvic Trinity

I'm still thinking, researching, and praying about and to, the Trinity. And this morning I've come across fellow blogger's Eric Sammons' site, The Divine Life. I'd like to give him a hat tip. His posting was my meditation this morning. Eric sets the scene by talking about my patron saint for this year, St. Nicholas. It's a cute story about jolly ole St. Nick punching Arius in the nose. :-0

This is how emotions flared over religion and politics. Well, you know, or can imagine. Eric segues into today's heresies, which he names as the Pelvic Trinity: abortion, contraception, and homosexuality. Eric says, "This unholy trinity of issues are of course interrelated and they all revolve around our “right” to engage in sexual activities with no consequences. But these issues go even deeper, as they touch whether we have the right to define morality as we see fit, or if there is One above us who makes those determinations. Ultimately, it comes down to the question of who is in charge: us or God."

The poster child of this line of thought is disgraced Catholic priest Fr. Alberto Cutié, who left the Catholic Church to become Episcopal after being caught with his mistress last year, has adapted his own views on sexuality to be more in line with his new ecclesial communion. He was recently ordained an Episcopal priest and now he is admitting that he had struggles with the Catholic Church’s position on the pelvic trinity."

I wish St. Nicholas were around now.

Retreat Day Four

Every day we, as a group, had a conference with a monk. He was Father Robert. We concentrated on John 18 and 19. Father Robert was a man in love with words. He relished them. He rolled them over and over on his tongue. He'd hesitate and then repeat them again. He was obsessed with "Jesus was One with the Father." And He wants us to be One with Him, too.

Father Robert celebrates Mass like that, also. He emphasizes important words, stops, and then you can see him consciously speaking from his heart to pronounce the words for Consecration.

During meals we listened to a tape of Dr. Joseph Shaw. I don't know the name of it but he was talking about the parables.

I went to Father Robert for direction and we chatted about the Second Coming. It just may be that my dying and going to the Father will be Jesus coming to get me. That's a Second Coming.

In the afternoon, I spent my time waling around the other side of the lake. On the road down the hill, I came face to face with a deer. I tried to take her picture but she was indistinguisable from the shadows. Walking around I saw some pretty flowers, including one lady slipper springing up from the dead leaves. I found Grace House and a road leading out to the main highway. I met the deer, again.

I prayed my Rosary while walking because standing still was an invitation for mosquitoes to come feast. May flies were becoming more numerous, too.

In the afternoon, I went to a video, With Hearts Expanded, which is a history of the monks at St. Joseph's Abbey. They have always been counter cultural. They could legitimately be considered as living a deviant lifestyle.

Only two of us showed up for the video, Sister Vivian and myself. A great blessing happened. I asked Sister Vivian what Order she was from. She responded, "Religious of Jesus and Mary." "Mmmmmm", I thought that was the Order my great Aunt Blanche belonged to, but that was so long ago, after all, she was my Grandmother's sister. I asked her if she had a house in "Goffstown, N.H., because I vaguely remembered visiting Aunt Blanche, there. Vivian said, "Yes." So I told her what I remembered of my Aunt. Gradually, I pieced together enough information for Vivian to pop out, "Mother Mary of the Trinity," better known as "Mother Trinity!"

Wow! Guess what my religious name is--Sister Faith in the Blessed Trinity.
My nickname--"Trinity!"

The blessings kept coming. This time for Sister Vivian. She asked me where I was from. Upon hearing that I was from Franklin, she asked if she could ride home with me because she lives in the town adjacent to Franklin, Plainville. "Of course," I was happy to oblige.

That night, since it was my last night, I lingered a bit, after Vespers, looking at the altar, the church, the Tabernacle. I saw the Abbot, Dom Damian walk around turning the lights off. As he came towards me I saw him pick up something and approach me. "What the hell?" He threw something directly at me!

I jumped right out of my skin as soon as it hit me! But I instantaneously knew what it was as soon as I felt the smack. Holy water, the Abbot was blessing everybody. I couldn't wipe the smile off my face. The people behind me were chuckling because they saw me jump out of my skin.

Walking back, I asked them if they knew that the Abbot was going to do that. They all were laughing at me and told me that if I hadn't left so soon after Vespers, all week, I would have known that the Abbot does that every night. He goes around blessing his monks and all visitors.

Well, at least I got a blessing the last night.

Who knew?

Shout Out

You like this picture of St. Dominic?  You'll find this and more at Trinity: Religious Artwork and Icons. I urge you to click over to their site and see what they have to offer.  It's very worthwhile, not only for your own gratification, but for the support they give to religious orders, e.i., Franciscans and Jesuits, and also charities like American Hospice Foundation and the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

They are promoting a Crowd Funding Campaign.  They are offering signed prints and other artworks.  I urge you to visit http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/trinity-religious-artwork-icons-help-spread-our-minbiznistry/x/5278919 to see what it is all about.

Trinity Stores

PO Box 631294

Highlands Ranch, CO  80163

www.trinitystores.com

info@trinitystores.com

PH:    720.344.9212

PH:    800.699.4482

FAX:  303.471.6167

Soli Deo Gloria

Permission to use picture granted by John O'Brien, owner Trinity Stores.

The Father in the Trinity

Duff and I are writing a formation module on the Trinity.  Who said we're not ambitious?  Duff is the brains and I'm the legs.  Fingers, too because I'll type.  IOW, I'm the grunt.  So Duff has assigned me to look up the documents from Vatican II.  I did.  I have 16.  I don't think any of them are applicable.  Maybe Dei Verbum can be used.  That's the dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation; but I haven't read it, yet.

He also told me to  write on Fatherhood in the Trinity.  I'm glad.  I'm very comfortable with the image of God as a Father.  And I can find lots of scripture to quote God as Father:

Phil. 1:2     God our Father        Sirach 23: 1, 4     Lord, Father, and God  

and think of all the times Jesus prayed to the Father:

Matt. 6: 9-13     The Lord's Prayer           Luke 6: 36    Be merciful as your Father
and all of John 17 is a prayer addressed to the Father.

Jesus also taught about the Father by way of parables:

Luke 15: 11-12      Prodigal Son      Matt. 18: 23-35      Unforgiving servant.

And don't forget Jesus as the snippy adolescent who told His mother that He must be about His Father's business.  (Nevermind what Mary and Joseph must have said and did--that's for another time.)  Make note that even at this age, Jesus knows that He came to do the work of His Father.

Another good one is James 1:17, "Every good endowment and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."  St. James tells us that God the Father is the source of all good things, and that's why I love God as Father.

Trinity

 The Father’s House: Discovering Our Home in the Trinity (Kindle Edition)

 

OP James Dominic Brent

                                        

Strange as it may seem, this book was good, even though I gave it an average rating.  The fault is mine, not the book's.  This type of book is to read on retreat, or in Adoration, or actually any kind of quiet space.

    Unfortunately, I read this waiting in a pick-up line, to pick up my grandchildren.  Sometimes I read while waiting for an appointment.  IOW, the atmosphere was not ideal.

   Even so, I could see how this book would bring you into a deeper understanding, and following that, an intense relationship with God, the Blessed Trinity.

   It's a small book and easily understandable.  I recommend it.

Joe's Rock

Today, the Ambling Trinity hiked up Joe's Rock.  It's an easy walk on a beautiful day.  This is conservation land in the town of Wrentham MA.  Joan, who is in the sign picture with me is 89 years old.  She didn't walk up the way to the top.  She says she's gotten vertigo as she's gotten older.

Here we are, the Ambling Trinity: Lillie, Joan, and me.

Joe's rock is a property that has hills, dales, meadows, bogs, woods, cliffs, wetlands, rivers, etc..  The rock itself has an elevation of 490 feet.

King Philip is a well-known name in my area of the world.  He was a friendly (for awhile) Indian to the English settlers in the 1600's.  King Philip was the name the English gave him because of his demeanor.  I don't think it was ridicule; I gather it was respectful.  King Philip was also known as Pometacom, Metacomet.  He was a sachem (elected chief) to the Wampanoags and the second son of Massasoit.  Massasoit was a great leader to the Wampanoag people and an immense help to the English settlers.  They would never have survived without Massasoit, hence Thanksgiving!!!!  

I have no information on the Joe of "Joe's Rock,"  except that he was the sachem of King Philip.  This area must have been his home.  The area has everything one would need to live: water, fish, animals, vegetation, and a sense of transcendence.

This is the view from the top of Joe's Rock.  There should be a pond in front of the rock, but it is very dry.  The rivers are streams.  There're no vernal pools.  The wetlands are gone.  Although, the area is still very interesting and beautiful in a geologic and aesthetic way.

Sunday Snippets -- A Catholic Carnival

Once in awhile I surprise myself and write something worthwhile.  At least I consider it, worthwhile.  My blogging friends and I are sharing our posts over on the blog, This And That And The Other Thing.  You might like to see what we've posted. Click on over.

2008
An explanation of who I am.  http://theonetruefaith-faith.blogspot.com/2008/12/contemprismatic.html
It's still my favorite place.  http://theonetruefaith-faith.blogspot.com/2008/11/favorite-place.html 
2009
My favorite cross is a meditation. http://theonetruefaith-faith.blogspot.com/2009/03/crucifix.html
You just can't stop the Holy Spirit.  http://theonetruefaith-faith.blogspot.com/2009/08/discernment.html
2010
Prayer does work; he was beatified.  http://theonetruefaith-faith.blogspot.com/2010/12/prayer-for-beatification-and.html
My spirituality.  http://theonetruefaith-faith.blogspot.com/2010/06/lataste-spirituality.html
2011
I try to explain the Trinity.  http://theonetruefaith-faith.blogspot.com/2011/06/mystery-of-trinity.html
A beautiful poem.  http://theonetruefaith-faith.blogspot.com/2011/11/eucharist.html
2012
My pilgrimage for the Beatification of Blessed Jean-Joseph Lataste, O.P. and my retreat.  http://theonetruefaith-faith.blogspot.com/2012/06/pilgrimage-day-one.html
http://theonetruefaith-faith.blogspot.com/2012/06/pilgrimage-day-two.html
http://theonetruefaith-faith.blogspot.com/2012/06/pilgrimage-day-three.html
http://theonetruefaith-faith.blogspot.com/2012/06/pilgrimage-day-four.html
http://theonetruefaith-faith.blogspot.com/2012/06/pilgrimage-day-day-five.html
http://theonetruefaith-faith.blogspot.com/2012/06/pilgrimage-day-six.html
http://theonetruefaith-faith.blogspot.com/2012/06/pilgrimage-day-seven.html
http://theonetruefaith-faith.blogspot.com/2012/06/pilgrimage-day-eight.html
http://theonetruefaith-faith.blogspot.com/2012/06/pilgrimage-day-nine.html
http://theonetruefaith-faith.blogspot.com/2012/06/pilgrimage-day-ten.html
http://theonetruefaith-faith.blogspot.com/2012/06/pilgrimage-day-eleven.html
http://theonetruefaith-faith.blogspot.com/2012/06/pilgrilmage-day-twelve.html
http://theonetruefaith-faith.blogspot.com/2012/06/home-day-thirteen.html
2013
A resolution that I've kept.  http://theonetruefaith-faith.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-gift-of-new-beginning.html
The only answer is that Jesus must be God.  http://theonetruefaith-faith.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-dilemma-regarding-apostles.html

As for this week, I posted:

Monday -- A joke.

Tuesday -- A reflection on my morning's lectio divina.

Wednesday -- Guest post.http://theonetruefaith-faith.blogspot.com/2014/08/whisper-in-wind.html

Thursday -- Defining greed.

Friday -- Boy am I old!

Saturday -- Duped!

Hypostatic Union

 This icon is known as Christ's blessing us.  Note his two raised fingers.  Whenever I explained the Trinity or hypostatic union, I'd show this icon, or one of the many other facsimiles of this depiction of Jesus.  Everyone in the class would immediately take out their pen and paper and take notes.

God is one divine being--a hand.  He also has two natures, human and divine; that's what the icon is telling you.  One God that has two perfectly complete natures--human and divine.  This is called the hypostatic union.

The other three fingers represent the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  That explanation has been attempted in other posts.

SOLT

We went to a Christmas party, last night. I met a priest there that belongs to the religious order, SOLT. SOLT translates into Society of our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity. This caught my attention because my religious name is Sister Faith of the Most Holy Trinity.
This morning I googled SOLT. Surprisingly, this order was founded in the 1950's and their founder is still alive.
I thought this a kick because being a Lay Dominican, my order was founded in 1206. Imagine being able to see, to talk to, to touch....your founder.
Imagine if Dominic Guzman were still alive.

Dominican Litany of Saints

You thought the Litany was long before.  Blessed Lataste has been added.  He's the friar in the middle of this picture. Sorry it's so poor.  It's a picture of a holy card, one of my "cloistered brothers" drew it.  That's Pere Lataste in the center.  Mother Henri Dominique is last, in the second row, right.  An anonymous "cloistered brother" is in front--the only one not in habit.  He's just wearing the Dominican Laity's scapular for those who are Final Promised.  Oh! There's one other not in habit.  First row right, the last  lady, is in 1860 French prison garb, representing a prisoner from Cadillac prison.  To understand this cast of holy people, please read the Spring edition of eLumenate.

As I was saying, the Litany of Dominican saints is not an ejaculatory prayer.   It's very long.   It's not said often.  One reason is because it's so long, but also, it's potent.  It's a powerful prayer.  Over the weekend, the President of the LFSD was requested by our Provincial, to start praying the Litany.  It seems that Archbishop Augustine Di Noia, O.P. has requested that the Dominican Litany be prayed for the success of full reconciliation of the Society of Pius X with Rome.  Archbishop Di Noia has been made vice president of the commission charged with bringing the SSPX back home.

The last time the Dominican Litany was prayed by the Dominican Family was to pray for a satisfactory solution to bring back those Anglicans who wish to come back to Rome.  Archbishop DiNoia helped set up the personal ordinoriates to accommodate all those Anglicans.  The Dominican Litany was successful then, and will be again.  You are welcome to join us.

Litany of Dominican Saints and Blesseds

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.

Christ, hear us .Christ, graciously hear us.

God, the heavenly Father, have mercy on us.

God, the heavenly Father, have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the World, have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the World, have mercy on us.

God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us. God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, Pray for us.

Holy Mother of God,

Holy Virgin of Virgins,

Saint Michael,

Saint Gabriel,

Saint Raphael,

Saint Joseph,

Saint John the Baptist,

All you holy angels and archangels,

All you holy patriarchs and prophets,

All you holy apostles and evangelists,

All you holy martyrs,

All you holy virgins and widows,

All you holy men and women,

Saint Mary Magdalene,

Saint Catherine of Alexandria,

Saint Augustine,

Holy Father Francis,

Blessed Jane of Aza,

Blessed Reginald of Orleans,

Holy Father Dominic,

Holy Father Dominic,

Blessed Bertrand,

Blessed Mannes,

Blessed Diana,

Blessed Jordan of Saxony,

Blessed John of Salerno,

Blessed William and Companions,

Blessed Ceslaus,

 Blessed Isnard,

 Blessed Guala,

Blessed Peter Gonzalez,

Saint Zdîslava,

Saint Peter of Verona,

Blessed Nicholas of Paglia,

Saint Hyacinth,

Blessed Gonsalvo,

Blessed Sadoc and Companions,

Blessed Giles,

Saint Margaret of Hungary,

Blessed Bartholomew of Vicenza,

Saint Thomas Aquinas,

Saint Raymond of Penyãfort,

Blessed Innocent,

Blessed Albert of Bergamo,

Saint Albert the Great,

Blessed John of Vercelli,

Blessed Ambrose,

Blessed Cecilia,

Blessed Benvenuta,

Blessed James of Varazze

Blessed James of Bevagna,

Blessed Benedict,

Blessed Jane of Orvieto,

Blessed Jordan of Pisa,

Blessed Emily,

Blessed James Salomonio,

Saint Agnes of Montepulciano,

Blessed Simon,

Blessed Margaret of Castello,

Blessed Augustine Kazotic,

Blessed James Benefatti,

Blessed Imelda,

Blessed Dalmatius,

Blessed Margaret Ebner,

Blessed Villana,

Blessed Peter of Ruffia,

Blessed Henry Suso,

Blessed Sibyllina,

Blessed Anthony of Pavonio,

Saint Catherine of Siena,

Blessed Marcolino,

Blessed Raymond of Capua,

Blessed Andrew Franchi,

Saint Vincent Ferrer,

Blessed Clara,

Blessed John Dominic,

Blessed Alvarez,

Blessed Maria Mancini,

Blessed Peter of Castello,

Blessed Andrew Abellon,

Blessed Stephen,

Blessed Peter of Geremia

Blessed John of Fiesole,

Blessed Lawrence of Ripafratta,

Blessed Anthony della Chiesa,

Saint Antoninus,

Blessed Anthony Neyrot,

Blessed Margaret of Savoy,

Blessed Bartholomew of Cerverio,

Blessed Matthew,

Blessed Constantius,

Blessed Christopher,

Blessed Damian,

Blessed Andrew of Peschiera,

Blessed Bernard,

Blessed Jane of Portugal,

Blessed James of Ulm,

Blessed Augustine of Biella,

Blessed Aimo,

Blessed Sebastian,

Blessed Mark,

Blessed Columba,

Blessed Magdalen,

Blessed Osanna of Mantua,

Blessed John Liccio,

Blessed Dominic Spadafora,

Blessed Stephana,

Blessed Adrian,

Blessed Lucy of Narni,

Blessed Catherine of Racconigi,

Blessed Osanna of Kotor,

Saint Pius,

Saint John of Cologne and Companions,

Blessed Maria Bartholomew,

Saint Louis Bertrand,

Saint Catherine de Ricci,

Blessed Robert Nutter,

Blessed Alfonsus and Companions,

Saint Rose of Lima,

Saint Dominic Ibáñez and Companions,

Blessed Agnes of Jesus,

Saint Lawrence Ruiz and Companions,

Saint Martin de Porres,

Blessed Peter Higgins,

Saint Francis de Capillas and Companions,

Saint Juan Macias,

Blessed Terence O’Brien,

Blessed Ann of the Angels,

Blessed Francis de Posadas,

Saint Louis de Montfort,

Saint Francis Gil,

Saint Matteo Alonso,

Blessed Peter Sanz and Companions,

Saint Vincent Liem,

Saint Hyacinth Castañeda,

Blessed Marie Poussepin,

Blessed George,

Blessed Catherine Jarrige,

Saint Ignatius Delgado and Companions,

Saint Joseph Diaz and Companions,

Saint Dominic An-Kham,

Saint Valentine Berrio-Ochoa and Companions,

Blessed Jean-Joseph Lataste,

Saint Francis Coll,

Saint Arnold Janssen,

Blessed Hyacinthe Cormier,

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati,

Blessed Bartolo Longo,

Blessed Maria Alfonsina Danil Ghattas,

Blessed Josefina Sauleda Paulis and Companions,

Blessed Buenaventura García Paredes and Companions,

Blessed Celestino José Alonso Villar and Companions,

Blessed Enrique Izquierdo Palacios and Companions,

Blessed Maria Ascension of the Heart of Jesus,

Blessed Michael Czartorysky,

Blessed Julia Rodzinska,

All you holy Dominicans,

Pray for us.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,

Spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,

Graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,

Have mercy on us.

Let us pray

God, source of all holiness, you have enriched your Church with many gifts in the saints of the Order of Preachers. By following the example of our brothers and sisters, may we come to enjoy their company for ever in the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Ta Da!

Yesterday we gave a presentation on the Trinity.  Our final demonstration was a big hit.  Our thesis was that the Father was the Lover, the Son was the Beloved, and the love between was the Holy Spirit.  We stressed that Love was an action verb.

Then we took some vinegar and called it the Father.  We poured it into a glass bowl that had half a cup of baking soda, calling it the Son.  When we poured the vinegar into the baking soda, it exploded.

Ta Da!  Ladies and Gentlemen!  I present to you the Blessed Trinity.

Everyone sat up straight for that.  When the fizz spilled over the bowl, I pointed out "And the Mystical Body of Christ."

Praying to Saints

Hubby and I were touring Newport, RI, yesterday.  We visited museums, a synagogue, and Trinity Church.  Trinity Church's steeple is a landmark.  You can see it from the ocean, and it's a famous, well-known site of recognition.  Of course, we had to go there.  

The guide gave us a wonderful tour of the church.  Hubby just had to have a picture taken of him sitting in the same box that George Washington and Queen Elizabeth II prayed in.  Many famous people worshiped there.  We met their new priest, The Rev. Canon Anne Marie Richards.

Our tour guide happened to say that it was so nice to have a lady priest.  She went on to say that she never felt part of the church until the Canon Anne Marie came.

I bit my tongue.

The church had some beautiful stained glass windows.  I learned the difference between painted glass and the stained glass pieces that Tiffany made.  Big difference!

The stained glass windows depicted Mary, and some saints, and some famous parishioners.  Our guide said, "Of course, being High Church Episcopalian, we do not worship saints like Catholics do..."

I just had to speak up, no many how many kicks in the ankle hubby was giving me.

I asked her to pray for me.  She looked askance, but she said, "OK."   Then I said, "Why do you not think it odd, or wrong, to pray for others, yet you think it odd, or wrong, that Catholics pray to saints?"  Then I pointed to the Apostle Creed that was on a plaque.  I quoted, "I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic church, THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS..."  What do you think the communion of saints means?

It means the spiritual solidarity among those living and those that are dead.  Thomas Aquinas* tells us that we participate in this mystical body exchange of  the same faith, prayers, merits, veneration, etc.
Hence, it's praying to the dead, not worshiping, but asking intercession, as we join together in prayer, just as I ask a living person to pray for me.  I'm not worshiping that person. I'm asking for intercession to God.

The tour came to an abrupt close.

I did better on the tour to the synagogue.

*Summa Theologica III: 8:4.