THE TRINITY | Faith Exposed with Cardinal Tagle

Summary

This script delves into the Christian doctrine of the Holy Trinity, explaining the concept of one God in three persons. It uses the shamrock and fire as metaphors to illustrate the unity and distinct roles of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The script traces the origins of this belief from the creation story to Jesus' teachings and the Great Commission, emphasizing the consubstantial nature of the Trinity. It concludes with a prayer for living a life that reflects faith in the Holy Trinity.

Takeaways

• 🌟 The Christian faith celebrates the Holy Trinity, which is the belief in one God existing in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
• 🍀 St. Patrick of Ireland used the shamrock, a plant with three interconnected leaves, as a symbol to illustrate the concept of the Holy Trinity.
• 🔥 Another analogy provided is fire, which consists of flame, heat, and light, all distinct yet forming one element, to explain the unity within the Trinity.
• 🙏 The Athanasian Creed emphasizes the belief in one God in the Trinity and the Trinity in unity, without confusing the persons or dividing the substance.
• 🎓 The Catechism teaches that the three persons of the Trinity are consubstantial, meaning they are of one and the same divine essence or nature.
• 👨‍👦‍👦 Each person of the Trinity has a unique existence and purpose, yet they are related to one another, forming one divine being.
• 📜 The concept of the Trinity is not explicitly found in the scriptures, but traces of God's trinitarian nature can be found, such as in the creation story.
• 📖 The scriptures hint at the Trinity through the presence of the Word (Logos) and the Spirit (Pneuma), working alongside the Creator.
• 🕊 Jesus revealed the Trinity by discussing his relationship with the Father and the Holy Spirit, whom he would send after his ascension.
• 🛑 The Great Commission instructed disciples to baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, emphasizing the singularity of God.
• 🙌 The mystery of the Trinity is central to Christian faith, signifying that God is our creator, savior, and life-giver.

Q & A

What is the central mystery of the Christian faith and life being celebrated in the script?

The central mystery being celebrated is the Most Holy Trinity, which refers to one God in three persons.

How did St. Patrick of Ireland illustrate the concept of the Holy Trinity?

St. Patrick used a shamrock, a plant with three interconnected leaves but one stem, to illustrate the unity of the three persons in one God.

What is another example used to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity?

Fire is another example, where flame, heat, and light are three components that form one element, each with its own purpose.

What does the term 'consubstantial' mean in the context of the Holy Trinity?

Consubstantial means 'of one and the same substance, essence, or nature,' referring to the unity of the three persons of the Trinity sharing the same divine essence.

What does the Athanasian Creed teach about the relationship between the three persons of the Trinity?

The Athanasian Creed teaches that the three persons of the Trinity are distinct but do not confuse the persons or divide the substance, maintaining one Godhead with equal glory and co-eternal majesty.

How is the belief in the Holy Trinity related to the creation story in the scriptures?

The creation story implies a trinitarian nature of God with the use of the phrase 'let us make man in our image,' suggesting the presence of more than one divine being in the creation process.

What role does the 'Word' or 'Logos' play in the scriptures in relation to the Holy Trinity?

The 'Word' or 'Logos' is part of the trinitarian nature of God, working with the creator and through whom all things were made.

How did Jesus reveal the Holy Trinity according to the script?

Jesus revealed the Holy Trinity by talking about His Father, who is one with Him, and the Holy Spirit, whom He would ask the Father to send to us.

What command did Jesus give to His disciples regarding the Holy Trinity before His ascension?

Jesus commanded His disciples to make disciples of all peoples and to baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, emphasizing the unity of God.

What is the significance of the term 'name' instead of 'names' in the context of baptism as mentioned in the script?

The use of 'name' instead of 'names' signifies the belief in the unity of God, despite the three distinct persons of the Holy Trinity.

What is the final prayer in the script asking for in relation to the understanding of the Holy Trinity?

The final prayer asks for the grace to live lives that bear witness to the faith, to not be wanting in hope, and to love God and neighbors evermore.

Outlines

00:00

🌿 The Mystery of the Holy Trinity

This paragraph delves into the central doctrine of Christianity, the Holy Trinity, which posits one God existing in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The concept is illustrated using the shamrock, a symbol introduced by St. Patrick, to represent the interconnected yet distinct nature of the three divine persons. The paragraph also compares the Trinity to the elements of fire—flame, heat, and light—which, though distinct, form a single substance. The Athanasian Creed is referenced to emphasize the unity and consubstantiality of the divine persons, highlighting the belief that while the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct, their essence is one. The paragraph concludes by discussing the origin of the Trinity doctrine, noting its roots in the creation story and the teachings of Jesus, culminating in the Great Commission to baptize in the name of the Trinity.

05:04

🙏 Understanding and Embracing the Trinity

The second paragraph continues the exploration of the Trinity, emphasizing the unity and relational nature of the three divine persons. It reiterates the key points: the Trinity as one God in three persons, the distinct yet unified nature of these persons, and their holiness and relation to one another. The paragraph serves as a reminder of the importance of this doctrine in Christian faith and encourages believers to live out their faith by loving God and their neighbors. It concludes with a prayer for strength in hope and love, and the script ends with a musical note, suggesting a reflective or contemplative mood.

Keywords

💡Trinity

The Trinity is a central doctrine in Christianity that describes God as being one being in three persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. It is the focus of the video script as it seeks to explain this complex theological concept in simple terms. The script uses examples like the shamrock and fire to illustrate the unity and distinctness within the Trinity.

💡Catechism

A catechism is a summary of Christian doctrine, typically used for teaching and instructing the faithful. In the script, the catechism serves as a guide to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity, emphasizing its importance in the Christian faith and life.

💡Shamrock

The shamrock, a three-leaved plant, is used in the script as a metaphor for the Trinity. St. Patrick of Ireland is said to have used it to explain the concept of three persons in one God, highlighting the interconnectedness and unity of the three leaves as one entity.

💡Divine Essence

Divine essence refers to the fundamental nature or substance of God. The script mentions that the three persons of the Trinity are of one divine essence, indicating that while they are distinct, they share the same divine nature.

💡Consubstantial

Consusbstantial is a theological term used to describe the unity of the three persons of the Trinity, meaning they are of one and the same substance, essence, or nature. The script uses this term to emphasize the unity within the diversity of the Trinity.

💡Athanasian Creed

The Athanasian Creed is a Christian statement of belief that focuses on the doctrine of the Trinity and the Incarnation. The script quotes this creed to affirm the belief in one God in the Trinity and the Trinity in unity, without confusing the persons or dividing the substance.

💡Creator

In the script, God as the Trinity is referred to as the creator, emphasizing the role of the three persons in the creation of the universe. This term is used to illustrate the active involvement of the Trinity in the creation process.

💡Savior

The term 'savior' in the script refers to the redemptive role of the Trinity, particularly through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It highlights the salvation offered by the Trinity to humanity.

💡Life-giver

Life-giver is used to describe the Holy Spirit's role in the script, emphasizing the Spirit's work in giving life to believers. It underscores the vital role of the Holy Spirit in the spiritual life of Christians.

💡Word or Logos

The Word, or Logos, is a term used in the script to refer to Jesus Christ, who is said to be with God in the creation story. It signifies the divine wisdom and the active principle through which all things were made.

💡Spirit or Pneuma

Spirit or Pneuma refers to the Holy Spirit in the script, who is associated with life and the divine breath. It is used to illustrate the Holy Spirit's role in the creation and the sanctification of believers.

Highlights

Celebrating the central mystery of the Christian faith and life, the Holy Trinity.

Exploring the concept of one God in three persons, and the challenge it presents to believers.

Using daily life objects to illustrate the mystery of the Trinity, such as the shamrock used by St. Patrick.

The shamrock's three interconnected leaves symbolizing the three persons of the Trinity.

Fire as an example of a substance with distinct components that form one element, paralleling the Trinity.

Each person of the Trinity having a unique existence and purpose yet forming one being, God.

The term 'consubstantial' from the catechism, meaning of one and the same substance, essence, or nature.

Quoting the Athanasian Creed to emphasize the unity and distinction within the Trinity.

The belief that God as Trinity is our creator, savior, and life-giver.

The origin of the belief in the Trinity, not explicitly found in scriptures but traced back to the creation story.

Jesus revealing the Trinity through his teachings about his Father and the Holy Spirit.

The Great Commission to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, emphasizing the singularity of God.

The significance of the term 'name' rather than 'names' in the context of the Trinity.

The three divine persons being distinct yet forming a unity, described as 'tri-yun'.

The divine persons being in relation to one another, being holy in and with one another.

A prayer to the one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for living a life that reflects our faith.

Transcripts

[Music]

brothers and sisters as we celebrate

today the great and central mystery of

the christian faith and life it is

appropriate to offer this simple

catechism about the most holy trinity

one god in three persons

how could it be possible that in one

being

there are three persons and they remain

one

this has always been the question and

challenge to us believers

so we use objects from daily life to

illustrate though inadequately the

mystery

that's why dear friends in the early 5th

century st patrick of ireland used a

shamrock

to illustrate this mystery of the

trinity

a shamrock is trifoliate meaning

it has three leaves that are

interconnected and equal in size but it

is counted as one whole leaf attached to

a single stem

similarly god is trian meaning

there are three persons in god but these

persons of the father the son and the

holy spirit are of one divine essence

another frequently used example is fire

a substance that cannot be

called fire unless it has flame

heat and light at the same time

each of these three components has its

own purpose yet they form one element

which is fire

now each of the three persons has his

own unique existence and purpose yet

they are related to each other thus they

form one being that is god

the consubstantial trinity according to

the catechism

and by consubstantial we mean

of one and the same substance

essence or nature

the catechism further teaches us this

i quote from the athanasian creed

now this is the catholic faith

we worship one god in the trinity and

the trinity in unity without either

confusing the persons or dividing the

substance

for the person of the father is one

the sons is another

the holy spirit's another

but the godhead of the father son and

holy spirit is one

their glory equal

their majesty co-eternal

hence we can say that god as trinity is

our creator and at the same time is our

savior and at the same time is our life

giver

these are simple notes on the trinity

dear friends but of course there is much

more to discuss

now where did we get this belief that

god is one in three persons

the word trinity after all does not even

exist in scriptures

while the word trinity cannot be found

in scriptures we have traces of god's

trinitarian nature

the earliest would be in the creation

story the verse let us make man in our

image after our likeness already implies

the creator was not alone

as we read further we learned that

working together with him was the word

or logos that through him all things

were made

and the spirit or pneuma that gives life

then ultimately jesus revealed the

trinity

when he talked about his father who is

one with him

and the holy spirit whom he will ask the

father to send to us

before his ascension he charged his

disciples to make disciples of all

peoples and to baptize them

in the name of the father and of the son

and of the holy spirit

take note dear friends

that the lord

said

name and not names

as though telling us there is only one

god the almighty father his only son and

the holy spirit the most holy trinity

friends may we never forget this mystery

of our faith and of god in himself

first the trinity is one god in three

persons

secondly the three divine persons though

distinct from one another form a unity

in a word tri-yun

lastly the three divine persons are

relative to one another they are holy in

and with one another

there you go my dear brothers and

sisters

we hope we have helped you understand in

a simple way some aspects of the mystery

of the trinity

let us pray then to the one god

father son and holy spirit that our

lives may bear witness to our faith

that we may not be wanting in hope

and that we may live loving him

and loving our neighbors evermore

[Music]

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