Holy Trinity God
The Church uses :
(I) the term "substance" (rendered also at times by "essence" or "nature") to designate the divine being in its unity, (II) the term "person" or "hypostasis" to designate the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in the real distinction among them, and (III) the term "relation" to designate the fact that their distinction lies in the relationship of each to the others. Substance The Trinity is One. We do not confess three Gods, but one God in three persons, the "consubstantial Trinity". The divine persons do not share the one divinity among themselves but each of them is God whole and entire: "The Father is that which the Son is, the Son that which the Father is, the Father and the Son that which the Holy Spirit is, i.e. by nature one God." Person The divine persons are really distinct from one another. "God is one but not solitary.” "Father", "Son", "Holy Spirit" are not simply names designating modalities of the divine being, for they are really distinct from one another: "He is not the Father who is the Son, nor is the Son he who is the Father, nor is the Holy Spirit he who is the Father or the Son.” Inseparable in what they are, the divine persons are also inseparable in what they do. Relation They are distinct from one another in their relations of origin: "It is the Father who generates, the Son who is begotten, and the Holy Spirit who proceeds.” The divine Unity is Triune. The divine persons are relative to one another. Because it does not divide the divine unity, the real distinction of the persons from one another resides solely in the relationships which relate them to one another: "In the relational names of the persons the Father is related to the Son, the Son to the Father, and the Holy Spirit to both. While they are called three persons in view of their relations, we believe in one nature or substance.” "Because of that unity the Father is wholly in the Son and wholly in the Holy Spirit; the Son is wholly in the Father and wholly in the Holy Spirit; the Holy Spirit is wholly in the Father and wholly in the Son." "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 Son's is another, the Holy Spirit's another; but the Godhead of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is one, their glory equal, their majesty coeternal" (Athanasian Creed: DS 75; ND 16). External link : Catechism of the Catholic Church |
The reason that the Trinity is crucial to our faith because in the bible it is written : “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:8)
Many religions believe that love comes from God, that God has this property of love that He can give to us, that He puts in our hearts that we may also love. They believe that we do love because God also loves. You see, “love” is a transitive verb. It has to have an object. If God were only one and there was only God, there would be no love. Love needs at least two persons involved, the giver of love and the recipient of love. If there is no recipient, there is no love. We all know that before God created heaven earth humans, He was alone. Thus, if God were only one, He did not love, He did not know love, and He were not love. But the Christian says God is Three in One. God the Father loves God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, God the Son loves God the Father and God the Holy Spirit, God the Holy Spirit loves God the Father and God the Son. Therefore, when there was only God, there is still a relationship characterized by love. Love is not just a law decreed by deity. It‘s not an arbitrary decision by omnipotence. Love is essential to the Creator Himself as well as His creatures. For Parents who would like to explain about Holy Trinity God to their children, you may use this parable :
Water is a great example of how something can be three different things, and at the same time remain one thing. Water can be a liquid, a solid (ice), and a gas (vapor/steam). Even though there are three uniquely different states of water (liquid, solid, and gas), they are still water. These states or forms of water can remind us of the triune nature of God. The solid form of water (ice) reminds us of God the FATHER. Ice is hard. It is solid. In the same way, God the FATHER is our solid foundation. The liquid form of water reminds us of God the SON. We use water to take baths, to get clean. In the same way, God the SON, died on the cross to cleanse us of our sin. The gas form of water reminds us of God the HOLY SPIRIT. Gas cannot be seen, but you can see the effects of it. As we did when we saw the water droplets on the plastic, or felt the warmth of the steam from the hot water. In the same way, the HOLY SPIRIT cannot be seen, but the effects of his presence can be seen and felt in our lives as the HOLY SPIRIT works to make His will known to us and to change us to become more like Him. The next time you drink a glass of water, eat an ice cube, or feel the effects of steam, let this lesson on water remind you that God is three Persons in One! |