Triune God

• Give two parts of the Mass that are often set to music. The Alleluia the Sanctus
• Explain two ways in which belief in the Trinity influences the way Christians understand Genesis 1:1-3 1. Belief in the Trinity gives Christians a deeper insight into Genesis 1:1-3. 'God' refers to the Father who created the heavens and earth, but was not alone. the 'wind' from God, showing the Holy Spirit was involved in the act of creation. 2. God creates through his 'word' ('Let there be light...') .Christians see this as God the Son, the Word of God being made active/flesh.
• Explain two beliefs about the Trinity found in the Nicene Creed 1. God the Father is one and the source of all life 'I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.' 2. God the Son is Jesus Christ 'only begotten Son of God' meaning the Son shares in the same nature as the Father in a unique way, meaning there was never a time when the Son did not exist.
• baptism 1. It is through baptism that a person becomes a member of the Church and becomes a child of God, is cleansed of sin and is given strength of the Holy Spirit to defeat evil in future. 2. grace enters the person's life, and they are called to live in the Spirit and to fulfil all God has made them to be. to join in Christ's redeeming death and to enter the life of the resurrection.
• What are the positive effects on worship using plainchant? For unity, spirituality and fitting in with the church environment.
• Plainchant Plainchant was developed by monks, which is a single sung unaccompanied melodic line.
• What are the negative effects on worship using plainchant? Not understood by all so less engaging.
• Traditional Hymns Traditional hymns normally mean hymns that have been used by generations of believers within the Church. Until the mid 1960s ( the second Vatican council) only traditional hymns were used in devotional services like benediction, processions and for the Christmas season.
• What are the positive effects of using traditional hymns? Help believers to praise their minds and hearts to God and they highlight the point this has not been limited to a particular time period.
• Contemporary worship songs During the second Vatican council ( 19602) it was decided that mass could be said in the language of the people in that country. This meant people felt more personally involved within in the church service. Particularly when joining in the church service.This led to a desire to have more contemporary music to encourage people to sing. Because of this there has been a vast increase in the number of hymns and songs produced for use in worship in catholic liturgies.
• What are the positive effects of using Contemporary worship songs in worship? Many people believe that God should be worshipped in a way that reflects the feelings of the people present, using forms and styles of worship that both speak to them and reflect the emotions they want to.
• What are the negative effects of using Contemporary worship songs in worship? Upbeat music is thought by some to distract people from the true meaning of the Mass.
• What are the positive effects of using Mass setting in music? These sung mass setting can be engaging for the whole congregation , particularly the young
• Mass settings Since the second Vatican council , it was no longer necessary that the whole ,ass was suing in Latin. So, lots of mass setting were composed that are accessible and encourage the whole congregation to join in.
• Value of music in worship Unites people Increases the beauty and pleasure of worship Helps people feel more involved worship Attracts the youth Is more engaging and fun
• The Psalms -Form the backbone of the Divine Office that every priest, monk and nun has to recite. Wherever possible, if they are together they sing it.-Centred around the joy of praising god - they acknowledge that everything people have comes from God and without this they are nothing.
• The Gloria It is a hymn of praise and love to God - for this reason lots of the usual arrangements of this are complicated and joyful to highlight the thankfulness of the people singing it. The Gloria is not said during advent and lent There are several versions of the Gloria used across the country in different churches.
• Alleluia it is a hymn of joy triumph and praise of God Like the Gloria, the Alleluia should also not be sung during Lent - only at the end of Lent at the Easter Vigil At every Mass except during Lent , the Gospel reading is introduced by an Alleluia and a short verse from the Bible. These should be sung to greet the presence of Christ the Word of God
• The Sanctus The Sanctus can be sung in a reflective manner - showing peace and harmony of the heavenly court The Sanctus can also be sung as a jubilant hymn of praise to God It can also be sung with increasing intensity to show the raise of God, as in Grounds Mass of St. Cecilia
• The mystery of faith In these words the congregation proclaim that the consecration has made present the whole saving event of Christs life, death and resurrection. It is through this event that God has shown the depth of his love for all people. In response to God's love, this acclamation should be as powerful and wholehearted as it can possibly be.
• Triune God stresses the fact that within one God there is a three- ness
• Trinity focuses on the distinctive qualities of the three persons.
• In Christianity, what are the components of the Trinity? God the Father God the Son God the Holy Spirit
• Features of the Trinity -God the Son took human form as Jesus. -God the Holy Spirit is believed to be the active presence of God in the world today. -God the Father is also often called the Creator.
• The Son: Trinity revealed in the bible 'As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water.
• The Father: Trinity revealed in the bible 'And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."""
• The Holy Spirit: Trinity revealed in the bible 'and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.
• Galatians 4:6 with explaination Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba,[a] Father."" -Jesus took on human form, so we may become closer to God and become his children. -We are allowed to use the name Abba Father. This is an intimate title. -It is the spirit that gives each believer the strength to accept the relationship with God."
• How belief in the Trinity influences the work of Christians today The trinity is connected by Love The love of the Father flows to the Son which flows to the Spirit which flows back to the Father etc. Christians believe this love is flowed into the hearts of the believers and as the life of the Trinity is shared with them, they are called to pass this love on to others Christians believe love is meaningless if it is not shared.
• Mission It means spreading Gods message through actions. The Church sends out people to care for others in many different ways. For example there are many catholic charities and organisations such as CAFOD who go out worldwide and attempt to make the lives of others better. They help with education or help to develop better lifestyles, they might help them to create a water pump or teach them farming techniques.
• Evangelism this is spreading Gods message through preaching (words) Christians believe that the Holy spirit works through people when they are spreading the word of God and helps and guides them to do this The spirit came down on the disciples at Pentecost and gave them the ability to speak lots of different languages and therefore spread the word of God throughout the world. Jesus' last instructions to his followers were to " go and make disciples of all nations"" Therefore Christians believe it is there duty to spread the word of God wherever they can. Many evangelists face ridicule and sometimes persecution."
• The importance of the Bible for Christians For Christians the Bible is the Word of God. God inspired the writers of the bible and through the Holy spirit they were able to write the message of God in a way that was appropriate for the people of the time. The Catholic church maintain that all its teachings must be in accordance with the bible. The words Triune God or Trinity do not explicitly appear in the Bible however there is clear justification for this belief throughout the bible Particularly in the new Testament where the work and presence of the Trinity is clear.
• Paul's letters to the Galatians Epistles- letters Pauls wrote his epistles to various churches that he has visited and preached to He wrote these letters from about 51CE ( bout 20 years after the death and resurrection f Jesus) up to his earth, which probably took place about 67CE. Throughout Paul's writing he made constant reference to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He highlighted the relationship between them and how this lined to the lives of believers.
• St Augustine of Hippo st Augustine starts with the quote " God is love"" 1 John 4:16. Augustine looks at human relationships of love He states that in a human loving relationship there are three things, the lover, the person they love and the love that unites them. Without one of these things it is not a genuine loving relationship."
• How does this relate to the trinity? (St Augustine of Hippo) the Father loves ( this is the Holy Spirit) the son and the son loves ( which is the holy spirit ) the Father However as these are all reflections of one thing ( the loving relationship) they are actually three parts of one nature. Love needs to be in three parts, just as in the Life of the Trinity there are three Persons united together in love. For St. Augustine, this love of God is not just contained within God. It pours outward into the hearts and lives of believers as the Holy spirit, the gift of love to all people. Love is always sharing, self giving and creative.
• Catherine LaCugna For LaCugna everything that an be learnt about the Trinity is based on God's self-revelation. It is only possible to experience and understand what God is through his actions in people's lives. LaCugna thought that the whole action and being of God is relational. The father begets the Son. This means that the Son comes from the Father. But the son did not just suddenly come into being; he has always been a part of God, without beginning or End.
• How does this relate to the trinity? (Catherine LaCugna) this means that the son is continually and eternally coming from God. This is known as eternal generation. The Holy Spirit is the bond that eternally unites the Father and the son. This continual creative acts flows outwards into the whole of creation. Christ came to earth to bring redemption ( to bring people back to a relationship with God the Father). The holy Spirit completes the task of bringing the world into union with Christ. Christ brings all things back to the Father. The act of this incarnation and redemption shows how the son, as love, comes from God to save human beings. The Holy Spirit guides believers to complete the work of redemption. Once the task is fulfilled all things are brought back to God, so that God may be all in all.
• What does the Nicene Creed reveal about the person of the Trinity? (God the Father) God the Father: Creator of all things and the source of all life
• What does the Nicene Creed reveal about the person of the Trinity? (God the Son) God the Son: only begotten son - shares his nature with God the Father - there was no point the son does not exist because he was born before all ages Consubstantial - there is no distinction between the nature of son and Father The son takes on limitations of human nature when he is born of the Virgin Mary. Came out of love for humans and suffered and died - fulfilling prophecy Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven where he takes place at the right hand of the father.
• What does the Nicene Creed reveal about the person of the Trinity? (Holy Spirit) God the Holy Spirit: spirit or breath of God gives life Comes from both Father and Son - it unites them in love. Equal to the father and son in majesty power and worship. Inspires people to do the will of God.