Triune God

• Triune God

  One God who is made known in three persons
• Trinity


  One God in three persons
• The Catechism says the Trinity is one, we do not confess three gods but one God in three persons
• Shield of the Trinity

  • Common image which might help you to remember the doctrine of the Trinity
• Trinity/Triune God

  • The three persons are equal but distinct
  • They are not the same as each other
• Triune God

  Focuses on the oneness of God, the fact that there is one God or oneness
• Trinity


  Focuses on the fact that there are three persons, the three-ness first
• The terms 'triune God' and 'Trinity' are not mentioned in the Bible, they were developed later by the early church
• There is plenty of evidence to support the doctrine of the Trinity within the biblical text
• Christianity started off as a small religious sect within Judaism, which is a monotheistic religion
• The first Christians also came to see that God had revealed himself by taking on human form in the person of Jesus, the doctrine of the Incarnation
• Baptism narratives

  1. God revealed as the Father (voice in the cloud)

  2. God revealed as the Son (Jesus)

  3. God revealed as the Spirit (dove)
• The use of the threefold distinction Father/Son/Spirit in reference to God was commonplace in the early church
• Old Testament texts used to support the doctrine of the Trinity


  • First creation narrative in Genesis
  • God says "let us make mankind in our image"
• The Christian interpretation is that the true nature of God is that he is in relationship, just as male and female can be in relationship, which is a core element of the belief in the triune God
• Catholics

  Base their beliefs on three distinct areas: the Bible or scriptures, church tradition (also known as apostolic tradition), and the Magisterium
• Magisterium


  • The teaching authority of the church
  • Based on the concept of apostolic succession
  • Peter was given authority and responsibility to lead the church, which he could pass on to his successors
  • The current Pope is the successor of Peter
  • The Apostles were the first bishops, and the current bishops are their successors
  • When the Pope and bishops gather together, they form the Magisterium, the official teaching authority of the church
• Importance of the Magisterium

  1. When there is a dispute that cannot be settled by appealing to the Bible and apostolic tradition alone

  2. The leaders of the church gather together to debate the issue and propose an agreed solution, which becomes official Church teaching
• Councils used to confirm beliefs

  • Council of Nicaea (325 AD)
  • Council of Constantinople (381 AD)
• Arianism


  The belief that Jesus was not equal to God the Father, and that there was a time when he did not exist
• The Council of Nicaea declared Arianism a heresy and affirmed the equality of God the Son and God the Father
• The Council of Constantinople further affirmed the equality of the Holy Spirit with the Father and the Son
• Nicene Creed

  • Illustrates and supports the doctrine of the Trinity
  • Has a distinct section for each of the three persons of the Trinity
  • Emphasizes the distinctive role or characteristics of each person of the Trinity
  • Emphasizes the equality of the three persons of the Trinity
• Trinity


  The Christian doctrine of the three persons of God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
• St. Augustine's explanation of the Trinity

  • God the Father is the lover
  • God the Son is the beloved
  • The Holy Spirit is the love that binds them together
• Immanent Trinity

  The inner life of the Trinity, what is going on within the triune God
• According to St. Augustine, God does not need to create the universe to know or feel love, as God is completely self-sufficient
• Catherine Lacunae's explanation of the Trinity

  • God the Father and God the Son have always existed in relation without beginning or end
  • The Holy Spirit is the loving bond that joins them together
  • Lacunae emphasized God's self-revelation through the Incarnation and redemption, and God's presence in the lives of people through the Holy Spirit
• Economic Trinity


  The aspect of the Trinity that emphasizes how humans can engage with or transact with God's love
• Augustine said "if you see love, you see the Trinity", meaning that every time we experience love, we experience God
• Evangelism

  Sharing God's love by telling people about God's love and encouraging them to follow the teachings of Jesus
• Mission

  Sharing God's love by showing people God's love through actions, such as running hospitals, shelters, and hospices
• Just telling people about God's love is not enough, it must be backed up by actions
• Music in Catholic worship


  Sacred song united to the words forms a necessary or integral part of the liturgy
• Benefits of using music in Catholic worship

  • Enhances people's experience of the liturgy
  • Adds delight to prayer
  • Fosters unity of minds
  • Confers greater solemnity upon the sacred rites
• How music adds delight to prayer

  Music has the ability to inspire people and provoke feelings and emotions that words alone cannot achieve, thus it helps Catholics to pray more deeply within the liturgy
• How music fosters unity of minds

  Singing together demonstrates unity and community among people singing together in the liturgy, can help people feel united and more involved with the worship by being a participant rather than a spectator
• How music confers greater solemnity

  Music helps to give a greater sense of purpose and direction to the worship
• St. Augustine: 'He who sings prays twice'
• Types of music used in Catholic worship

  • Plain chant
  • Traditional hymns
  • Contemporary worship songs
  • Psalms
  • Mass settings