TRIUNE GOD

• triune god: one god in three persons

  • they have perfect unity that makes them one
  • they are consubstantial with each other
• role of three persons in trinity:

  • father: creator
  • son: savior
  • holy spirit: helper
• the three persons of the trinity work together: the father acts through the son by the holy spirit
• "for us men and for our salvation", nicene creed

  reaffirms son's role as savior:

  • god the son became human, to suffer and die as human, out of love for people.
  • this saves humans from eternal separation (by sin) from god
• "saw the spirit of god descending like a dove.", matthew

  holy spirit = dove

  • has free will to go wherever it wishes

  as spirit comes down to stay with jesus:

  • reflects there is intimate relationship between son and spirit
• "voice from heaven said, "this is my son, the beloved", Matthew

  *son referred to in past tense

  a statement of an eternal fact:

  son has always existed, father and son are one
• "god has sent out the spirit of his son into our hearts, crying abba! father!", galatians

  trinitarian persons work together in perfect unity

  we are called to join in the life of the trinity:

  • the same spirit that filled jesus shared with us

  • relationship of trinity shared with us

  *'father'

  believer has intimate relationship w/ god
• GENESIS 1:1-3

  father, through son (word of god), creates cosmos through power of holy spirit

  = as presence of trinity work together, they have perfect unity
• "if you see charity, you see the trinity.", deus caritas

  the life of the trinity, from the love of father and son (holy spirit), flows into lives and hearts of believers as grace

  as life of trinity is shared with us, we must share it with others- passing love to others
• mission:

  The church sends people out to care for the needs of others (e.g. in charities like CAFOD) as they believe:

  • if god loves them, they should love others
  • they reflect the love of god in actions
• evangelism:

  by preaching the gospel by words

  • the driving force is the power of the holy spirit, who speaks through preaching
  • it helps others experience the joy of being a believer; an expression of deep love and allows others to hear jesus' message.
• plainchant:

  • limited melodic range + lacks harmonic complexity of later music styles- unenjoyable for all tastes
  • in latin
  • easy to learn; repetitive phrases- accessible to wide range of singers
• traditional hymns:

  • congregational singing- more people can feel involved in mass
  • helps believers raise hearts + minds to god
  • passed down by generations- people of all ages feel involved
  • not much variety
• contemporary:

  • uses contemporary music genres- expresses modern thoughts/feelings better; helps people in community to connect more in worship
  • vernacular language- people can join in mass celebration
  • too secular
  • doctrinally weak: melody is more important than text
• psalms:

  • forms backbone of divine office (monks, nuns recite it, pref by singing)
  • centered around praise of god
  • acknowledges everything comes from god; without him, we are nothing
  • acknowledges god is with his people: guiding + protecting
• Before Vatican II:

  • latin
  • composers write music with complex musical arrangement- more for musical performance than celebration of mass


  after Vatican II:

  • simple melodies that reflect contemporary musical style- makes it easier for congregation to join in, mass appeals to all age groups (incl younger)

  • vernacular
• introductory rites: gather (e.g. penitential rite)

  • ask for forgiveness
  • gathering in name of triune god
• liturgy of the word: to listen (e.g. consecration)

  • receive directions from OT

  •learn christ's teaching in NT
• communion rite: to recieve god, to give thanks (e.g. communion)

  • receive body/blood/soul/divinity of christ

  • thank god for gift of himself
• liturgy of the eucharist: to receive god, to give thanks (e.g. consecration)

  • offer gifts to god

  • witness re-presentation of jesus' crucifixion (consecration); he is present at altar
• concluding rites: to go, spread word, live life in a Christian life

  • preach gospel

  • bring souls to christ
• gloria: greatest hymn of praise to god

  • loud- shows happiness
  • complex arrangement of voices- convey feeling of thankfulness to god for his care and love
  • not said during advent + lent (penitential periods in Christian calendar)
• alleluia

  • said before gospel proclaimed- greets presence of christ (the word) in gospel
  • announces resurrection (sung three times at Easter vigil)- hymn of triumph
  • not said in lent
• sanctus

  • sung in reflective manner of angels + people together in presence of god- shows peace and harmony of heavenly court
  • sung with increasing intensity- shows whole-heartedness love to god
• mystery of faith

  • said after consecration- proclamation of acceptance that consecration made present the whole saving event of christ's life, death and resurrection (where god shows depth of his love for all)
  • sung whole-heartedly- shows thanks for god's love
• immersion in baptism:

  
  

  submersion is like joining Jesus in the tomb (the result of jesus giving up his life to the will of god).

  therefore, the believer commits life to god in same way

  so, when risen out of water = rises to new life of spirit

  • baptism is sign of initiation into belief in christ
• the water used in baptism is the symbol of the holy spirit 


  as holy spirit calls a person into faith and sustains that

  • expressed in baptism, where believer is filled with the holy spirit

  as sign of initiation into belief in christ
• baptism is a sign of initiation into belief in christ
• people are baptised in the name of god 


  we are made a sharer in the life of the trinity

  • grace enters the believer's life:

  
  

  intro to grace for people (the love of the trinity)

  given new purpose + meaning in life:

  • live in spirit

  • fulfil all that father made them to be

  •join in christ's death + defeat of evil (his redeeming death)
• john the baptist proclaimed a baptism of repentance 


  to prepare for the immanent coming of the messiah
• in Jesus' baptism, the trinity was present 


  he got baptised to make holy the waters of baptism for US

  therefore, we are following on from jesus' baptism
• prayer: the raising of heart and mind to god

  a conversation where the believer opens themselves up to the presence of god
• prayer

  • deepens one's relationship with god
  • gives chance to reflect and meditate over life
• jesus taught the disciples the 'Our Father' as an example on how to pray
• desire to pray comes from the HS

  HS: stirs hearts and minds of believers in prayer

  • makes prayers more sincere
• traditional prayers POS

  • allows congregation to pray together and share their praise- strengthens community in the church
  • allows mind to go deeper than words (simple repetition of words)- allows to focus on god's presence; brings comfort 


  NEG

  not individual
• spontaneous prayer POS

  • belief spirit guides them in what to say (e.g. glossolalia: person taken over by spirit= they speak in tongues)- prayer comes from heart; prayer is sincere and shows pure desire to praise god

  • offer particular concerns with god- more sincere, reflects what person feels; reflects personal relationship with god


  NEG

  • no communal prayer
  • focus on words, not presence of God
• posture assists prayer and shows the intentions behind prayer
• joined hands posture

  sign of asking

  • acknowledges dependence on god
• sitting posture

  more comfortable- allows more focus on what is said in mass

  • believer is prepared to listen to god where no physical discomfort distracts them