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Father Muench Says...

Honoring the Most Holy Trinity

June 3, 2020

By Father William Muench
NCC columnist

Each time we, Catholics, begin to pray, we begin with the Sign of the Cross – “In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Jesus taught his apostles to baptize those who find faith, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Each time as I close the celebration of Mass with a blessing, I am instructed to say in blessing, “May Almighty God, bless you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” We are a Trinitarian Church.

Our Church liturgical year closes the Easter Season with the Feast of the Holy Trinity. We believe that Jesus returned to the Father in the Ascension in order to send down on the Apostles and on us the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit prepared the apostles to take the message of Jesus to the world – a message of wisdom and power, a message of God’s love for all people, a message of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit loving all people of all time. We are prepared through our baptisms to live a good life that leads others closer to God’s love and peace in the power and peace and love of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

The Feast of the Most Holy Trinity is our Feast Day of God. I agree that every Sunday, indeed every day, is a feast in honor of God. However, Our Church designates a special feast day in honor of God, in honor of the Most Holy Trinity, so that we remember in a special way to celebrate and remember our belief that our God is Trinity – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Why do we believe in Trinity? Because this is what Jesus has taught us.
So, I would like to go back with you to the Second Vatican Council to the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church. This important Constitution and teaching begins with a chapter on our belief in the Most Holy Trinity, our belief in God, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

The eternal Father, “in accordance with the gratuitous and mysterious design of his wisdom and goodness, created the whole universe, and chose to raise up to share in his own life.” Pope Francis realized our faith in God the Father, our dedication, our readiness to do all we can to love creation in his encyclical, “Laudato Si.”
The Son – sent by the Father – who, before the foundation of the world, chose us and predestined us for adoptive sonship. For it is in him that it pleased the Father to restore all things. By his obedience he brought about our redemption.

As for the Holy Spirit, “when the work which the Father gave the Son to do on earth was accomplished, the Holy Spirit was sent in order that he might continually sanctify the Church, and that consequently those who believe might have through Christ in one Spirit to the Father. He is the Spirit of life.”

We are called by Jesus to be united in love and peace as one people, working together to make our world a better place, united with the same unity as the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We are united in love as the love that unites the Holy Trinity. We close today with a prayer from Jessica Powers: “God of Abraham and Sarah, God of Mary and Joseph, open our ears to the sound of your voice, our eyes to the splendor of your plan. You call us to lives of holiness and service. Grant us your Spirit of charity and generosity, that we may further your kingdom by doing your will. Heal our deafness and cowardice. Form us into the image of Jesus, you Son and our Lord. Amen.”

As the People of God, we close our prayer with the blessing of the Holy Trinity: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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