What is the greatest Mystery of our Faith?

THE GREATEST MYSTERY OF OUR FAITH
Jn. 16:12–15

Today, on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, we celebrate the greatest mystery of our faith: that there are Three Persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - in One God.

But do we relate personally to each of the Three Divine Persons? Is our devotion balanced, or do we tend to focus on just one of them?  Many Christians, quite understandably, direct most of their prayers to Jesus.  But Jesus Himself would gently correct us: “That’s not how I taught you to pray.”  When He gave us the Our Father, He showed us that prayer is to be addressed primarily to the Father.

He told us, “Whatever you ask the Father in my name, He will give you.”  So, when we pray to the Father, we invite Jesus to pray with us and in us.

And what about the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit is the Gift whom the Father and the Son have sent to dwell in our hearts, to shape us into the likeness of Christ.  We come to the Father and the Son by the power and inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

So, the proper Christian way to pray is: to the Father, through the Son, and in the Holy Spirit.

A beautiful way to begin each day is by simply saying two words as we awaken: “Our Father.”  This little prayer offers our entire day to God.  If He cannot take care of us, no one can.  Then we can slowly pray the Our Father, the prayer Jesus Himself gave us.

We might also say to Jesus, “I love You.  Thank You for all You have done for me.”  And to the Holy Spirit we might pray, “Holy Spirit, help me to be like Jesus.”  One of my favourite prayers to the Spirit is: “Give me strength, Holy Spirit, to do the work of this day, and at its close, to be found worthy of Your trust in me.”

Every sacrament we receive is rooted in the Blessed Trinity.

In Baptism, we are washed “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
In Confirmation, the bishop says, “I confirm you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
In Confession, the beautiful words of absolution speak of the Trinity: “God, the Father of mercies, through the Death and Resurrection of His Son, has reconciled the world to Himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins...”
In the Holy Eucharist, the names of the Three Persons are not spoken, yet wherever Jesus is, there too are the Father and the Holy Spirit.  After receiving Holy Communion, you might say:

“Thank You, Father, for giving me Your Son.”
“Jesus, I love You.” (Jesus once revealed that many people come to Him with requests, but very few say the words He long to hear, “I love You!”
“Thank You, Jesus, for dying for me and remaining with me in the Holy Eucharist.”
“Holy Spirit, be my best friend.”
The other sacraments also reflect the Trinity:

In Marriage, a man and woman are united “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
In Holy Orders, the same Trinitarian formula is used.
In the Anointing of the Sick, while the Three Persons are not explicitly named, they are present:
As the priest anoints the forehead, he says: “Through this holy anointing may the Lord in His love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit.”
Anointing the hands, he says: “May the Lord free you from sin, save you, and raise you up.”
Thus, in all seven sacraments, the Holy Trinity is actively present and working.

A Catholic should never feel alone.  If we are in a state of grace, then the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit dwell within us.  Learn to become aware of Their presence.  Talk to each of Them. Love Them.

When two people fall deeply in love, they are constantly thinking of each other, yearning for one another’s presence.  This is how we are called to love the Blessed Trinity.

Two simple but powerful prayers help us live in this relationship:

The Sign of the Cross
The Glory Be
Let us now say together that beautiful prayer of praise: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit…

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