The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is one of the most fundamental doctrines of Christianity. It is the central and greatest mystery of our Faith, which professes that in One God are Three Persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God the Father is the Creator, God the Son is Jesus Christ, the Redeemer, and God the Holy Spirit is the Sanctifier and the Counselor. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that each Divine Person is God, really distinct from one another, yet there is still only one God; the Trinity is One (CCC 253-254).
As Catholics, we begin and conclude the Holy Mass and our prayers with a reverent address to the Holy Trinity, “In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” We do this as the priest blesses us, and we bless ourselves, as we make the Sign of the Cross. The Sacraments of the Church- in Baptism, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick, Reconciliation, Matrimony, are administered to us in the name of the Most Holy Trinity. Each day, church bells ring three times to remind us to give glory to the Triune God, “Glory be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.”
Many of our Saints tried to explain with simplicity and in symbolism the Holy Trinity. Saint John Vianney used candles, roses, and water – the flame of a lighted candle has color, shape and warmth, all presenting one flame; the rose flower also has color, shape and fragrance, which present the one and the same rose; liquid water, steam and ice are three distinct presentations of one reality, which is water. For Saint Cyril, the sun explains the Holy Trinity – “God the Father is the blazing sun, God the Son is its light, and God the Holy Spirit is its heat – but there is only one sun; Like the Three Persons in the Holy Trinity in One, indivisible God.”
There are other examples that depict the mystery of the Holy Trinity, but one of the most popular, and my most favorite, would be the shamrock leaf, as explained by Saint Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland, a missionary and bishop. According to one story, Saint Patrick, in his effort to convert others to become Catholics, picked up one of the shamrock leaves growing abound the ground where he was preaching. The shamrock is made up of three small green leaves attached to a single stem. He asked the crowd whether it was one leaf or three. They couldn’t answer because it was actually just one leaf with three definite leaflet parts. Saint Patrick pointed out how the Holy Trinity was such, Three Persons in One God, “but more complex and unintelligible.” Traditionally, the Shamrock has become the national emblem of the Irish people and a popular symbol of Saint Patrick’s Day in Ireland and throughout the world.
For a few years in my childhood, I was very much into Irish music, including The Corrs. I often watched programs by the Family Rosary Crusade on local Channel 9. Among the shows were about religious stuffs in Ireland. Later on, I read the story of Saint Patrick and the Shamrock. Being fascinated with Irish things, but more than anything, the religious history of their country, Shamrock has become one of the symbols I’ve loved. I remember myself as a grade school student drawing the Shamrock on papers, different objects, and everywhere… to the point of vandalizing chairs with pentel pens, just like a lot of children in there did then. Well, that’s wrong to do now as a grown-up, certainly! But I’ve never outgrown my love for Shamrocks. Shamrock will always be on top of my Catholic symbols.
We are called, as we celebrate today the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, to become more aware of the presence of the Triune God. It is our guide in how to bear our own selves, our families, and our relationships with others. As individuals, we must strive to become pure and holy to be able to unite ourselves with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit- That is, to uphold what is moral and to detest what is sinful or worldly. As families, we must strive to keep our members united in love and faith, in spite of difficulties, in order to become a reflection of the Holy Trinity. And as neighbors, we must strive to be just and charitable to each other, amidst temptations, to help others see God in us, and for us to see God in them.
This is one prayer that the Angel of Peace taught to the three visionary children of Our Lady of Fatima:
Photo credit: Armata Bianca
Fatima Prayer to the Most Holy Trinity
Most Holy Trinity,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
I adore You profoundly,
and I offer You
the Most Precious Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ,
present in all the tabernacles of the world,
in reparation of the outrages, sacrileges, and indifference
with which He Himself is offended.
And through the infinite merits of His Most Sacred Heart,
and the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
I beg of You the conversion of poor sinners.
***
God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us!
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us!
God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us!
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us!
St. Joseph, pray for us!
Mama Mary, pray for us!
Amen.
She graduated cum laude from the University of Santo Tomas, the country's Pontifical and Catholic university, with an AB in Legal Management and minor units in Theology.
As an unmarried woman, prayer holds a central place in her daily life, with a focus on the Rosary and the Divine Office. Embodying her faith, she emphasizes the growth of her inner spiritual life, guided by the wisdom of Carmelite spirituality.
God manifested to her in a unique and radical manner, which made her know Who He truly is and led her to total surrender of her life to Him.
She has studied the Bible with her family, developing a particular fondness for the Old Testament.
Her adorable and intelligent toy poodle is a delightful companion in her daily life, bringing warmth and joy to her home.
Her hobbies include reading about everything, learning Japanese and German, listening to music and playing the flute.
In her leisure time, she enjoys gaming on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch OLED, Nintendo 3DS, iOS and OS, and collecting things related to PlayStation and Nintendo.
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