Join us today as we celebrate Holy Communion for the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity, 6/12/22. To follow along at home, click here and print the Holy Communion Program. Text of today’s homily below.
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Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, June 12, 2022
Readings: Prv 8:22-31, Ps 8:4-5, 6-7, 8-9, Rom 5:1-5, Jn 16:12-15
John 16:12-15 American Standard Version
12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he shall hear, these shall he speak: and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall take of mine, and shall declare it unto you. 15 All things whatsoever the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he taketh of mine, and shall declare it unto you.
Today, brothers and sisters, in keeping with ancient tradition, we read as our homily the Athanasian Creed. Although scholars are relatively certain that St. Athanasius is not the true author (the most likely candidate is St. Vincent of Lérins or another Gaulish priest of the period) the Athanasian Creed is central to Christianity in the West. 1
“WHOSOEVER desires to be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic faith. Which faith, except every one do keep entire and inviolate, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly. Now the Catholic Faith is this: that we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity. Neither confounding the Persons nor dividing the substance. For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost is one; the glory equal, the majesty co-eternal. As the Father is, such is the Son, such the Holy Ghost. The Father uncreated, the Son uncreated, the Holy Ghost uncreated. The Father infinite, the Son infinite, the Holy Ghost infinite. The Father eternal, the Son eternal, the Holy Ghost eternal. And yet they are not three eternals, but one Eternal. As also they are not three uncreated, nor three infinites; but one Uncreated, and one Infinite.
In like manner the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty, and the Holy Ghost Almighty. And yet they are not three almighties, but one Almighty. So the Father is God, the Son God, and the Holy Ghost God. And yet they are not three Gods, but one God. So the Father is Lord, the Son is Lord, and the Holy Ghost is Lord. And yet they are not three Lords, but one Lord.
For as we are obliged by the Christian Truth to acknowledge every Person to be God and Lord: so we are forbidden by the Catholic religion to say there are three Gods or three Lords. The Father was made by no one, neither created, nor begotten. The Son is by the Father alone; not made, nor created, but begotten. The Holy Ghost is from the Father and the Son, not made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding. So there is one Father, not three Fathers: one Son, not three Sons: one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts. And in this Trinity there is nothing before or after, nothing greater or less; but the whole three Persons are co-eternal together and co-equal.
So that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Unity is to be worshipped in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity. He, therefore, that desires to be saved must thus believe of the Trinity.
Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also believe faithfully the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now the right faith is, that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is both God and man. He is God of the substance of His Father, begotten before the world; and He is man of the substance of His Mother, born in the world: Perfect God and perfect man; of rational soul and human flesh subsisting, Equal to the Father according to His Divinity; and less than the Father according to His humanity. Who, although He be both God and man, yet He is not two, but one Christ: One, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh, but by the assuming of human nature unto God: One altogether, not by confusion of substance, but by unity of person.
For as the rational soul and the body constitutes one man, so God and man is one Christ: Who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, arose again the third day from the dead: He ascended into heaven; He sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead: At whose coming all men must arise again with their bodies, and must give an account of their own works. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting; and they that have done evil into everlasting fire. This is the Catholic faith, which except a man believe faithfully and steadfastly he cannot be saved.
Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall ever be, world without end, Amen.”
1 As published in A Manual of Prayers for the Use of the Catholic Laity (1889) by Clarence E. Woodman. The archaic renderings “uncreates” modernized by the author to read “uncreated” in keeping with modern usage. All other archaisms left intact.