Believe it or not, someone emailed yesterday asking me to explain the Trinity. (I’m not making that up just to have a reason to excerpt material.) The Trinity is tough, and we will definitely revisit this subject a few times, but for now, here’s a brief look at a doctrine that even the greatest Church fathers had a tough time teaching to the masses.

“The doctrine of the Trinity is a distinctively Christian doctrine of God, something that separates Christians from other religious traditions. The Trinity is not just one teaching among many. It is the Christian teaching of God. Everything a Christian does flows from this teaching, is centered upon this teaching, and leads back to this teaching.

Trinity is the belief in three in one. God is one God, but in his oneness, he is comprised of three persons: Father, Son, Holy Spirit. It is a mystery, and a good part of the time that is the explanation you will get if you ask someone to tell you how this can be.

...Although it is incredibly difficult to comprehend, the Trinity is absolutely the core belief of the faith that Catholics profess.” (p. 36)

There is lots and lots more to come on the Trinity, but this is a good start. Over the course of history, the Trinity has been the subject of debate, controversy and at least one legendary teaching method, which we will talk about on St. Patrick’s Day (hint, hint). Come back tomorrow for Part II of our Trinity discussion.

Copyright 2008, Mary DeTurris Poust