Trinity Sunday
ORTHODOX
PENTECOST
Deuteronomy, Chapter 31, Verse 8
For
as the heavens are high above the earth, so surpassing is his kindness toward
those who fear him.
The
Lord our God calls us to His service. This is the message of St. Therese of
Lisieux that we are all called, and we should have great confidence and
humility seeking to bring the kingdom in small ways and asking our Lord to
multiply our efforts. The greatest way
we can bring about the Kingdom is in our own families. This is the reason Pope
Francis made such efforts to attend the family symposium in Philadelphia in
2015. Yes, families are under attack from a secular world, a media that
continually pushes instant gratification and sensuality and of course Satan and
his followers.
The final battle between the Lord and the reign of
Satan will be about marriage and the family. Don’t be afraid because Our
Lady has already crushed his head and anyone who works for the sanctity of
marriage and the family will always be fought and opposed in every way. (Sister Lucia of Fatima)
Our
Lord will not abandon us and tells us to trust in him.
Entrust
everything to Me and do nothing on your own, and you will always have
great freedom of spirit. No circumstances or events will ever be able to
upset you. Set little store on what people say. Let everyone judge you as
they like. Do not make excuses for yourself, it will do you no
harm. (Diary of Sister Faustina, 1685)
ON KEEPING
THE LORD'S DAY HOLY[1]
CHAPTER III
DIES ECCLESIAE
The Eucharistic Assembly:
Heart of Sunday
The day of hope
38. Viewed in this way, Sunday is not
only the day of faith, but is also the day of Christian hope. To share
in "the Lord's Supper" is to anticipate the eschatological feast of
the "marriage of the Lamb" (Rev 19:9). Celebrating this
memorial of Christ, risen and ascended into heaven, the Christian community
waits "in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ".
Renewed and nourished by this intense weekly rhythm, Christian hope becomes the
leaven and the light of human hope. This is why the Prayer of the Faithful
responds not only to the needs of the particular Christian community but also
to those of all humanity; and the Church, coming together for the Eucharistic
celebration, shows to the world that she makes her own "the joys and
hopes, the sorrows and anxieties of people today, especially of the poor and
all those who suffer". With the offering of the Sunday Eucharist, the
Church crowns the witness which her children strive to offer every day of the
week by proclaiming the Gospel and practicing charity in the world of work and
in all the many tasks of life; thus she shows forth more plainly her identity
"as a sacrament, or sign and instrument of intimate union with God and of
the unity of the entire human race".
Trinity Sunday[2]
Sunday
is dedicated to the worship of the Triune God, and is called accordingly the
Lord s day; but the first Sunday after Pentecost is appointed by the Church a
special feast of the Most Holy Trinity, because this mystery, as the
fundamental doctrine of the Christian religion, began at once to be preached by
the apostles, as soon as they had been enlightened and strengthened by the
descent of the Holy Ghost.
What
thoughts and affections should occupy our minds on this feast? Although the mystery of the Trinity
is incomprehensible to us, we must consider:
1.
That God would cease to be God, if our limited understanding were capable of
penetrating the substance of His nature.
2. The mystery
of the Blessed Trinity, though incomprehensible to our intellect, is yet not
without fruit in our hearts. The records of revelation show us God the Father
as our Creator, God the Son as our Redeemer, God the Holy Ghost as our
Sanctifier; and should not this move us to a child-like gratitude towards the
blessed Trinity?
In praise of
the Most Holy Trinity, the Church sings at the Introit of the Mass, Blessed be
the Holy Trinity and undivided Unity; we will give glory to Him, because He
hath shown His mercy to us. O Lord, our Lord, how wonderful is Thy name in all
the earth.
Prayer.
O almighty and eternal God, Who hast created Thy servant to acknowledge the
glory of the eternal Trinity, in the confession of the true faith, and to adore
the unity in the power of Thy majesty, we beseech Thee, that by firmness in the
same faith, we may be ever protected from all adversities.
EPISTLE. Rom. xi. 33-36.
Oh,
the depth of the riches of the wisdom and of the knowledge of God! How
incomprehensible are His judgments, and how unsearchable His ways! For who hath
known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been His counsellor? Or who hath first
given to Him, and recompense shall be made Him? For of Him, and by Him, and in
Him, are all things: to Him be glory forever. Amen.
Explanation. The
ground of St. Paul’s admiration in this epistle is the unfathomable wisdom and
love of God, by which He permitted the Jews and heathen to fall into unbelief,
that He might have mercy on all, and make all perceive that they were
justified, not through their merits, but only through His grace. But the Church
makes use of these words to express her reverent admiration for the greatness
of the mystery of the All Holy Trinity. Though we can neither measure nor
comprehend this mystery, yet no man of sound reason will hesitate to believe
it, if he considers that it is most plainly revealed by God; that as God, the
Infinite, cannot be comprehended by the spirit of man, so also He can reveal
more than we can understand; and that, finally, there are many things in man
himself, and in nature, which we acknowledge as true, but cannot comprehend.
Besides, does not our holy religion assure us, that one day we shall behold
face to face the Infinite Whose image is now reflected dimly in the mirror of
nature? Let us add hope, therefore, to our faith, and if true and sincere love
be based upon these two, our understanding and heart will have abundant
consolation in regard to this great mystery.
GOSPEL. Matt, xxviii. 18-20.
At that time
Jesus said to His disciples: All power is given to Me in heaven and in earth;
going therefore teach ye all nations: baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you: and behold I am with you all days, even to the
consummation of the world.
What command
does Our Savior give in this gospel?
He
commands His apostles to teach all nations, and to baptize them.
Is Baptism a
sacrament?
Yes,
for by it we receive the grace of God, through an outward sign instituted by
Christ.
What is the
outward sign?
Pouring
water on the head of the person to be baptized and pronouncing at the same time
the words: “I baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of
the Holy Ghost.”
What is the
effect of the grace of Baptism?
Through
water and the Holy Ghost, the baptized person is cleansed from original sin,
and from all actual sins, if he has committed such; is spiritually new-born,
and made a child of God and a joint heir with Christ (John iii. 6; Rom. viii.
17).
What is the use of sponsors?
1. In the name
of the child, they express the desire to be baptized, and make the profession
of faith, together with the promise to live according to the doctrine of
Christ.
2. In case the
parents should die, or neglect their duty, the godparents may provide for the
instruction of the children.
3. They are
witnesses that such a person has been baptized.
Who is God?
God
is an infinite being, of all possible perfections, the most sublime and
excellent of all goods, existing from all eternity, and containing within
Himself the principle of His own being and substance; from Whom all other
things have received their existence and life, “for of Him, and by Him, and in
Him are all things” (Rom. xi. 36).
What is the
blessed Trinity?
It
is this one God, Who is one in nature and threefold in person, the Father, Son,
and Holy Ghost.
Is each of
these persons God?
Yes,
for each possesses the divine nature and substance.
Is any of
these three persons older, more powerful, or greater than another?
No;
they are all three, from eternity, equal in power, sublimity, and majesty, and
must therefore be equally adored.
From Whom is
the Father?
From
Himself, before all eternity.
From Whom is
God the Son?
The
Son is begotten of the Father before all ages.
From Whom is
God the Holy Ghost?
He
proceeds from the Father and the Son.
Holy Sunshine and Rain[3]
After the Son revealed His
relation to the Father through Good Friday and Easter, and the Spirit revealed
Himself at Pentecost, the most Holy Trinity can now be fully worshipped.
Though the mystery of the
Holy Trinity is the greatest dogma of the Christian faith and the Feast of the
Holy Trinity one of the beloved annual feasts of Christianity, there are not
many customs or rituals quintessentially associated with this day. It has
always been the custom, however, to keep this day with great reverence and solemnity. Festivals
after Mass featuring thunderous preachers and thunderous bands
aroused their listeners to joyful heights, while Holy Trinity
Confraternities (which were once very influential)
would sponsor special events and devotions on this their name day. Superstition
also ascribed great powers to the weather on Holy Trinity Sunday,
regardless of what it was: "Trinity rain" was considered as healthy
as "Trinity sunshine."
Trinity
Sunday Facts[4]
·
The Nicene Creed and similar Apostle's
Creed often recited during mass for many denominations affirms the Trinity.
The creeds are a profession of faith. The Catholic version of The
Apostle's Creed is:
I believe in God, the Father
Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our
Lord: Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered
under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended
into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven,
is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall
come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the
Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the
resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
·
The Trinity does not explicitly appear in the
Bible. The interpretation and belief in the three-in-one God came out of
several councils in the early church that wrestled with the question of the
divinity of God the Creator, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
·
St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, taught
non-Christians the Trinity with a shamrock.
·
The Orthodox Church celebrates the Trinity in
its Feast of the Pentecost. Pentecost Sunday is sometimes even called
Trinity Day.
Trinity Sunday Top Events and
Things to Do
·
The
Trinity is often described as a holy mystery beyond complete human
understanding. To mark Trinity Sunday, consider other things that are
beyond human understanding, like the universe, or the concept of time never
ending.
·
Listen
to a sermon on Trinity Sunday to see what examples the pastor uses to
illustrate the concept of God in three persons.
·
Johann
Sebastian Bach wrote music to celebrate the Trinity. Listen to one of his
Trinity Sunday cantatas on YouTube.
·
Experience
the Trinity in art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
One painting that depicts this is The Trinity by Italian painter Angulo Gaddi.
Orthodox
Pentecost[5]
Fifty days after the Resurrection,
on the excising Jewish feast of Pentecost, while the disciples and many
other followers of Jesus Christ were gathered together to pray, the Holy Spirit
descended upon them in the form of "cloven tongues of fire," with the
sound of a mighty rushing wind, and they began to speak in languages that they
did not know. There were many visitors from the Jewish diaspora to Jerusalem at
that time for the Jewish observance of the feast, and they were astonished to
hear these untaught fisherman speaking praises to God in their alien tongues.
This account is detailed in the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 2.
The number fifty, as in the fiftieth
day after Pascha, stands for eternal and heavenly fulfillment, seven times
seven, plus one.
Feast of
Pentecost
The Orthodox Church sees Pentecost as
the final fulfillment of the mission of Jesus Christ
and the first beginning of the messianic age of the Kingdom of God, mystically
present in his Church. It is traditionally called the beginning of the One Holy
Catholic and Apostolic Church.
Besides celebrating the coming of the
Holy Spirit, the feast also celebrates the full revelation of the divine Trinity, Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit. Hymns of the Church, celebrate the sign of the final act of God's self-disclosure to the
world of His creation.
To Orthodox Christians, the feast of
Pentecost is not just a celebration of an event in history. It is also a
celebration their membership in the Church. They have lived Pentecost and
received "the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit" in the sacrament of chrismation.
Celebration
of the feast
For the feast of Pentecost the icon of
the Holy Trinity, the three angelic figures who appeared to Abraham, is placed
in the center of the church for veneration. This icon is used with the
traditional Pentecost icon. The church building is decorated with flowers and
the green leaves of the summer to show that God's divine breath comes to renew
all creation. Green vestments and coverings are also used.
In many parishes the feast is
celebrated starting the evening before with Great
Vespers. Some parishes also serve Matins on the morning of the feast before the Divine
Liturgy.
The Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom
with special hymns replacing the standard Antiphons. The
hymns O Heavenly King and We have seen the True Light are sung
for the first time since Easter, calling the Holy Spirit to "come and
abide in us," and proclaiming that "we have received the heavenly
Spirit."
An extraordinary service called the
Kneeling Vespers, is observed on the evening of Pentecost. This is a Vespers
service to which are added three sets of long poetical prayers, the composition
of Saint Basil the Great, during which everyone makes a full prostration,
touching their foreheads to the floor (prostrations in church having been
forbidden from the day of Pascha (Easter) up to this point). In many parishes,
this service is done immediately after the Liturgy.
After
Pentecost
The Monday after Pentecost is the Feast
of the Holy Spirit in the Orthodox Church, and the Sunday after Pentecost
is the Feast of All Saints.
Even though the start of the Church
year is considered to start in September, the liturgical center of the
annual cycle of Orthodox worship is the feast of Pascha, preceded by Great Lent,
and pre-lent,
and followed by the fifty days of paschal celebration until the feast of
Pentecost. Until the start of the next Great Lent, the Sundays and weeks
following Pentecost, are numbered from Pentecost. Liturgical readings and hymns
will be based on the "weeks after Pentecost" as listed in the Octoechos, Apostolos, and
Lectionary arranged Gospel.
Cognac
Day[6]
There are many forms of
distilled alcohol that carry a distinct nobility to them, a bit of culture and
of social grandeur that just can’t
be claimed by other alcohols. When you think of beer, the concepts that arrive
in your mind are often cheap bars and backyard BBQ’s, with wine the themes are the
same but generally of a higher social class. Mention Bourbon, Scotch, and
Cognac, however, and suddenly the rich red of mahogany and distinguished
gentlemen in high-class studies and dens come to mind. Cognac Day is dedicated
to one of these rich beverages, and perhaps one of the most distinguished.
History of Cognac Day
To begin with, let’s talk about what Cognac actually
is. Cognac, in a way, is what happens when wine grows up and develops
character, though we may be biased. Cognac begins with a white wine produced in
one of six designated growing regions, and it’s worth noting that if it wasn’t produced from a white wine grown
in those regions, it’s
not considered a real Cognac. The white wine from which it starts is considered
by most connoisseurs to be entirely undrinkable. There’s a further distinction in which a
Cognac must be produced from 90% Ugni Blanc, a form of white wine grape, to
have a specific designation. It all starts with the grapes being pressed and
left to ferment for three weeks in the wild yeasts that grow naturally in those
regions without the addition of sugar or sulfur. This wine is then distilled in
alembic stills and placed into Limousin oak casks for two years where it goes
from being nearly 70% alcohol to 40% alcohol. There are multiple grades of Cognac, and exploring them can be a great
way to spend Cognac Day.
How to celebrate Cognac Day
Ahhh, this is certainly
one of the grandest celebrations. Cognac Day can be celebrated by taking a trip
to your local liquor store and selecting a few varieties to try out. Get
together a few friends and you can have a positively thrilling taste test with
dozens of varieties to choose from. Cognac is far and away an improvement over
the simply fermented grape, distilled and cultivated down to its ultimate final
form. While you’re
sampling this drink, you should look into the various forms of glassware that
are specially designed for serving Cognac. Fill a glass, take a sip, and savor
the luxuriousness that is Cognac, you won’t
regret it!
Apostolic Exhortation[7]
Veneremur
Cernui – Down in Adoration Falling
of The Most
Reverend Thomas J. Olmsted, Bishop of Phoenix,
to Priests, Deacons, Religious and the Lay Faithful of the Diocese of Phoenix
on the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist
My beloved Brothers and
Sisters in Christ,
Part III
Loving and Adoring the
Eucharistic Lord
I. Make every Sunday the “Day of
the Lord.”
73. Brothers and sisters in
Christ, examine your experience of Sunday. Have you allowed Sunday to be like
the other days of the week? Is the whole day set aside for your rejuvenation in
God, or have you reduced the holiness of the day to an hour or two? Some
persons are indeed required to work on Sunday, which of course is permitted.
But for so many of us, Sunday could be more effectively “kept holy” with even
minimal preparation and foresight.
74. The Saints always love
Sunday and keep it holy. As a young girl, Saint Maria Goretti walked fifteen
miles back and forth to Sunday Mass. Saint Lawrence of Brindisi once walked
forty miles for Mass. In parts of Africa today, for example, some of our
Catholic brothers and sisters walk for long hours to attend Mass. Families,
individuals, and small communities who attempt to be good stewards of the
Lord’s Day quickly discover a treasure which changes their whole experience of
the week. Sunday is no longer just another day. It becomes the day of the
Eucharist. It is the day of encountering the joy of the Risen Lord, who
strengthens, nourishes, and sends them, together, on mission the rest of the
week.
75. Think of the Sunday
Eucharist as the sun which emits rays of warmth and light. If no rays shined
forth, what good would the sun be for life on the earth? Similarly, if no good
effects from Mass are perceptible on Sunday, our eyes become blind to the
goodness and power of the Eucharist. I invite you: be bold in allowing rays of
freedom, joy, and life to burst forth from Mass into the rest of your Sunday!
How might the Lord desire that you allow these rays to shine forth precisely on
Sunday? Here are some simple ideas for you to consider:
·
Choose a set time when you will go to Mass on
Sunday and stick to it.
·
Find ways to make the experience of Sunday Mass
truly joyful and festive, e.g., wear your best clothes, have a wonderful meal
with loved ones afterward, have great music playing at home throughout day,
telephone loved ones, enjoy a clean and renewed home – which means finishing
domestic duties and chores on Saturday, spend time enjoying the Bible, savor
something truly beautiful in nature or art, and perform simple works of
charity.
·
Try to live the Lord’s Day from sunset on
Saturday through Sunday evening.
·
Turn off your phone for extended periods of
Sunday, if not the whole day.
·
If outside obligations threaten your Sunday,
consider talking with your boss, family, or friends to find ways to move those
commitments elsewhere.
To be continued…
Which are the fruits of the Holy Ghost? They are the twelve following:
1. Charity.
2.
Joy.
3. Peace.
4. Patience.
5. Benignity.
6. Goodness.
7. Longsuffering.
8. Mildness.
9. Faith.
10. Modesty.
11.
Continency.
12.
Chastity.
These fruits
should be visible in the Christian, for thereby men shall know that the Holy
Ghost dwells in him, as the tree is known by its fruit.
Notice I have placed the Fruits of the Holy Spirit in stairstep fashion so we may reflect on them seeing that by concentrating on each step of our growth in the spirit we may progress closer and closer to our heavenly Father. Today we will be focusing on the fourth step which is faith.
Catechism of the
Catholic Church
PART ONE: THE PROFESSION OF FAITH
SECTION
ONE-"I BELIEVE" - "WE BELIEVE"
CHAPTER
TWO GOD COMES TO MEET MAN
Article 3 SACRED
SCRIPTURE
I.
Christ - The Unique Word of Sacred Scripture
101 In
order to reveal himself to men, in the condescension of his goodness God speaks
to them in human words: "Indeed the words of God, expressed in the words
of men, are in every way like human language, just as the Word of the eternal
Father, when he took on himself the flesh of human weakness, became like
men."
102
Through all the words of Sacred Scripture, God speaks only one single Word, his
one Utterance in whom he expresses himself completely:
You recall that one and the same Word of God extends
throughout Scripture, that it is one and the same Utterance that resounds in
the mouths of all the sacred writers, since he who was in the beginning God
with God has no need of separate syllables; for he is not subject to time.
103 For
this reason, the Church has always venerated the Scriptures as she venerates
the Lord's Body. She never ceases to present to the faithful the bread of life,
taken from the one table of God's Word and Christ's Body.
104 In
Sacred Scripture, the Church constantly finds her nourishment and her strength,
for she welcomes it not as a human word, "but as what it really is, the
word of God". "In the sacred books, the Father who is in heaven
comes lovingly to meet his children, and talks with them."
Daily Devotions
·
Today in honor of the
Holy Trinity do the Divine Office giving your
day to God. To honor God REST: no shopping after 6 pm Saturday till Monday.
Don’t forget the internet.
·
Unite in the work of the Porters
of St. Joseph by joining
them in fasting: An increase of the faithful
·
Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to the sacred heart of Jesus
· Rosary
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