The Trinity

Introduction to the Trinity

• What is Monotheism?

- the belief in and worship of only one God
- began with the covenant between God and Abraham
- grew through Abraham, Sarah and their descendants

• Catholic Christians pray "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." This may lead some to think that Catholics worship three Gods, not one.
• Catholics have always affirmed the truth that God is one.

• What is the Trinity?

- comes from the Latin Trinus, meaning "threefold"
- refers to the central mystery of the Christian faith
- Mystery - God exists as a communion of the three distinct and interrelated Divine Persons: Father, Son, Holy Spirit

• The Holy Trinity is a unique and defining trait of Chrisitan faith.
• The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that the Trinity is the Church's "most fundamental and essential teaching" (234) and the central Mystery of our faith, which only God can fully reveal to us.

Many images and analogies throughout our Church's history have tried to bring clarity to this mystery faith.
-According to legend, Saint Patrick used the Shamrock to explain the Trinity. How does the shamrock represent the Trinity?