Ideas on Trinity for Renew

The theme for the first week of Renew 2000 is "The Trinity: A Relationship of Love." The Evangelist provides the following discussion-starters, ideas for reflection and prayer, and thought-provokers to aid participants in making the most of their Renew experience.

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"If we truly believe in the Trinity, then we will accept that mutual relationships are at the heart of our live together as human beings." -- from the Renew faith-sharing booklet.

"Tell me how it is that in this room there are three candles and but one light, and I will explain to you the mode of the divine existence." -- John Wesley.

"From the beginning, the revealed truth of the Holy Trinity has been at the very root of the Church's living faith, principally by means of Baptism. It finds its expression in the rule of baptismal faith, formulated in the preaching, catechesis, and prayer of the Church. Such formulations are already found in the apostolic writings, such as this salutation taken up in the Eucharistic liturgy: 'The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.'" -- from The Catechism of the Catholic Church.

"There are a variety of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of ministries, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of workings, but the same God, who works all things in all." -- St. Paul, 1 Cor 12:4-6.

"Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." -- Jesus, Mt 28:19.

"The formulation 'one God in three persons' was not solidly established, certainly not fully assimilated into Christian life and its profession of faith, prior to the end of the fourth century." -- from the New Catholic Encyclopedia.

"Thou unbegotten God, the Sire,/and Thou, the sole-begotten Son/who, with the Spirit's sacred fire,/art everlasting, three in one." -- St. Hilary of Poitiers.

"In the Father resides unity, in the Son equality, and in the Holy Spirit the perfect union of unity and equality. These three qualities are all one because of the Father, all equal because of the Son, and all united because of the Holy Spirit." -- St. Augustine.

"How can plurality consist with unity, or unity with plurality? To examine the fact closely is rashness; to believe it is piety; to know it is life, and life eternal." -- St. Bernard.

(10-01-98) [[In-content Ad]]