V6M@PSUVM.BITNET (01/29/85)
From:
"A Catechism of Christian Doctrine
The Illustrated Revised edition of
Baltimore Catechism No. 2"
Published by W.H.Sadler
Imprimatur and Nihil Obstat Feb. 25,1965
The Baltimore Catechism was the commonly used in various editions from the
first to the eigth grades in Catholic elementary schools. (I used it).
Try to keep this in mind when I quote.
St. Augustine: "You can never empty the ocean into that hole."
Little Boy: "neither can you understand all about the Blessed Trinity."
Little Boy then vanishes.
Begining quotes and paraphrase:
1. There is only one God.
2. In God there are three Divine Persons- The Father the Son and the Holy Ghost
.
3. The Father is God and the First Person of the Blessed Trinity.
4. The Son is God and the second Person of the blessed Trininty.
5. The Holy Ghost is God and the third Person of the Blessed Trinity.
6. By the Blessed Trinity we mean one and the same God in three Divine Persons.
7. The three Divine Persons are really DISTINCT from one another.
Now comes the problem of mystery and contradiction folks. Get ready Rich Rosen
.... :-)
8. The Three Divine Persons are perfectly equal to one another because all are
ONE AND THE SAME GOD!! (no this is not the same as attributes or sub-produc
ts of fussion..heat light and radiation...
but neither is the shamrock a perfect analogy)
9. The three Divine Persons, though really distinct from one another, are one
and the same GOD because all have one and the SAME Divine nature.
(I told you that it was hard).
10. We cannot rewally understand this because it is a supernatural mystery.
11. A supernatural mystery is a TRUTH which we cannot fully understand, but
which we firmly believe because we have God's word for it.
Yet More...
"Cathechism of Christian Doctrine No. 4. printed 1921.
This was intended for high school usage.
12. We can know this mystery only by divine Revelation.
(leaves you out Rich...Sorry :-) )
13. They are not three Gods but one and the same God, because they have one and
the same divine nauture and substance (philosophic substance).
14. The three divine persons are equal in all things.
15. Discussing the personal properties of each:
The Father proceeds from no one, but is the principle of the other two.
The Son is begotten of the father. The Holy Ghost proceeds from the other
two.
16. Which operations distinguish them?
The generation of the Word and the procession of the Holy Ghost.
For all ages, the father begets the Son Who is His (Father's) Word, His Wis
dom and the image of His substance. For all ages the Father and the Son
produce the Holy Spirit, Who is the term of their mutual love.
17. The three Divine Persons concur equally in these operations, although
creation is ascribed to the Father, redememption to the Son (even though
He alone became man and died for us) and sanctification to the Holy Ghost.
18. (This is going to make Rosen's night :-) )
The mystery of the Trinity is not contrary to reason it is ABOVE reason.
This is summarized in both the Nicene and the Apostles' Creeds. I believe
the Episcopal Church agrees as we do on the Trinity. Correct me and I will
ask my one Episcopal Friend to research it. ( I'm sure you will Rich).
Please don't ask me to elaborate on the above. I gave up trying to
understand the duality of matter and energy, which is child's play in
comparison to the Trinity. I will be happy to research other explanations
but they will NOT make it any easier on you. You see Divine Revelation of the
Mystery only tells you of the Mystery. Only on meeting God will the Trinity
"explain" it to you. But by then it will be obvious as you stand in front of
the Beatific Vision.
Do I believe it? Yes.
Do I understand it? No.
Am I upset about it? No.
Will Rosen convince me of the foolishness of believing in something which
seems contradictory to reason? Nah.
Is Rosen going to understand the Trinity. No. by definition he can't.
(boy will he be mad :-) )
Am I going to change Rosen's mind on anything? I doubt it.
Most importanly was I TRYING to change anyone's mind? (read my lips Rich).
No. I was just quoting material which explains the Trinity from the
Catholic position.