Trinity Sunday–What is the Trinity?

What is Trinity Sunday?
When I sat down to write about Trinity Sunday I forgot what a HUGE topic this is. How can I explain Trinity Sunday without explaining the trinity? The Trinity is a basic tenant of the Catholic faith. We believe in ONE God but how is it THREE persons?
Theologians and philosophers have written volumes on this exact subject. What made me think that I could write something concise and easy to read on about the Trinity? I feel like the best place to turn to this answer is the Nicene Creed. The Nicene Creed was written by the first ecumenical council in the city of Nicaea in  the year 325. The Nicene Creed was originally written in response to the Arian controversy. Arius , a Libyan priest, had declared that although Jesus Christ was divine, God had actually created him, and "he was made out of nothing."This made Jesus less than the Father and contradicted the doctrine of the Trinity. 
Many Catholics pray this same prayer, some daily, most at least at Sunday Mass. But have you ever stopped to think about what it really means?


Nicene Creed

• We believe in one God,
• the Father, the Almighty,
• maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen.
• We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
•  the only Son of God,
•  eternally begotten of the Father,
• God from God,
• Light from Light,
• true God from true God,
• begotten, not made, one in being with the Father.
•  Through Him all things were made.
• For us men and our salvation He came down from heaven:
• by the power of the Holy Spirit, He was born of the Virgin Mary , and became man.
• For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day He rose again in fulfillment of the scriptures:
• He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
• He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
• We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
• who proceeds with the Father and the Son.
• With the Father and the Son, He is worshiped and glorified.
• He has spoken through the Prophets.
• We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

So next time you recite this prayer, stop and really listen to what you are saying. As Catholics this is our Profession of Faith, what we believe.

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