FEAST 01' THE KOST BOL Y TRINITY,

stand, and glory in the hope of the glory of the sons of God.
And not only so; but we glory also in tribulations, knowing
that tribulation worketh patience, and patience trial; and trial
hope, and hope confoundeth not: because the charity of God
is poured forth in our hearts, by the Holy Ghost_Who is given to
us.
GOSPEL. L'IJJ&8 iv. 88-44.
At that time: Jesus rising up out of the synagogue, went
into Simon's house. And Simon's wife's mother was taken with
a great fever, and they besought Him for her. And standing
over her, He commanded the fever, and it left her. And imme­
diately rising, she ministered to them. And when the sun was
down, all they that had any sick with divers dis:eases, brought
them to Him. But Ile laying His hands on every one of them,
healed them. And devils went out from many, crying out and
saying : Thou art the Son of God. And rebuking them, He
suffered them not to speak, for they knew that He was Christ.
And when it was day, going out He went into a desert place,
and the multitudes sought Him, and came unto Him: and they
detained Him that He should not depart from them. To whom
He said: To other cities also I must preach tl1e kingdom of God:
for therefor am I sent. And He was preaching in the synagogues
of Galilee,

Yeast of tbe most t,olp 1trtntt)1.

E VERY 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 funda­
mental 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 sub­
�tance of Hii. nature.
 Jli8T OJ' TJIB 11:0BT HOLY TRINITY. 161
9. The mystery of the Blessed Trinity, though incompre-
hensible .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 Ma.as, '' Blessed be the Holy Trinity and undivided
Unity; we will give glory to !Lim, because He hath shown His
mercy to us. 0 Lord,· our Lord, how wonderful is Thy name
in all the earth." Glory be to the Father, etc.

Prayer.
0 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. Through Jesus
Christ
, our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE. Rom. xi. SS--86.
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and of the knowl-
edge of God I How incomprehensible are His judgments, and
how unsearchable His ways I For who hath known the mind of
the Lord? Or who ha.th 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, a.re all things: to Him be
glory forever. Amen.

E»planation.
The ground of St. Paul's admiration in this epistle is the un-
fathomable wisdom and love of God, by which He permitted
the Jews and heathen to fall into unbelief, that He might have
mercy on a.11, 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 admi-
ration for the greatness of the mystery of the a.II Holy Trinity.
Though we can neither measure nor comprehend this mystery,
yet no man of sound reason will hesitate to believe it, if he con-
252 FEAST OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY.

siders 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 understand
ing 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.
 FEAST OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY. 253

What command does Our Saviour 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 out
ward 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
254 JfIRS'l' Btr:NDA.Y APTER PBNTBCOB'l'.

the parents should die, or neglect their duty, the god-parents

may provide for the instruction of the children. 8. They a.re
witnesses that such a person has been baptized.
THE KOST BLESSED TRINITY.
Who is God?
God is an infinite being, of all possible perfections, the most
snblime 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
exis�ence and life, '' for of Him, and by Him, and in Him are
all things " (Rom. xi. 86).
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, sub-
limity, 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 fro� the Father and the Son.