The fundamental inspiration of Father Pierre Bienvenu Noailles was to perceive the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph as “the gentle image of the Trinity and seed of the Church”. For him as for every believer, the mystery of the most Holy Trinity is “the” ineffable, unknowable mystery that can only be communicated through the incarnation of God’s Son, Jesus of Nazareth, Son of Mary and “known also as Son of Joseph”.
FOR THE FEAST POF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY
The fundamental inspiration of Father Pierre Bienvenu Noailles was to perceive the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph as “the gentle image of the Trinity and seed of the Church”. For him as for every believer, the mystery of the most Holy Trinity is “the” ineffable, unknowable mystery that can only be communicated through the incarnation of God’s Son, Jesus of Nazareth, Son of Mary and “known also as Son of Joseph”.
This mystery of the Trinity, of the unity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit can only be approached on one’s knees, that is to say in an attitude of loving adoration, where words fail and love blossoms. This is the only attitude which enables us to enter into communion with the intimate life of God in Three Persons, from whence all life springs forth – a life that “permeates the whole universe and has been evident throughout the entire history of Salvation” (R.P.C. nº 167).
Sometimes we speak of this unprecedented mystery as if we had certain knowledge of it. But we know that this mystery is beyond all understanding. And yet it is the fundamental mystery of our Christian life, a mystery that is the origin of our Baptism and of our identity as children of God.
A Jewish man who became a Christian and then a Jesuit priest said once to a confrere, also a Jesuit: “You do not know how significant it is for me to believe in a God who is one and Three. The traditional Jewish profession of faith says: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, is ONE. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” (Deut, 6, 4). The use of the expression: “the Lord is ONE” affirms that the God of Israel cannot be divided or multiplied”. His Jesuit confrere, in his turn was struck by the unbelievable greatness of the mystery of the Incarnation of the only Son of God. It is Jesus, the Word made flesh who reveals God to us; and it is the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the Father and the Son who enables us to enter into communion with the One God in three Persons.
For us believers, the Mystery of the Trinity is inaccessible. And the danger for long-standing Christians is to speak of the Trinity with a “facility” and an “understanding” that can perhaps lead us to ask ourselves what it is that we really understand. The most humble of believers may perhaps be greater than learned people, even though the latter may be theologians or experienced exegetes. All must fall to their knees before this sublime mystery and adore. In writing to the Romans, Paul says: “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. “ (Rom. 10, 9). And to the Galatians he says:”But when the set time had fully come, God sent God’s Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption as God’s children. Because you are God’s children, God sent the Spirit of God’s Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are God’s child, God has made you also an heir.” (4, 4-7).
The feast of the Most Holy Trinity is also the feast of our adoption as God’s sons and daughters in Jesus the only begotten son. Hence we are filled with gratitude and our faith is renewed in this great act of the love of God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Far from being sad because we do not understand this mystery, we should rejoice and give thanks for what it means for us humans: to be sons and daughters of God, and we should proclaim it with our lives by giving ourselves in love to this God who “loved us first” (1 John: 4,19).
Françoise Daigneault