Saints LightWho Are the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit?
There is one God in three Persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and they live together in perfect love.
Every time we make the Sign of the Cross, we say a big truth about God: in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. That short prayer tells us who God is (CCC 2157).
There is only one God. But in the one God there are three Persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus) and God the Holy Spirit. We call this the Holy Trinity. Trinity means three in one (CCC 253).
The Father is God. The Son is God. The Holy Spirit is God. They are not three gods, and they are not one Person wearing three different masks. They are three real Persons who share one life so completely that they are one God (CCC 254).
This is a mystery. A mystery is something true that is so big our minds can never hold all of it. That is all right. You can love your grandma without understanding everything about her, and you can love God even though He is greater than anything you can picture. St Patrick used a shamrock to help people remember the Trinity, but God is more wonderful than any picture.
Here is the best part. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are a communion of love with no beginning and no end. When you were baptized, it was in their name, and God invited you into that love forever (CCC 232, 234).
Key points
- There is one God in three Persons.
- The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are each truly God.
- The Trinity is a mystery of perfect love.
The Word of God
Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s love, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
Catechism paragraphs for this lesson
- CCC 232
- CCC 234
- CCC 253-254
- CCC 2157
CCC means the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Saints Light teaches it in its own words and never quotes it. Look up any paragraph in a printed copy or at vatican.va. See every lesson by paragraph in the Catechism index.
From the tradition
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Live it this week
Make the Sign of the Cross slowly and carefully before every meal this week. Teach it to a younger brother, sister or cousin, and pray the Glory Be together at bedtime.
Check yourself: three questions
1. How many Gods are there?
- Three
- One
- Two
- As many as people want
Show the answer
One. There is only one God, in three Persons.
2. Who are the three Persons of the Trinity?
- Jesus, Mary and Joseph
- Peter, James and John
- The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit
- God, the angels and the saints
Show the answer
The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The one God is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, the names we say in the Sign of the Cross.
3. What is a mystery in our faith?
- A true thing too big for our minds to hold
- A puzzle with a trick answer
- Something we should never ask about
- A story that is made up
Show the answer
A true thing too big for our minds to hold. A mystery is really true. It is just bigger than our minds, like God Himself.
For catechists: a one hour class plan
Goal. The children will know that there is one God in three Persons and will make the Sign of the Cross with care and love.
Opener. Ask: "What words do we say when we make the Sign of the Cross?" Have everyone make it together very slowly. Then ask: "Whose names did we just say?"
Discussion questions
- Is the Holy Spirit really God, or a helper of God? [The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are each fully God.]
- If something is a mystery, does that mean it is not true? [No. It is true, just bigger than our minds. We can keep learning about it forever.]
- When did you first receive the name of the Trinity? [At Baptism, with water and the words Jesus gave in Matthew 28:19.]
- How can a family show love a little like the Trinity? [By sharing, forgiving, being together. Remind them that no picture of God is perfect.]
Activity. Trinity triangle: give each child a paper triangle. At the three corners they write Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and in the middle they write One God. They decorate the corners with a hand (the Father who made us), a cross (Jesus) and a dove or flame (the Holy Spirit). Then practice the Sign of the Cross and the Glory Be together, slowly and reverently.
Closing prayer. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Thank You, God, for inviting us into Your love.
Timing. Welcome and Sign of the Cross 5 min, Sign of the Cross opener 5 min, read the lesson aloud 10 min, discussion 10 min, Trinity triangle 15 min, memory verse 5 min, quiz together 5 min, closing prayer 5 min.
Related lessons
- Who Is God? The Trinity (Start Here, free)
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