BLESSED TRINITY: CHAPTER 1: FAITH AND REVELATION
God in Search of Man
“In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation
for our sins.” (1 John 4:10)
God gives us a curious intellect, infinite desire and free will in order to draw us to himself.
Through the Incarnation, God enters the world in order that we can encounter him more
specifically and more fully.
Through Jesus Christ, God invites us into intimate communion with him, to share in the life of
his family, The Holy Trinity.
An Encounter with Jesus Christ
The Apostles had an experience of Christ, and they shared their lives with him.
Over time, their faith and certainty in him grew.
EX: Mk 1:21-34
How does Christ’s Presence Continue in the Church?
1) Through His followers
When a person is baptized, he or she becomes “another Christ.” When they live their Christian
life faithfully, it is possible for people to see Christ in them.
EX: Liz Peralta
EX: Sr. Helen Prejean, Patrick Sonnier, Lloyd LeBlanc
EX: Dr. Elvira Parravicini
EX: Chris Bacich
EX: Jennifer Fulwiler (atheist to Catholic)
EX: Jonathan Fields (Jewish to Catholic)
EX: Anujeet Sareen (Sikh to Catholic)
2) Through the Sacraments
We can truly have a mysterious but real encounter with Christ every time we receive the
sacraments. Christ is objectively present in the sacraments.
The extent to which I encounter and experience Christ in each sacrament will also be affected
by my disposition (my attitude and my openness).
BAPTISM:
EX: Ethiopian in Acts
EX: Jennifer Fulwiler
EUCHARIST:
EX: Scott Hahn
ANOINTING OF THE SICK
3) Through Scripture
The more I have a real experience of Christ in the present, the more scripture will speak to me.
The Church claims that God is present in a particular way in the reading, and especially in the
liturgical proclamation of Scripture, for instance when the Gospel is read during the Mass.
EX: Standing during the Gospel at Mass
EX: Lectio Divina (Praying with Scripture)
Reading (what does the text say?)
Meditation (what does the text say to me?)
Prayer/Response (what do I say to God in response?)
Contemplation (what is God calling me to?)
Action: To what act of love does this lead me?
4) Through Prayer
Liturgical Prayers (individually or in community)
EX: the prayers of the Mass
Memorized Prayers (individually or in community)
EX: Our Father, Hail Mary, Rosary
Spontaneous Prayers
Silent Contemplation
5) Through the Magisterium (Pope and Bishops Guided by the Holy Spirit)
Jennifer Fulwiler: “What if inspiration didn’t stop?”
(Jennifer wondered how you could know which interpretation of the Bible was correct. Catholics
who visited her blog spoke about the Holy Spirit continuing to guide the Pope and Bishops in
leading the Church.)
Early Church: Christians relied upon the Apostles for guidance.
Mt 16:13-20 “You are rock, and on this rock I will build my Church…”
Jn 20:19-23 “Receive the Holy Spirit, whose sins you forgive are forgiven them…”
EX: Council of Jerusalem (see Acts 15:1-35, Galatians 2:1-10)
The First Council of the Church
Peter and the Apostles came together and made an authoritative decision that
you do not have to become Jewish (and be circumcised) in order to follow Christ
in the Church.
The authority Christ gave to his Apostles continues today through Apostolic Succession,
which passes on Christ’s teaching authority to each successive pope, and the bishops united
with him.
The Pope and the Bishops united together is called the Magisterium.
The infallible Word of God as transmitted by Scripture and Tradition has been entrusted to the
living Magisterium of the Church.