The Triune God, Mission and Prayer

Music is a way of expressing deep things about God, things that are beyond description in words.

Vatican 2 describes music as 'a treasure of inestimable value' and says that music is the highest form of art to praise God.

According to Vatican 2 document, music:

• Helps praise God.
• Unites people in praise.
• Increases the beauty of worship.
• Helps people feel more involved in prayer.

Saint Augustine: 'For he who sings praise, does not only praise,but also praises joyfully.'

Why music is a good form of prayer:

• It is evocative - it inspires thoughts and emotions.
• Expresses joy.
• Unites people.

Psalms

• Biblical hymns and poems that express joy, repentance, sorrow, praise and love put to music.
• Praise God but also touches on all aspects of life.
• A book in the Old Testament containing 150 pieces of poetry that are sometimes set to music.
• They form the backbone of the Divine Office in the Catholic Church - every priest, monk and nun has to recite it.
• Pslams acknowledge that everything people have comes from God and without God we are nothing.
• Singing for joy is one of the recurring themes of the psalms.

Plainchant or Gregorian Chant 

• Chanted with voices alone (not instruments.)
• Used to sing Divine Office in Latin. 
• Often used in monastries.
• Soothing and evokes an air of mystery. 

Traditional hymns

• Used in devotional services such as Benediction, Processions and for the Christmas season. 
• Organ led. 
• Hymns that have been used for a long tim.
• Often has several verses which expresses some aspect of Catholic belief and a reason to praise God, such as the incarnation at Christmas.
• They can contain deep meanings and sometimes are very poetic. 

Contemporary worship songs

• After Vatican 2, there was a new emphasis on people being more personally involved in the Mass.
• Modern intruments and upbeat tunes.

Some sections of the Mass can be sung with instrumental music accompanying - mass settings. 

These short pieces of music, or chants, emphasise certain sections and their importance: 

Kyrie Eleison - the 'Lord have mercy.'

• Helps us to acknowledge our failings and seek forgiveness from God. 

Gloria - the 'Glory to God' hymn of praise. 

• Based on hymns of angels at Jesus' birth. 
• Hymn of praise to God - air of thankfulness.
• Not use during Advent and Lent.

Alleluia - this is just before the Gospel is read.

• Hebrew - praise God.
• Not sung during Lent.
• Sung three times on the night before Easter.

Sanctus - the 'Holy, Holy, Holy' in the Eucharistic prayer. 

• Means holy.
• Sung before the Eucharistic prayer.
• Based on vision of angels crying holy,holy,holy to God.
• Three times symbolises completely holy.
• Reminds us of the trinity - three persons in one God.

Doxology - 'Through him, and with him and in him' at the end of the Eucharistic prayer. 

Agnus Dei - 'Lamb of God' just before receiving Communion.

• Sung as blessed bread is broken. 
• Reminds us to give praise to Jesus. Whole death is sacrifice for the sins of the world. 

The Mystery of Faith

• Immediately after bread and wine have become Jesus.
• Public proclamation of acceptance that all Jesus died for us has been made present to us.
• Should be powerful.

The Great Amen

• Closes the eucharistic (thanksgiving) prayer.
• Everyone says 'amen' (so be it) in agreement.
• Great prayer of praise to the Trinity. 

Eucharistic acclamations - short statements of faith made by people in the Eucharistic prayer which otherwise is said by the priest. They help to highlught certain parts of the music and to draw out the meaning.

• The Kyries speak of mercy and the mass begins with penitence, saying sorry for sins.
• The gospel reading has a chant of 'Alleluia' to mark it out as special as it is the words and deeds of Jesus.
• The Sanctus is based upon the hymn of the angels in heaven, showing that God is present among the people.
• The Agnus Dei is a reminder that Jesus is present in the consecrated bread and wine, the 'Lamb of God' who died to forgive sins.

• Christians only believe in one God, however they also believe that God is made up of three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. 
• The idea of God as a trinity is a central belief and mystery of the Christian belief.
• The Catechism states that is 'is the central mystery of Christian faith and life.' 
• In the Shema (hear), we learn the Lord our God is one God.
• The word trinity means unity of three.
• The trinity is also referred to as the triune God. 
• The trinity was present at Jesus' baptism. 
• The trinity is involved with us.
• The trinity was present at creation.

One symbol for the trinity is the Triquetra. 

• Petrichoresis - inter -penetration within the Trinity, Father is in the Son who is in the Spirit. 

Nicene Creed - comes from latin word, credo: I believe.

• Nicene Creed made at the Council of Nicea in 325 AD. 
• It was slightly modified at another Church council in Istanbul. 
• Now known as the Nicene-Constantantinopolitan Creed. 

It describes the Father as: 

• One.
• Father.
• Almighty.
• Creator.

The Son as:

• Consubstantial with the Father.
• True God from True God.
• Begotten, not made.
• Only son of God. 

The Holy Spirit as:

• Lord, giver of life.
• Proceeds from Father and Son.
• Worshipped equally to Father and Son.
• Spoke through Prophets. 

The Catechism states: 'The Trinity is One. We do not confess three Gods, but one God in three persons.'

Images of trinity:

• Three-leafed clover.
• Liquid water, steam and ice.

Christian understanding of God as three in one can be found in Scripture:

Deuteronomy:

• Teaches that God is one. 
• Catholics believe there is one God, not several, though the one God is made up of three persons: 'Hear O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord.'

Matthew:

• Describes baptism of Jesus. It also talks about the other persons of the Trinity.
• Describes the Spirit of God descending like a dove. 
• It describes the Father's voice coming from heaven.
• It shows a clear belief in the Trinity.

Galatians:

• One of St Paul's letters shows belief in the Trinity. 
• St Paul teaches that God sends the Spirit of his Son into the hearts of believers.

• 'Because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our heats, crying 'Abba! Father!'

Christian belief in the Trinity has influenced how they understand this passage from Genesis that describes God's creation of the world:

• The passage in Genesis 1 describes the Spirit being involved with Creation 'moving over the face of the waters.'
• God the Father brings things into being with his Word, by ordering things to happen. Another title for Jesus, the Son, is the Word.

Christians believe that the opening words of the Bible support belief in the trinity.

The first encyclical of Pope Benedict XVI was Deus Caritas Est, 'God is Love.'

Pope Benedict spoke about trinity.

He made the following points in Deus Caritas Est:

• The love of God is poured out in the Church by the Holy Spirit, and then should be poured out in the world.
• This involves caring for people, the poor and seeking peace.
• Catholics think of God as outgoing, giving love to all, and so the Church should also reflect this by its mission and evangelisaton, going out to help others and to teach about Christ. 

Mission:

• On the day of Pentecost, the disciples were filled with the spirit.
• They went out on the streets to preach about Jesus
• Jesus had been sent by the Father.
• People believed and so the Church was born. 

• Before He left the Earth, Jesus sent His disciples to preach and baptise in the name of the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit. 
• Baptism invites us into the Christian family within the life of the Trinity and a community of love.

The Church's reason for existance is to communicate God's love and the love of the trinity.

The Catechism teaches that the mission of the Church is the same as the mission of Jesus: to show the love of the Father through the power of the Holy Spirit. Belief in the trinity is therefore central to the existence of the Church and its mission. 

In a sense, the incarnation continues tin the Word and the sacraments. God's love, shown in the actions of the Church, helps, challenges and transforms people facing the pain and hostility that can be in the world.

Care for people in this life is important as well as preparing them for the next in Catholic belief.

By 'make disciples' Jesus meant baptising in the name of the Trinity and teaching the Gospel. 

God is creator but the trinity also shared in the act of creation.

• Father creates but is not alone in his creative act.
• The Father creates by his Word.
• God the Son is the Word, active in creation and made human form for us in Bethlehem. 
• He comes forth from the Father but it is distinct from Him.
• The spirit of God or wind from God is also present.
• The word ru-ach in Hebrew means breath/spirit/wind.
• The presence of the Holy Spirit is also involved.

God the Father, through God the Son (the word of God), creates the universe through the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Scripture 

Catholic belief about the Trinity comes from references to the three persons of the Trinity in the Bible, althoughthe term Trinity is never used:

Mark: an account of the baptism of Jesus, whereby the persons of the Trinity are present:

• Jesus the Son is baptised by John.
• The heavens split open and the Holy Spirit comes down like a dove.
• The voice of the Father is heard coming from heaven.

Galatians: one of St Paul's letters.

• Teaches about God sending the Spirit of his Son into the hearts of believers so that they are not servants, but sons and can say 'Abba,' an intimate name for Father.
• And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba!Father!' 

The Trinity is seen by Christians as an example of the love of God in action, as the persons give themselves to each other perfectly and reach out with that love to the world.

St Augustine

• St Augustine in the fifth century described the Trinity as a great mystery.
• He argued that for love to exist there must be three parts, just like there are three parts of the trinity: the lover, the beloved (the person who is loved) and the love that binds them.
• The Trinity contains all three parts. 
• St Augustine believed that the love that unites the Trinity also flowed out in to the world to Christians.
• He saw the Father as giving the gift of unity, the Son the gift of equality and the Spirit as the gift of harmony. 
• He wrote about the inner life of the Trinity, what is known as the immanent Trinity. 
• This was his emphasis but he implied that the love of the Trinity was expressed outwards too.

Catherine LaCugna:

• Theologian of the twentieth century.
• She thought that too much focus had been put on the inner workings of the Trinity and that instead, we should try and understand God from what he has done in the world - his actions.
• She believes that the Son coems from God and the Holy Spirit is what binds them together.
• God sent Jesus to earth (the incarnation) to die and be resurrected to restore human beings' relationship with God. 
• He also sends the Holy Spirit to guide and inspire Christians.
• These are acts of love.
• LaCugna places emphasis on the external working of the Trinity, acting in the world. 

Similarities:

• Both believe that God is love and that this love is not a static thing but constantly flowing out to humanity.

Differences:

• Augustine focuses on the internal relationship of love between the persons of the Trinity.
• Catherine LaCugna focuses on how God's love is shown in his outward actions towards humankind.

• The Pope is seen as the successor of St Peter by the Catholic Church, and the bishops of the apostles. Peter was appointed to govern the Church and the apostles were promised the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
• Because the Pope and bishops are believed to have succeeded from the Apostles, it is believed that they have the authority to make decisions about Church doctrine - this is the Magesterium.
• Conciliar magesterium is when the pope and bishops come together to work out doctrine in councils.

Two councils (gathering of all the bishops with the Pope) have been particularly important in determining Church doctorine on the Trinity:

• Council of Nicea - In 325 they met to discuss whether Jesus was equal to God. The council concluded that Jesus was fully divine and eternal - equal to God the Father. It also made belief in the Holy Spirit central to the faith.

• Council of Constantinople - In 381 at Constantinople another council was held. The council confirmed that the Holy Spirit was fully God, and the third part of the Trinity.
• The Nicea-Constantinople Creed (or Nicene Creed) is a statement of faith that was created and finalised in these two councils. 

Baptism - a sacrament that was established by Jesus when he instructed his disciples to baptise others:

• It is the sacrament that signals entry, or initiation, into the Catholic Church.
• In the Catholic Church babies are usually baptised, but you can be baptised at any age.
• Infant given a candle - we receive the light of Christ and become the light for others.
• The priest will baptise people with the words: 'In the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.'
• Water is used to symbolise a cleansing and washing away of original sin (inherited from Adam) and people are reborn into a new life with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It also symbolises new life. 

We are baptised in the name of the Trinity and so through our baptism, we are brought into/joined with/linked to the life of God.

Prayer 

The Catechism describes prayer as the 'raising of one's mind and heart to God.' Prayer involves setting aside some time to speak to God.

Prayer can contain different aspects such as:

• Adoration - showing deep love and respect for God.
• Thanksgiving - saying thank you to God.
• Repentence - saying sorry to God.
• Intercession - asking God to help others.
• Petition - asking God to help the worshipper.

Linking this with belief in the Trinity, Christians believe that the Spirit helps them to pray, through Jesus Christ and to the Father. 

The three are all of a piece, a sublime unity, helping, allowing and hearing our prayer.

It is not important how people pray, but that they do. There are different sorts of prayer that might be used at different times:

• Traditional prayer - a prayer with set words that has been used over a long time. Familiar words that can be recited easily can bring comfort and help focus the mind on God.
• Spontaneous prayer - praying using your own words, people often feel they have been inspired by the Holy Spirit. People can use their own words to express themselves and this can help them feel a more personal connection to God. 

Walking

• Shows person wants God to be with them in all the events of the day in every step they take.
• Prayer should be an on-going action.
• Prayer walking through villages.
• God is with us wherever we go. 

Arms raised

• A sign of praise and acceptance of all God will sned.
• Offering self to God.

Knees

• Respect.
• God is above us. 
• Submissive to the will of God.
• Acknowledges God is the position of authority.
• Asking for forgiveness.

Hands together 

• Symbolises direction of prayer.

Prostrating 

• Self sacrifice and humility.
• Lie flat on ground with face.
• Shows belief that everything comes from God - people are nothing without God.
• Pleading for help and mercy.
• Giving themselves to God.

Bowing 

• Respect for God.
• Show they receive God and acknowledges him to be great.
• Praise to God.

1. Glossolalia -

• Speaking in tongues, a language not learnt or understood by speaker but links them  with God. 

2. Starting/ending prayer with 'in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit'/'in Jesus'     name'/'through Christ our Lord.'

3. Rosary

• Beads divided into five mysteries.
• Each group has ten beads.
• Cross represents Jesus' sacrifice.
• Each bead is a different story in Jesus' life - Helps Christians remember Jesus' life. 

4. Cross/Crucifix

• Jesus' sacrifice.
• Help focus our thoughts on the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus.

5. Icon

• 2D blocks of wood.
• Representations of Jesus/Mary/Saints.
• Reminders of life/example of person portrayed by them.

6. Bible

• Christians often use words of Jesus when they say prayers.

7. Statues

• Some Christians pray to saints for help.
• Inspires Christians to be like them.

• Finding yourself.
• Questioning.
• Concern.
• Escapism.
• Priorities.
• Answering.
• Joy.
• Communicating.
• Release.
• Wholeness.
• Meditating.
• Giving thanks.
• Commitment.
• Seeking help.