Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

05-31-2026Weekly ReflectionFr. Bing Colasito

Christians are baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Before receiving the sacrament, they respond to a three-part question, affirming their belief in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit by saying: "I do." The faith of all Christians is founded on the Trinity (CCC 232). On the Sunday following Pentecost, we celebrate the most central mystery of our faith: the Holy Trinity.

Pope Benedict XVI, in his Apostolic Letter Porta Fidei (Door of Faith), invites us into a deeper relationship with God, explaining that faith opens “a journey of a lifetime.” To profess faith in the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—is to believe in one God who is love: the Father, who in the fullness of time sent His Son for our salvation; Jesus Christ, who through His death and Resurrection redeemed the world; and the Holy Spirit, who continues to guide the Church throughout the centuries as we await the Lord’s glorious return (Porta Fidei, 1).

In his homily, St. Patrick simply illustrated the mystery of the Blessed Trinity to his parishioners by holding up a three-leaved clover. He pointed out that the clover is one yet has three distinct but equal leaves. While this example does not explain the mystery, it serves as a helpful illustration of the One God in Three Divine Persons.

During the time of Abraham and his descendants, God revealed Himself as the one true God, Creator of heaven and earth. The understanding of the Trinity and the existence of three divine persons emerged much later in salvation history with the coming of the Son, Jesus Christ. Yet even before the Word became flesh, the Wisdom of God was described as begotten by God from before the beginning, in creation. In the fullness of time, God revealed Himself as One God in Three Divine Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—an infinite mystery beyond our full understanding.

Jesus desires that we know Him more deeply by understanding Divine Love. In today’s Gospel, He says, “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when He comes, the Spirit of Truth, He will guide you to all truth” (Jn. 16:12-13). People of the Old Covenant believed that to see God meant death (Gen. 16:13). However, Jesus teaches in the Gospel of John that the coming of the Holy Spirit will reveal the truth about God to His disciples—and to us. This is why the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity follows Pentecost. Only through the Holy Spirit can believers begin to comprehend the mystery of the Trinity. Through the Spirit within us, God’s love is poured into our hearts.

The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit surpass us infinitely in knowledge and love. In truth, we have much to learn about love and about living meaningful lives.

What is true love? Trinitarian love is marked by respect, equality, sacrifice, constant outreach, and endless giving. This love grants us patience, courage, assurance, and hope.