The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 13:1-11 Lauds on Ordinary Days
Mass: Pr 8:22-31; Resp Ps 8; Rm 5:1-5; Jn 16:12-15

O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!

It was in the first class I took on liturgy that the teacher, dear Fr Paschal of happy memory, asked each student to write down his or her favorite or most loved signs used during the liturgy. I remember writing "the sign of the cross" at the top of my list. And it was Fr Paschal who taught us that when we sign ourselves with the Sign of the Cross to make it big and deliberate, not small, in haste, or as if the sign had no significance. To this day, when I "sign" myself, I "SIGN" myself. 

As we celebrate this Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, we might think about what it means when we sign ourselves with the Sign of the Cross. This is what our Catechism teaches: "Christians begin their day, their prayers, and their activities with the Sign of the Cross: 'in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.' The baptized person dedicates the day to the glory of God and calls on the Savior's grace which lets him or her act in the Spirit as a child of the Father. The sign of the cross strengthens us in temptations and difficulties" (CCC 2157). The Sign of the Cross is a prayer. In fact, in another class, we began each session with the Sign of the Cross. The Sign of the Cross is our strength so that we, with St Paul boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN.

WHEN HE COMES, THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, HE WILL GUIDE YOU TO ALL TRUTH.

The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity tells us that we do not have a solitary God up there in heaven, far away; no, He is the Father who gave us His Son, who became man like us, and who sends His own Spirit to be even closer to us.

(Pope Francis, Twitter, June 16, 2019)

NB. Today's photo of a very special flower, red columbine!