The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

Jubilee Holy Year 2025: Pilgrims of Hope

June is the month dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus 

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

JOSEPH, FOSTER FATHER OF THE SON OF GOD,

SAINT JOSEPH, THE JUST,

MARY, MOTHER OF GOD,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

HEART OF JESUS, 

DESIRE OF THE ETERNAL HILLS,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

I believe in one God,

the Father almighty,

maker of heaven and earth,

of all things visible and invisible ...

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,

the Only Begotten Son of God,

born of the Father before all ages.

God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father ...

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,

who has spoken through the prophets.

(The Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed)

Welcome to the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Three in One, One in Three. So important for us, this mystery of our faith, for as our Catechism teaches, "the mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is the central mystery of the Christian faith and life. It is the mystery of God in himself. It is therefore the source of all other mysteries of faith, the light that enlightens them. It is the most fundamental and essential teaching" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 234). It is no wonder that our holy father Saint Benedict tells us that "as soon as the cantor begins to sing, 'Glory be to the Father,' let all the monks rise from their seats in honor and reverence for the Holy Trinity" (RB 9:7). We pray with Saint Joannicus of Mount Olympus (d. 846): "My hope is the Father, my refuge is the Son, my shelter is the Holy Spirit. O Holy Trinity, glory to you."

At the same time, we celebrate Father's Day, a day when we remember all fathers, biological, spiritual, foster, adoptive, all of them. May Saint Joseph, husband and father, intercede for them. Don't forget to pray for priests, and specifically thank the priest of your parish, for his faithful service as father and shepherd of his flock. Thank you to all priests. May Saint John Marie Baptiste Vianney intercede for you. We join Pope Saint John Paul II who prayed,

I would like to invoke the heavenly protection of Saint Joseph on all fathers and their duties in family life ... By concretely fulfilling their responsibilities, may each of them reflect God's provident and faithful love. May we obtain this through Saint Joseph and Blessed Mary, Queen of the family and Mother of the Church.

Amen.

And we hear from others, some with something to say about the Holy Trinity, others with something to say about fathers, and the priesthood too. Just remember to sign yourself big, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

When we cross ourselves, let it be with a real sign of the cross. Instead of a small, cramped gesture that gives no notion of its meaning, let us make a large unhurried sign, from forehead to breast, from shoulder to shoulder, consciously feeling how it includes the whole of us, our thoughts, our attitudes, our body and soul, every part of us at once. How it consecrates and sanctifies us.

(Romano Guardini, 1885-1968, Sacred Signs, p. 9)

The sign of the CROSS on me-deepest thoughts came with it-of I know not what earnest desires to be closely united with Him who died on it.

(Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, 1774-1821)

O my Three, my all, my beatitude, infinite solitude, immensity in which I lose myself ... Bury yourself in me that I may bury myself in you until I depart to contemplate in your life the abyss of your greatness.

(Saint Elizabeth the Trinity, 1880-1906) 

The Feast of the most Holy Trinity leads us to contemplate the mystery of God who unceasingly creates, redeems and sanctifies, always with love and through love, and enables every creature that welcomes Him to reflect a ray of His beauty, goodness and truth.

(Pope Francis, 1936-2025, Angelus Address, May 27, 2018)

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on the faithful.

(Psalm 103:13)

Like a fruitful vine

 your wife within your home, 

Like olive plants

your children around your table.

Just so will they be blessed

who fear the Lord.

(Psalm 128:5-6)

Father of the fatherless, defender of widows-

this is the God whose abode is holy.

(Psalm 68:6)

See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called children of God. Yet so we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.

(1 John 3:1)

If I were to become a priest, I would like to win many souls.

The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus.

(Saint John Marie Baptiste Vianney, 1786-1589)

BLESSED PETER SNOW AND RALPH GRIMSTON,

SAINT RICHARD OF CHICHESTER,

ALL SAINTS OF SCOTLAND,

SAINT LUTGARD,

SAINT JOHN FRANCIS REGIS,

BLESSED JOSEPH-MARIE CASSANT,

SAINT BOTOLPH,

SAINT OSANNA ANDREASI,

SAINT ALBERT CHMIELOWSKI,

VENERABLE MATT TALBOT,

SAINT ROMUALD,

SAINTS ALBAN, JULIUS AND AARON,

THE IRISH MARTYRS,

SAINT ALOYSIUS GONZAGA,

SAINT JOHN RIGBY,

SAINT JOHN FISHER,

SAINT THOMAS MORE,

SAINT PAULINUS OF NOLA,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: These beauties are a gift from meine liebe Moni in Freiburg, Germany. Glory to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; to God who is, who was, and who is to come. Alleluia.

© Gertrude Feick, 2025

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

Year of the Family "Amoris Laetitia The Joy of Love"

World Day Against Child Labor

In other years: Saint Onuphrius (d.400); Blessed Alphonsus Mazurek and Companions (19th-20th century); Blessed Hilary Januszewski (1907-1945); 

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 9 The Number of Psalms at the Night Office 

Mass: Pr 8:22-31; Resp Ps 8; Rom 5:1-5; Jn 16:12-15 

O Lord, Our God, how wonderful Your name in all the earth!

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

PRAY FOR US.

Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through Our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the glory of God.

(Rm 5:1-2)

So fitting that we are presented with Saint Benedict's Chapter 9 on this Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. It is there that we read our holy father Benedict's instructions: "As soon as the cantor begins to sing 'Glory be to the Father,' let all the monks rise from their seats in honor and reverence for the Holy Trinity" (Rule of Saint Benedict, 9:7). Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us. 

You, who are three in one substance, the one God,

from whom we are,

by whom we are,

in whom we are,

You, from whom we departed by sinning,

to whom we were made unlike,

but away from whom we have not been allowed to perish,

You, the beginning, to whom we are returning,

the pattern we are following,

the grace by which we are reconciled,

You, we worship and bless!

To You, be glory for ever! Amen.

(William of St. Thierry, 1085-1148, On Contemplating God)

SAINT ONUPHRIUS,

BLESSED ALPHONSUS MAZUREK AND COMPANIONS,

BLESSED HILARY JANUSZEWSKI,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: On the prowl for something trinitarian in nature, I wasn't able to find exactly what I was looking for. These wild irises reveal much beauty in their trinitarian characteristics. When I behold your heavens, the work of your fingers.

© Gertrude Feick 2022

Tuesday of the Twenty-Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

Year of the Family "Amoris Laetitia The Joy of Love"

Saints: Saint Wilfrid (634-709); Blessed Jan Beyzym (1850-1912); Our Lady of Aparecida (Brazil) 

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 9 The Number of Psalms at the Night Office

Mass: Rm 1:16-25; Resp Ps 19; Lk 11:37-41

The heavens proclaim God's glory.

HOLY TRINITY, ONE GOD,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

We are in the midst of some of my favorite chapters of the Rule of Saint Benedict, those that provide instruction on the Work of God, also called the Divine Office or Liturgy of the Hours, the universal prayer of the Church. The 12 some chapters, often called the liturgical code, provide the structure for our common prayer. Essentially, the chapters treat what psalms and how many psalms we are to pray, and when to pray certain psalms throughout the liturgical year. Today's chapter on the Number of Psalms at the Night Office offers a wake up call. There is a call to keep us focused and grounded in what we are about in our life of faith and at the Work of God. It is here that Saint Benedict writes, "As soon as the cantor begins to sing 'Glory be to the Father,' let all the monks rise from their seats in honor and reverence for the Holy Trinity" (RB 9:7). With profound bow, we honor the Holy Trinity: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. If our minds or hearts are wandering, we have opportunity at this time to remember who we are, where we are, and what we are doing. We should be no where else or doing anything else. With profound bow, Holy Trinity, One God, we revere you. As our Catechism teaches us: 

The mystery of the Holy Trinity is the central mystery of Christian faith and life. It is the mystery of God himself. It is therefore the source of all the other mysteries of faith, the light that enlightens them. It is the most fundamental and essential teaching in the "hierarchy of truths." The whole history of salvation is identical with the history of the way and the means by which the one true God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, reveals himself to men "and reconciles and unites with himself those who turn away from sin."

(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 234)

SAINT WILFRID,

BLESSED JAN BEYZYM,

OUR LADY OF APARECIDA,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: More from Maddy and Becca's camping adventure in Utah. Here, sunset at Zion National Park.

© Gertrude Feick 2021

Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

Year of Saint Joseph

Year of the Family "Amoris Laetitia The Joy of Love"

Month of May Dedicated to Our Lady and a “Marathon” of Prayer to End the Pandemic

Other Saints: Saint Zdzislawa of Lemberk OP (c. 1220-1252); Saint Luke Kirby (c.1549-1582); The Yorkshire Martyrs (16th-17th century); Saint Joan of Arc (c.1412-1431); Saint Walstun (11th century); Saint James Salomonio OP (1231-1314)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 7:24-30

Mass: Dt 4:32-34, 39-40; Resp Ps 33; Rm 8:14-17; Mt 28:16-0

May your kindness, O Lord, be upon us who have put our hope in you.

AS SOON AS THE CANTOR BEGINS TO SING "GLORY BE TO THE FATHER," LET ALL THE MONKS RISE FROM THEIR SEATS IN HONOR AND REVERENCE FOR THE HOLY TRINITY.

(Rule of Saint Benedict, 9:7)

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. If we turn to our Catechism, we learn that "the mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is the central mystery of Christian faith and life. It is the mystery of God in himself. It is therefore the source of all the other mysteries of faith, the light that enlightens them" (CCC 234). Furthermore, as a commentator wrote: "God is wrapped in holy mystery: the reality of the Blessed Trinity, one God in Three Persons, eludes our comprehension, spills over our limited words, and commands our awe, expressed in reverent worship" (Magnificat, Prayer for the Evening, Vigil of the Most Holy Trinity, 2021). So let us express the Most Holy Trinity in reverent worship today and every day, or as Saint Benedict writes, consider how you ought to behave in the presence of God and His angels (RB 19:6). When you sign yourself: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, be deliberate and pay attention, or as Father Paschal, OSB, of happy memory used to remind others, "Sign yourself big and slowly." After all, "Christians are baptized 'in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit", and "the faith of all Christians rests on the Trinity" (CCC 232). Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia!

You, who are Three in one Substance, the one God,

from whom we are,

by whom we are,

in whom we are,

You, from whom we departed by sinning,

to whom we were made unlike,

but away from whom we have not been allowed to perish,

You, the Beginning, to whom we are returning,

The Pattern we are following,

The Grace by which we are reconciled,

You, we worship and bless!

To You, be glory for ever! Amen.

(William of St. Thierry, On Contemplating God)

HOLY TRINITY, ONE GOD,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

SAINT JOSEPH,

MARY, MOTHER OF MERCY,

SAINT ZDZISLAWA OF LEMBERK,

SAINT LUKE KIRBY,

THE YORKSHIRE MARTYRS,

SAINT JOAN OF ARC,

SAINT WALSTAN,

BLESSED JAMES SALOMONIO,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Know, and fix in your heart, that the Lord is God in the heavens above and on earth below, and that there is no other (Dt 4:39).

© Gertrude Feick 2021