Editing Holy Trinity

The "'''Trinity'''" or, "'''Holy Trinity'''" of the '''Father''', the '''Son, '''and the '''Holy Spirit'''

* note: see glossary entry on [[Glossary of terms for catechism of the Catholic faith#holy |"Holy"]]

The Holy Trinity is called collectively the "'''Godhead'''" or the "'''Triune'''"

* also, the "'''Blessed Trinity'''"

== Terminology of the Trinity ==

=== Godhead ===
The Trinity may also be referred to as the "'''Godhead'''"
* = God in the full nature of the Trinity 
** from Middle English ''God'' + ''hede'' (nature of)
* note: the Father is the "source and origin" of the Godhead, but the Godhead indivisibly consists of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit
** see [https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/670/ CCC 2789]

=== hypostasis ===
refers to the "Persons" of God; in Latin ''persona''

* from Greek for "substance" 
** from hypo- (under) + ''stasis'' (standing or position)

* ''hypostasis'' is singular for "Person"
* ''hypostases'' is plural for "Persons"
*

=== '''hypostatic union''' ===
refers to the "union of the divine and human natures... of the Son of God, Jesus Christ" ([https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/884/ CCC Glossary])

* i.e. that Jesus Christ was fully human and fully divine

=== Triune === 
a similar reference to "Godhead" for the Holy Trinity 
* but also used as an adjective, as in "the Triune God"

== Athanasian Creed ==
or ''Quicunque vult''

* an important early Church statement and explanation of the Holy Trinity

* from from [https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/72/ CCC 266]

 "Now this is the Catholic faith: We worship one God in the Trinity and the Trinity in unity, without either confusing the persons or dividing the substance; for the person of the Father is one, the Son's is another, the Holy Spirit's another; but the Godhead of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is one, their glory equal, their majesty coeternal"  (Athanasian Creed: DS 75; ND 16). 
* See 
** entry on [[Athanasian Creed]]  
** [https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/teachings/athanasian-creed-209 The "Athanasian" Creed] (slightly different translation from EWTN)

== The Trinity ==
The Holy Trinity is the mystery of God in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
* the Trinisy consists of the 
** Persons of God: ''Father Son and Holy Spirit''
** Natures of God: ''Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier''
* the Trinity was source of much conflict and contention in the early Church
* and, ultimately, a core tenant of Church doctrine
** Jews were offended that fellow Jews worshiped Christ, as Judaism was supposed to be monotheistic
** Romans considered Christians atheistic, as they rejected Roman gods and refused to worship Caesar
** gnostics and other heretics believed that Jesus fully God and not a Man, thus he was either not a man or not God

== Shield of the Trinity (''Scutum Fidei)'' ==
[[File:Shield-Trinity-Scutum-Fidei-compact.svg|left|thumb|Basic "Shield of the Trinity" diagram (wikipedia)]]
[[File:Shield-Trinity-Scutum-Fidei-variations.svg|thumb|Four variants of the "Shield of the Trinity"]]

* derived from the Athanasian Creed
* God (DEUS) is at the center
* the three Persons are at the corners
* the shiled was consiered the "Herald of God"

=== The forumulation of the Shield ===

* note that all the links (connections) are bi-directional (go both ways)
* EST means "is" 
* NON EST means "is not"


Thereby: 

* "The Father is God"

* "The Son is God"
* "The Holy Spirit is God"
* "God is the Father"
* "God is the Son"
* "God is the Holy Spirit"
* "The Father is not the Son"
* "The Father is not the Holy Spirit"
* "The Son is not the Father"
* "The Son is not the Holy Spirit"
* "The Holy Spirit is not the Father"
* "The Holy Spirit is not the Son"

== St. Thomas Aquinas on the Trinity ==
St. Thomas Aquinas thought deeply about the Trinity in ''Summa Theologica''
* his thought extends from the concepts of the Trinity and the Oneness of God:
* One God
* Two Processions
*# The Father > The Son (Generation)
*# The Father and The Son >  Holy Spirit (Spiration)
** Three Persons
**# The Father
**# The Son
**# The Holy Spirit
** Four Relations
**# The Father > The Son = ''Paternity''
**# The Son < The Father = ''Filiation''
**# The Father and The Son > The Holy Spirit = ''Active Spiration'' (originiation)
**# The Father and The Son < The Holy Spirit = ''Passive Spiration'' (procession)
** Five Notions
**# The Father > innascibility or unbegottennes
**# The Father > paternity, i.e. The Father > The Son
**# The Father and The Son "spirate" the Holy Spirit
**# The Son = both Filiation and Spiration
**# The Holy Spirit = Procession
** notes:
*** St. Thomas wrote in ''Summa Theologica'', 
**** ''"Although there are four relations in God, one of them, spiration, is not separated from the person of the Father and of the Son, but belongs to both;"'' 
*** these relations, originatinos, and processions are internal to God and not related to temporal process (outside of time)
*** See:
**** Univ Notre Dame: [https://www3.nd.edu/~afreddos/courses/417/trinityhandout.pdf trinityhandout.pdf]
**** [https://catholicism.org/the-relations-in-the-blessed-trinity.html The 'Relations' in the Blessed Trinity - Catholicism.org] 
**** [https://prodigalcatholic.com/summary-of-chapter-23-trinitarian-relations-and-notional-names-of-persons-from-whites-book-the-trinity/ Summary of Chapter 23: Trinitarian Relations and Notional Names of Persons (from White’s book, The Trinity) – Prodigal Catholic]