What is God's Name: Reflections on the 'Faces' of God

What can one write or say or even think of the astonishing name of God we call "The Blessed or Holy Trinity"? If it had not been revealed by God's own Self could we ever have supposed it? For it is not derived from logic: it is an act of faith.

Someone has designated the Three Persons of God as the Giver, the Given and the Gift. I like this designation for God as Source is the Giver of all; the Son made human, who sacrificed his life is the Given; and the Spirit is the Gift Jesus promised to us to enable us to believe, understand and act in God.

At both the Baptism and the Transfiguration, Jesus is identified as the Beloved Son by the voice of God. Jesus called God "my Father and your Father." Certainly the pattern of family - the necessary three united by love - is a witness of the nature of the Creator.

About seven years ago, I woke in the middle of the night and the thought that passed through my consciousness was: God is Love, so God has to be Trinity because one cannot love if there is no one else to love. So the one God loves the Son that proceeds from God's eternal BEING and the dynamic of their love is their Spirit. It wasn't a dream, it wasn't a proof, it was just a deep, joyful, theological understanding and I turned over and went back to sleep.

Another time, far from home and feeling alone, I walked into my room and my eyes fell on the Rublev Icon depicting the Trinity by three angel-like persons seated at a table. Heat seemed to radiate from the icon and within me, I heard the message: "This is your home." My experience of it was profound. My congregation is dedicated to the Holy Trinity and so we are called to be sisters of the greatest Love!

By Mary Alban Bouchard CSJ

Photo by Mary Doreen Smith CSJ