BLESSED TRINITY OBJECTIVES ■ To know what is the blessed trinity ■ To know how to start a prayer the catholic way ■ To differentiate between a cross and a crucifix ■ To know the significance of the sign of the cross. THE BLESSED TRINITY The blessed trinity is the union or unity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in one Godhead. The blessed trinity is a doctrine or mystery beyond human understanding. The doctrine of the trinity shows that God exists as three persons but is one being because it has a single divine nature. The blessed trinity members are; God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. These members are coequal, coeternal, they are one in essence. GOD THE FATHER – The creator and sustainer of all things. GOD THE SON – The incarnation of God as a human being, Jesus Christ on earth. GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT – The power of God which is active in the drawing of people towards God. BLESSED TRINITY (CONTD.) HOW DO WE START AND END OUR PRAYERS? In the Catholic Church, we begin and end every prayer and sacrament with the sign of the cross. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SIGN OF THE CROSS: The significance of making the sign of the cross shows the redemptive death of Christ on the cross. Secondly, we use the sign of the cross daily in mass and prayer to invite and send the prayers to the blessed trinity. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CROSS AND A CRUCIFIX. Most people consider the cross and crucifix to be the same thing. However, they are not. The cross is a cross-shaped item without a symbol of figure of Jesus on it while a crucifix is a cross with Jesus depicted or engraved on it. Another difference between a cross and crucifix is that a cross is a standing post with a transverse bar while a crucifix is the representation of Jesus Christ on the cross. ASSIGNMENT ■ Children are to read the book of Genesis chapter 1 from verse 1 to the end and make a summary of it. ■ They are to attend mass and note where the readings are taken from.