The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
The unity and trinity of God is one of the principal mysteries of our Faith: three distinct Persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – in one God. This doctrine was revealed by Our Lord Jesus and the sacred writers of the New Testament, the Old Testament having provided only indirect indications of it.
Mass Readings
First Reading – Ex 34:4b-6, 8-9
Early in the morning Moses went up Mount Sinai as the LORD had commanded him, taking along the two stone tablets. Having come down in a cloud, the LORD stood with Moses there and proclaimed His name, “LORD.” Thus the LORD passed before him and cried out, “The LORD, the LORD, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity.” Moses at once bowed down to the ground in worship. Then he said, “If I find favor with you, O Lord, do come along in our company. This is indeed a stiff-necked people; yet pardon our wickedness and sins, and receive us as Your own.”
Responsorial Psalm – Dn 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56 (R. 52b)
R. Glory and praise for ever!
Blessed are You, O Lord, the God of our fathers,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever;
And blessed is Your holy and glorious name,
praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages. R.
Blessed are You in the temple of your holy glory,
praiseworthy and glorious above all forever. R.
Blessed are You on the throne of your kingdom,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. R.
Blessed are You who look into the depths
from Your throne upon the cherubim,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. R.
Second Reading – 2 Cor 13:11-13
Brothers and sisters, rejoice. Mend your ways, encourage one another, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the holy ones greet you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.
Gospel – Jn 3:16-18
God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. Whoever believes in Him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because He has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
Featured Saints
St. Optatus, bishop († 4th century). As bishop of Milevis in Northern Africa, he distinguished himself in the fight against the Donatists. He wrote
several works highly esteemed by St. Augustine.
St. Quirinus, martyr (†309). Bishop of Sescia, present-day Croatia; he was thrown into a river bound to a millstone for refusing to sacrifice to the pagan gods, during the reign of Emperor Galerius.
St. Metrophanes, bishop (†325). Bishop of Byzantium when it became the capital of the Roman Empire.
St. Francis Caracciolo, priest (†1608). Co-founded the Congregation of the Minor Clerks Regular in Naples, Italy. To the usual vows of poverty, obedience and chastity, a fourth was added, that of not aspiring to ecclesiastical dignities.
St. Philip Smaldone, priest (†1923). Apostle of deaf-mutes and the blind, he founded the Congregation of the Salesian Sisters of the Sacred Hearts in Lecce, Italy.
Blessed Antoni Zawistowski, priest, and Stanislaw Starowieyski, layman, martyrs (†1942). During the Nazi occupation of Poland, they were arrested for their Faith deported to the concentration camp of Dachau in Germany, where they died of ill treatment.
Blessed Pacificus Ramati, priest (†1482). Franciscan religious, who obtained a doctorate at the Sorbonne then returned to Italy to dedicate himself to preaching. He died in Sassari, at age 58.
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