The Trinity

José (or Jusepe) de Ribera (b. 1591, Játiva, d. 1652, Napoli)
Holy Trinity
1635-36
Oil on canvas, 226 x 181 cm
Museo del Prado, Madrid

“Today we contemplate the Most Holy Trinity as it was made know to us by Jesus. He revealed to us that God is love “not in the unity of a single person, but in the Trinity of a single substance” (Preface): the Trinity is Creator and merciful Father; Only Begotten Son, eternal Wisdom incarnate, dead and risen for us; it is finally the Holy Spirit, who moves everything, cosmos and history, toward the final recapitulation.

Three Persons who are one God because the Father is love, the Son is love, the Spirit is love. God is love and only love, most pure, infinite and eternal love. The Trinity does not live in a splendid solitude, but is rather inexhaustible font of life that unceasingly gives itself and communicates itself....

The “name” of the Most Holy Trinity is in a certain way impressed upon everything that exists, because everything that exists, down to the least particle, is a being in relation, and thus God-relation shines forth, ultimately creative Love shines forth.

All comes from love, tends toward love, and is moved by love, naturally, according to different grades of consciousness and freedom.”

From Pope Benedict XVI : Angelus 7th June 2009 (Trinity Sunday)