Our Lady and the Blessed Trinity
Fr. Hugh Gillespie, SMM
T he prior Devotional Series conference (Calling Upon the Name of Mary), utilizes the Catholic Church’s prayer Litany of Loreto. Furthermore, that prayer begins by calling upon the Lord’s Mercy. It then calls upon each member of the Blessed Trinity, individually and collectively.
The purpose of the Devotional Series is to help all of us to see Our Lady’s goodness. As a result, we are able to witness the important role the Lord has given Our Lady. And as we come to know Our Lady more deeply, our hearts will grow in esteem and love for her.
The focus of this conference is on Our Lady and the Blessed Trinity. Looking at Our Lady we obtain a glimpse of the Holy Trinity. We are not the first to turn toward to Mary. Our Lord was the first to turn to Mary. Hear more in the first part of this audio.
The Mystery of the Annunciation
The Annunciation is a remarkable Mystery. Saint Louis de Montfort says that all other Mysteries spring forth from this Mystery. He has a great love for this Mystery. The second image (at the right) talks of two stories. The first is the Annunciation, at the fullness of time; when the Lord decides its time for the salvation of the world. This is discussed in great length in this conference: The Name of Mary.
The second story is the banishment of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden. Their unfaithfulness causes them to lose paradise and happiness. We witness that man is expelled from paradise. Man can not open the gate to paradise. Man needs a savior. The Lord promises salvation. This was reviewed in the conference: Call Upon the Name of Mary. In Genesis (3:15) The Lord foretells salvation and does so through The Woman. The woman that was opposed to the snake. The woman through whom salvation and a savior shall come. Hear more about this new Gate of Heaven, in the fullness of time.
The Annunciation: French Painter: Philippe de Champaigne: 1644
On display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Revealing of The Blessed Trinity
Saint Louis de Montfort insists this is the greatest of all the Mysteries. One observation of the Annunciation that is rarely unpacked is the Revealing of The Blessed Trinity. As the Angel Gabriel speaks to Our Lady, as the Word becomes flesh in her womb, something wonderful happens. Here for the first time, The Blessed Trinity is revealed to Mary.
The Father calls His daughter and names her. Hail, Full of Grace! She is told she will be a mother of the Word become flesh. She will have a Son. How will this happen? The Holy Spirit will come upon her. When we see Mary, we see the daughter of the Father, the mother of the Son and the faithful spouse of the Holy Spirit. We see the august temple of the Most Holy Trinity!
It will take 33 years more to reveal it to the world at the time of Jesus’ Baptism. But until then, only Mary knows the Mystery of the Blessed Trinity. Hear more within this conference.
Saint Louis de Montfort’s Contemplation of the Incarnation
The Angel Gabriel was sent from God. Fr. de Montfort explores this further. When scripture says God sends His messenger, this really means God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. God the Father will send His Son for the salvation of the world. He will come only through Mary.
The Second Person of the Trinity also sends the Angel Gabriel. The Word comes in His mercy and love to save the lost. He does so, through Mary. The Lord is dependent upon her.
The Holy Spirit also sends Gabriel. The Spirit, who quickens to life all things that God has made, comes as the Lord and giver of life. He will overshadow her and bring Divine Life to the world. This will be the Spirit’s greatest work. Hear more about the unveiling of the Holy Trinity.
Early Fathers of the Church: Image of The Blessed Trinity
The conference paints two mental images of how the early Church positioned The Blessed Trinity. Hear this discussion within this conference audio.
Where is the Church?
In the Annunciation, the Divine Life comes In Mary, the Living Temple, for the Glory of God. After the Ascension, where was the Church? The Church was waiting for Pentecost Sunday. The Body of Christ gathered around Mary waiting for the Holy Spirit. They unite in prayer with the mother of Jesus. God the Father and God the Son sends the Holy Spirit to His Church on Pentecost Sunday. The Holy Spirit comes to the Church.
How important then is this to us today, especially as we entertain this Devotional Series? We unite in prayer with Mary today. It implies that the Holy Spirit will continue to bind us into the Body of Christ. Hear more about The Lord’s Church. Hear more about Mary, the Mother of the Church! Listen to more about Our Lady and The Blessed Trinity!
Our Lady and the Blessed Trinity
Note: *
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