The New Testament fully reveals the Trinity
Catechesis by Pope John Paul II on the Holy Spirit
General Audience, Wednesday 29 August 1990 - in Italian & Spanish
"1. After his resurrection, Jesus appeared to the eleven apostles and said to them: "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Mt 28:19). It is the apostle-evangelist Matthew who tells us, at the end of his Gospel, about this order by which Jesus Christ sent his apostles into the whole world that they might be his witnesses and continue his work of salvation. Our Christian tradition, according to which Baptism is administered in the name of the Blessed Trinity, corresponds to these words. However, Matthew's text contains something else which we can consider as the last word of the revelation of the truth about the Trinity, including the revelation of the Holy Spirit as a Person who is equal to the Father and the Son, of one substance with them in the unity of the divinity.
This revelation belongs to the New Testament. In the Old Testament the Spirit of God, in the various ways of acting which were pointed out in our preceding reflections, was the manifestation of God's power, wisdom and holiness. In the New Testament we clearly make the transition to the revelation of the Holy Spirit as a Person.
2. The Gospel expression in Matthew 28:19 clearly reveals the Holy Spirit as a Person because it names him in the identical way as the other two Persons, without indicating any difference in this regard: "the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit." Matthew's Gospel clearly shows that the Father and Son are two distinct Persons. "The Father" is the one whom Jesus calls "my heavenly Father" (Mt 15:13; 16:17; 18:35); "the Son" is Jesus himself, designated as such by a voice which came from heaven at the time of his baptism (Mt 3:17) and his transfiguration (Mt 17:5). Simon Peter acknowledged him as "the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Mt 16:16). Now a third Person, the "Holy Spirit," is associated to these two divine Persons in an identical way. This association is made even closer by the fact that the expression speaks of the name of these three, prescribing that they baptize all nations "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." In the Bible the expression "in the name of" is not usually used to refer to anything other than persons. It is also noteworthy that the Gospel's expression uses the term "name" in the singular, even though it mentions several persons. From all of this we have the undeniable result that the Holy Spirit is a third divine Person, closely associated to the Father and the Son in the unit of a single divine "name."
Christian Baptism puts us in close personal relationship with the three divine Persons, thus introducing us into the intimacy of the Godhead. Every time we make the sign of the cross we repeat this Gospel expression in order to renew our relationship with the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Acknowledging the Holy Spirit is an essential condition for the Christian life of faith and charity.
3. The risen Christ's words about baptism (Mt 28:19) do not occur without some preparation in Matthew's Gospel. They have a relationship to the baptism of Jesus himself, in which there was a trinitarian theophany. Matthew tells us that when Jesus came up out of the water, "the heavens were opened and they saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, saying, 'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased'" (Mt 3:16-17). The same scene is described similarly by the other two Synoptics (cf. Mk 1:9-11; Lk 3:21-22). In it we find a revelation of the three divine Persons. The person of Jesus is indicated with the designation of Son; the person of the Father is manifested through the voice which says, "This is my...Son"; and the person of the Spirit of God appears as distinct from the Father and the Son and in relationship to both of them. He is in relationship with the heavenly Father, because the Spirit comes from on high, and with the Son, because the Spirit came upon him. If at first glance this interpretation does not seem convincing, comparing it with the closing phrase of the Gospel (cf. Mt 28:19) assures its foundation.
4. The light which we are given by Matthew's final phrase allows us to discover the personhood of the Holy Spirit in other texts. The revelation of the Spirit in his relationship with the Father and the Son can also be deduced in the account of the annunciation (Lk 1:26-38).
According to Luke's narrative, the angel Gabriel, sent by God to a virgin named Mary, announced the will of the Eternal Father to her in the following words: "Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High" (Lk 1:32-32). When Mary asked how this could happen in her virginal condition, the angel replied to her: "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God" (Lk 1:34-35).
Of itself, this text does not tell us that the Holy Spirit is a Person. It merely shows that he is a being in some way distinct from the Most High, that is from God the Father, and from the Son of the Most High. When it is read, however, as we spontaneously do in the light of faith, "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Mt 28:19), it reveals to us the unity of the three divine Persons in the fulfillment of the mystery which is called the Incarnation of the Word. The Person of the Holy Spirit contributes to this fulfillment according to the Father's plan, which is fully accepted by the Son. By the power of the Holy Spirit the Son of God, one in nature with the eternal Father, is conceived as a man and born of the Virgin Mary. In the preceding reflections we have already spoken of this mystery which is both Christological and pneumatological. Here we need only recall that in the annunciation the trinitarian mystery is revealed, especially the Person of the Holy Spirit.
5. At this point we can also point out a reflection of this mystery on Christian anthropology. There is a connection between the birth of the eternal Son of God in human nature and the "rebirth" of the sons and daughters of humanity by divine adoption through grace. This connection belongs to the economy of salvation. In view of this, Baptism was instituted in the sacramental economy.
Therefore the revelation of the Holy Spirit as a subsistent Person in the trinitarian unity of the Godhead is particularly highlighted both in the mystery of the Incarnation of the eternal Son of God and in the mystery of the divine adoption of the sons and daughters of humanity. In this mystery John's proclamation about Christ at the Jordan is constantly fulfilled: "He will baptize with the Holy Spirit" (Mt 3:11). This supernatural adoption is brought about in the sacramental order precisely through baptism "with water and the Spirit" (Jn 3:5)."
After the Catechesis, Papa Giovanni Paolo II greeted the pilgrims in various languages
Ai pellegrini tedeschi
Liebe Schwestern und Brüder!
Mit dieser kurzen Betrachtung grüße ich alle deutschsprachigen Pilger und Besucher der heutigen Audienz sehr herzlich. Ich wünsche Euch, daß Euer Besuch in Rom bei den Gräbern der Apostel Euch ein bleibendes geistliches Erlebnis und Stärkung in Eurem Glauben sei. Dazu erteile ich Euch und Euren Lieben in der Heimat sowie den uns über Radio Vatikan verbundenen Hörerinnen und Hörern von Herzen meinen Apostolischen Segen.
Ai connazionali polacchi
Matko polskich sierpniów, pragnę jeszcze w ciągu tego miesiąca podziękować Ci za sierpień 1980. Przyzwyczaiłaś nas w ciągu stuleci do tego, że jesteś obecna na Jasnej Górze, gdzie przybywają w pielgrzymkach synowie i córki naszej ziemi, a także goście z różnych stron świata.
A potem - przyzwyczaiłaś nas do tego, że Ty sama przychodzisz do nas w pielgrzymce: do katedr, do kościołów, do mieszkań, do parafii, do różnych naszych wspólnot. W sierpniu 1980 przybyłaś do stoczni gdańskich, szczecińskich . . . Byłaś pośród ludzi strajkujących. Przytoczę słowa Lecha Wałęsy wypowiedziane - po 10 latach - do Kongresu Stanów Zjednoczonych: “Zrodzony przez naród polski ruch społeczny o pięknej nazwie "Solidarność" jest ruchem skutecznym. Jego walka przyniosła . . . owoce . . . Wskazała ona kierunek i sposób działania, które obecnie mają wpływ na miliony ludzi mówiących różnymi językami. . . . była to walka prowadzona przy całkowitym wyrzeczeniu się przemocy. Wtrącano nas do więzień, wyrzucano z pracy, bito, czasem zabijano. A my nikogo nawet nie uderzyliśmy. Niczego nie zburzyliśmy, nie wybiliśmy nawet jednej szyby. Ale byliśmy za to uparci, bardzo uparci, gotowi do poświęceń, zdolni do ofiar. Wiedzieliśmy, czego chcemy. I nasza siła okazała się większa”. Pani Jasnogórska, podczas dzisiejszego spotkania dziękujemy Ci za tę moc, którą “Pan dał swemu ludowi”.
Okazała się ona większa niż przemoc. Stała się twórcza. Wiele kosztowała. Wiele odmieniła. Matko polskich sierpniów, spraw, niech się nie wyczerpią źródła tej mocy. Niech tworzą Polskę na nowo.
Ai visitatori di espressione francese
Chers Frères et Sœurs,
Je souhaite la bienvenue aux pèlerins et visiteurs de langue française qui sont présents ici ce matin. J’adresse en particulier mon cordial salut au groupe venu d’Athènes et je souhaite aux jeunes de Saint-Flour, de Nímes, de Cusset et du diocèse de Bruges de passer à Rome un séjour enrichissant et formateur. A chacun d’entre vous, mes chers amis, j’accorde ma Bénédiction Apostolique.
Ai fedeli di lingua inglese
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I wish to welcome the English-speaking visitors present at today’s Audience, especially the pilgrim groups from Taiwan, Indonesia and South Africa, as well a the members of the Junior Soccer team from Sackville, Nova Scotia, in Canada. Upon all of you and your families I cordially invoke the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ai numerosi pellegrini di espressione spagnola
Amadísimos hermanos y hermanas,
Me es grato saludar a los sacerdotes, religiosos y religiosas, así como a los peregrinos de América Latina y España presentes en esta Audiencia.
Mi más cordial saludo se dirige también a los grupos de México y Venezuela. A todos agradezco vuestra presencia, a la vez que os aliento a dejaros guiar en todos los momentos de la vida por los designios de Dios, quien siempre busca nuestro bien.
Os imparto de corazón mi Bendición Apostólica.
Ai fedeli di lingua portoghese
Estimados irmãos e irmãs,
Saúdo agora todos os peregrinos e visitantes de lingua portuguesa.
Em particular, saúdo os grupos das paróquias de Espinho, Leça da Palmeira, da Cruz de Pau e da Póvoa de Santa Iria.
A minha saudação também para os diversos grupos vindos de São Paulo e do Rio de Janeiro.
Sede Bem-vindos!
A todos vós e às vossas famílias dou de coração a minha Bênção Apostólica.
Ad un gruppo di visitatori provenienti dal Giappone
Sia lodato Gesù Cristo! Saluto la delegazione venuta da Omura per ricordare la visita compiuta 400 anni fa da 4 ragazzi della vostra città; saluto pure i pellegrini di Tokyo. La vostra presenza è segno di una rinnovata volontà di dialogo tra oriente e occidente. Il dialogo è molto importante, perché favorisce la vicendevole comprensione. Ebbene, carissimi giapponesi, io auspico che il vostro “dialogo con l’occidente” sia efficace, grazie all’aiuto della Madre del Buon Consiglio. Con questo augurio vi imparto di cuore la mia Benedizione Apostolica. Sia lodato Gesù Cristo!
Ai gruppi di lingua italiana
Il mio affettuoso pensiero va ora al gruppo delle Religiose che stanno partecipando alla loro XXII Settimana Biblica Nazionale, sul tema: “Il Vangelo di Matteo e il suo messaggio”. Mi compiaccio per questo vostro convegno, che certamente vi ispirerà una conoscenza più profonda e un amore più ardente. Vi auguro giornate di fruttuoso apprendimento e di santi propositi che valgano anche per una più fervorosa vita consacrata!
Rivolgo anche un saluto al gruppo parrocchiale di Pove del Grappa, in diocesi di Padova, dove sono in preparazione le solenni feste quinquennali in onore del Divin Crocifisso. Ben volentieri benedico la “Fiaccola della Pace”, che dovrà ardere per tutta la durata delle celebrazioni. Formulo l’auspicio che questa ricorrenza possa essere di forte stimolo per un approfondimento ed un miglioramento della vostra vita cristiana e della vostra attività missionaria.
Ai giovani, agli ammalati e agli sposi novelli
Porgo infine il mio saluto a voi, giovani, ammalati, e sposi novelli. Nel dare a ciascuno di voi il mio benvenuto, desidero attirare la vostra attenzione sulla grande figura di San Giovanni Battista, di cui oggi la Liturgia celebra il martirio. La parola “martirio” può forse spaventarci, ma in realtà essa non rappresenta altro che l’estrema conseguenza di una vita spesa per il Signore. È partecipazione alla Passione di Cristo realizzata con totale coerenza. È pienezza di testimonianza cristiana, alla quale tutti, in fondo, siamo chiamati, come battezzati.
Voi, giovani, sappiate vedere nel “martirio” come l’offerta della vostra esistenza a Cristo, l’acquisizione di una salda virtù e di una coerente e coraggiosa pratica di vita cristiana.
Voi, carissimi ammalati, vivrete il vostro “martirio” se persevererete nel restare uniti a Cristo, nonostante le durissime prove. Così il vostro dolore non sarà inutile!
Il martirio nasce ed è espressione dell’amore, di un grande amore assoluto e totale. Il Battista sia anche per voi sposi novelli un grande maestro d’amore, di un amore che non teme la sofferenza e neppure la morte, come dice il Cantico dei Cantici.
A tutti voi la mia affettuosa Benedizione.
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