The Seraphim declare the Trinity; Angels: Day 051

The Seraphim declare the Trinity

Arguing against the Arians, who insisted that the Son was  not equal to the Father, St. Athanasius—the great defender of orthodoxy—says that the angelic hymn “Holy, holy, holy” proves the equality of the Persons of the Trinity. It is a hymn we offer with the angels whenever we go to Mass.

How can these ungodly men dare to speak such foolishness, when—since they’re only men—they can’t even figure out how things on earth work? But why do I even say “things on earth”? Let them explain their own nature. Can they figure out how to investigate their own nature?

They certainly are rash and willful if they don’t tremble to look into things even the angels long to look into (1 Pet. 1:12)—the angels who are so far above them, both in nature and in rank. What’s nearer to God than the Cherubim or the Seraphim? Yet even they don’t see God or stand on their feet; they don’t dare offer their praises with bare faces, but veil them, while with untiring lips they glorify the divine and indescribable nature with the “Holy, holy, holy.”

And nowhere has any one of the prophets who spoke for God—men who were specially selected for that vision—told us that the first “Holy” is spoken in a loud voice, the second in a lower voice, and the third very quietly. They don’t tell us that the first denotes lordship, the second subordination, and the third a lower status still.

No, forget the foolishness of these senseless God-haters. The Trinity, praised, revered, and adored, is one and indivisible without different ranks. It is united without confusion, just as the Unity of God is distinguished without separation. The fact that these venerable living creatures (Isa. 6, Rev. 4) offer their praises three times—“Holy, holy, holy”—proves that the three Persons are perfect, just as in saying “Lord” they declare that the Essence is one. –St. Athanasius, On Luke 10:22 and Matthew 11:27

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

Do I imitate the angels in their approach to the reality—their reverence and respect for the mystery?

CLOSING PRAYER

We should always  give thanks to you, Father almighty, who with your only begotten Son and the Holy Spirit are one God, one Lord. In confessing the true and everlasting Godhead — distinct in persons, one in being, and equal in majesty — we join the Angels and Archangels, Cherubim and Seraphim as they praise you with one voice: Holy, Holy, Holy!

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