ST. MARK'S, PHILADELPHIA.
TRINITY SUNDAY, 1941.
MY DEAR PEOPLE:
In the Offices of Instruction, after the recitation of the Creed, the question is asked, "What do you chiefly learn in these Articles of your Belief?" The given answer is First, I learn to believe in God the Father, Who hath made me, and all the world. Secondly, in God the Son, Who hath redeemed me, and all mankind. Thirdly, in God the Holy Ghost, Who sanctifieth me, and all the people of God. And this Holy Trinity, One God, I praise and magnify, saying, Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
In the Proper Preface for Trinity Sunday we give thanks unto our Lord God in these words. "It is very meet, right and our bounden duty, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto thee, O Lord, Holy Father, Almighty, Everlasting God, Who with Thine only-begotten Son, and the Holy Ghost, art one God, one Lord, in Trinity of Persons and in unity of substance. For that which we believe of Thy glory, O Father, the same we believe of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, without any difference of inequality."
In the Collect we pray, "Almighty and Everlasting God, Who hast given unto us Thy servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the Eternal Trinity, and in the power of the Divine Majesty to worship the Unity: We beseech Thee to keep us steadfast in this faith, and evermore defend us from all adversity."
God has given to us the knowledge of the glory of the eternal Trinity. God has given to us grace to receive the revelation. God has called us into fellowship with Angels and Archangels and with all the Company of Heaven that with them we may laud and magnify His Glorious Name, evermore praising Him, and saying, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of hosts, Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory: Glory be to Thee, O Lord Most High.
As we join with the angels in singing the Sanctus, we remember the Angel of the Lord who came upon the shepherds, and how the glory of the Lord shone round about them. We remember what the angel said. I bring you good tidings of great joy. For unto you is born this day in the City of David, a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. We remember the multitude of the heavenly host who sang Glory to God in the highest.
On Christmas Day we went to Bethlehem to see the thing which had come to pass. When we received Holy Communion we found the Child in the Manger.
At the Feast of the Epiphany we offered our gifts after the example of the Wise Men.
In Lent we followed our Saviour into the desert. We saw the victory which released us from the power of our evil enemy.
On Calvary we watched and witnessed the full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the whole world.
At Easter we rejoiced in the glorious Resurrection which has restored to us everlasting life.
On Ascension Day we worshipped Our Lord ascending up into heaven to reign with the glory which He had with the Father before the world was.
On Whitsunday we worshipped the Holy Ghost coming down as at this time from heaven to teach the hearts of faithful people.
Through this ordered sequence of commemorations God has provided us with the means of grace by which our souls have been enabled to discern spiritual truth and our wills to be disposed to conform to the laws of the supernatural life. God has led us from the Manger up to the gates of Heaven. He has led us into the knowledge and love of God.
Affectionately in Our Lord,
