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Prayer is a treasure undiminished, a mine never exhausted, a sky
unobstructed by clouds, a haven unruffled by storm. . .Prayer is the
anchor of those tossed on the sea, the treasure of the poor, the cure of
diseases, the safeguard of health. --St. John Chrysostom
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The Athanasian Creed is an ancient profession of
faith in the Trinity, approved and used in the Church's
liturgy. It is attributed to St. Athanasius.
Now the catholic faith is that we worship One God in
Trinity and Trinity in Unity, neither confounding the Persons
nor dividing the substance. For there is one Person of the
Father, another of the Son, another of the Holy Spirit. But
the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
is One, the Glory equal, the Majesty coeternal.
Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the
Holy Spirit; the Father uncreated, the Son uncreated, and the
Holy Spirit uncreated; the Father infinite, the Son infinite,
and the Holy Spirit infinite; the Father eternal, the Son
eternal, and the Holy Spirit eternal. And yet not three
eternals but one eternal, as also not three infinites, nor
three uncreated, but one uncreated, and one infinite. So,
likewise, the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, and the
Holy Spirit almighty; and yet not three almighties but one
almighty.
So the Father is God, the Son God, and the Holy Spirit God;
and yet not three Gods but one God. So the Father is Lord, the
Son Lord, and the Holy Spirit Lord; and yet not three Lords
but one Lord. For like as we are compelled by Christian truth
to acknowledge every Person by Himself to be both God and
Lord; so are we forbidden by the catholic religion to say,
there be three Gods or three Lords.
The Father is made of none, neither created nor begotten.
The Son is of the Father alone, not made nor created but
begotten. The Holy Spirit is of the Father and the Son, not
made nor created nor begotten but proceeding. So there is one
Father not three Fathers, one Son not three Sons, and Holy
Spirit not three Holy Spirits. And in this Trinity there is
nothing before or after, nothing greater or less, but the
whole three Persons are coeternal together and coequal.
So that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Trinity in
Unity and the Unity in Trinity is to be worshipped. He
therefore who wills to be in a state of salvation, let him
think thus of the Trinity.
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The more you pray, the more you want to pray. . . .It's like a fish
that starts by swimming near the surface of the water, then plunges and
goes on swimming deeper and deeper. The soul plunges, is swallowed
up, and loses itself in the delights of conversation with God. --St.
John Vianney
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