3.8 Trinity and God's love

What does St Augustine teach about love in relation to the Trinity?

He explains that love requires three elements: the lover (Father), the beloved (Son), and the love that unites them (Holy Spirit).

How does St Augustine's idea of love explain the Trinity?

The Father and Son love each other, and the Holy Spirit is the love that binds them together, forming the Trinity.

How does the Holy Spirit relate to believers, according to St Augustine?

The Holy Spirit pours out God's love into the hearts and lives of believers, sharing this divine love (omnibenevolence) with all people.

What is St Augustine’s famous quote about love and the Trinity?

"True love is: a trinity of lover, beloved, and the love that binds them together into one."

What is Catherine LaCugna’s main focus in her understanding of the Trinity?

LaCugna focuses on how the Trinity is revealed to humanity as God’s attempt to redeem and bring people back into a relationship with Him.

How does LaCugna describe the relationship between the Father and the Son?

The Father begets the Son, but the Son has always been part of God and eternally comes from the Father.

According to Catherine LaCugna, what is the role of the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is the love that eternally unites the Father and Son and guides believers toward God.

How does the Trinity relate to redemption, according to LaCugna?

The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit work together to bring people back to God, completing the process of redemption.

What role does the Son play in redemption according to LaCugna?

The Son comes from the Father to earth as Jesus to save humanity and restore the relationship between humans and the Father.

How does Catherine LaCugna describe the flow of love in the Trinity?

The love between the Father and Son constantly flows outwards through the Holy Spirit and into all of creation.