BONUS: How the Most Blessed Trinity Teaches Us to Love
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In this bonus episode of Godsplaining, Fr. Gregory Pine and Fr. Bonaventure Chapman explore how the mystery of the Most Blessed Trinity offers a profound model for human love and spiritual growth. Drawing from St. Augustine’s analogy of God knowing Himself as the Father begetting the Word (the Son) and their mutual love forming the Holy Spirit, the hosts unpack the dynamic interplay between intellect and will in the Christian life. They emphasize that knowing and loving are not separate but deeply intertwined—our rational nature, created in God’s image, is designed for both contemplation and affection, with each feeding the other in a spiral of spiritual ascent. The conversation transitions into a reflection on mysticism, arguing that it is not reserved for a select few but is accessible to all through humble, ongoing virtue and openness to grace, even in the 'third-grade' stages of spiritual life. The hosts conclude with a call to cultivate virtues like curiosity, honesty, penance, and hope as essential to deepening communion with God and others.
True love requires knowledge, but not perfect knowledge—just enough to begin and grow.
The Trinity is not just a doctrine but a living model of how intellect and will, knowing and loving, dynamically relate in the divine life and in ours.
Mysticism is not a rare, supernatural event but the fruit of ordinary, persistent virtue and openness to grace.
Curiosity and honesty are foundational spiritual virtues for engaging honestly with God and self.
Penance and hope are essential theological virtues that sustain the Christian journey toward union with God.
Introduction and the Spiritual Bouquet
The hosts introduce the episode, reflecting on their personal spiritual journeys and the concept of the 'spiritual bouquet'—a devotional practice of gathering meaningful moments from prayer and meditation. They discuss how converts often catch up on Catholic traditions like this, and how such practices enrich spiritual life.
The Intellect and Will: A Hermeneutic Spiral
“You can't love what you don't know, but you can't know what you don't love.”
The Trinity as a Model for Human Love
“The Father is not the Son, the Son is not the Holy Spirit, on account of their distinct origins—but they are all one God.”
Mysticism as Ordinary Virtue
“We're all supposed to be mystics. It's not a special class—it's a call to all.”
Closing Reflections and Call to Action
The episode closes with a reflection on the importance of spiritual practices like prayer, confession, and community. The hosts encourage listeners to embrace their spiritual journey with honesty and hope, and to support the podcast through Patreon and merchandise.
“The Father is not the Son, the Son is not the Holy Spirit, on account of their distinct origins—but they are all one God.”
“We're all supposed to be mystics. It's not a special class—it's a call to all.”
“You can't love what you don't know, but you can't know what you don't love.”
Hosts
Fr. Bonaventure Chapman
person
Fr. Gregory Pine
person
St. Augustine
person
St. Thomas Aquinas
person
Godsplaining
media
The Blessed Virgin Mary
person
St. Francis de Sales
person
Christendom College
organization
Fr. Vincent McNabb
person
Archangel Gabriel
person
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