One Hymn--Three Verses

An unknown author wrote it originally in Latin as Ave Colenda Trinitas. The translation we know today is by John David Chambers. Its most familiar setting is to Old Onehundreth.

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1. All hail, adored Trinity!

All hail, eternal Unity!

O God the Father, God the Son,

And God the Spirit, ever One.

2. Three persons praise we evermore,

One only God our hearts adore:

In thy sure mercy, ever kind,

May we your true protection find.

3. O Trinity! O Unity!

Be present as we worship thee;

And with the songs that angels sing

Unite the hymns of praise we bring.

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Originally posted 5/26/2024.

Re-posted 6/15/2025.

Thrice Holy Hymn

Reginald Heber pens the words set to the tune Nicaea. Since we cannot do any better than Ss. Peter, James, and John at the Transfiguration, this might be the closest expression of perfect adoration and praise we can offer.

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1. Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;

Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty!

God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

2. Holy, holy, holy! all the saints adore Thee,

Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;

Cherubim and seraphim, falling down before Thee,

Which wert and art and evermore shalt be.

3. Holy, holy, holy! though the darkness hide Thee,

Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;

Only Thou art holy, there is none beside Thee,

Perfect in pow'r, in love, and purity.

4. Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

All Thy works shall praise Thy name, in earth and sky and sea;

Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty!

God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

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Originally posted 5/26/2024.

Re-posted 6/15/2025.

Glory Be To...

From the Athanasian Creed:

...And the Catholic Faith is this, 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, and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Ghost is all One, the Glory Equal, the Majesty Co-Eternal. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost. The Father Uncreate, the Son Uncreate, and the Holy Ghost Uncreate. The Father Incomprehensible, the Son Incomprehensible, and the Holy Ghost Incomprehensible. The Father Eternal, the Son Eternal, and the Holy Ghost Eternal and yet they are not Three Eternals but One Eternal. As also there are not Three Uncreated, nor Three Incomprehensibles, but One Uncreated, and One Uncomprehensible. So likewise the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty, and the Holy Ghost Almighty. And yet they are not Three Almighties but One Almighty.

So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet they are not Three Gods, but One God. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Ghost Lord. And yet not Three Lords but One Lord. For, like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by Himself to be and Lord, so are we forbidden by the 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 Ghost is of the Father, and of the Son neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.

So there is One Father, not Three Fathers; one Son, not Three Sons; One Holy Ghost, not Three Holy Ghosts. And in this Trinity none is afore or after Other, None is greater or less than Another, but the whole Three Persons are Co-eternal together, and Co-equal. So that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity, is to be worshiped. He therefore that will be saved, must thus think of the Trinity....

This is He Who Was, Who Is, and Who Is To Come.

This is I AM.

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Originally posted 6/19/2011.
Re-posted 5/26/2013.

Re-posted 6/15/2014.
Re-posted 5/31/2015
Re-posted 5/22/2016.
Re-posted 6/11/2017.
Re-posted 5/27/2018.

Re-posted 6/16/2019.

Re-posted 6/7/2020.

Re-posted 5/30/2021.

Re-posted 6/13/2022.

Re-posted 6/4/2023.

Re-posted 5/26/2024.

Re-posted 6/15/2025.

Three Verses--One Hymn

The author is unknown; the text was translated by Irvin M. Udulutsch. Set to the tune Gott Vater Sei Gepriesen, it is a simple expression one of the Church's great mysteries. Ask St. Augustine.

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1 O God, almighty Father,

Creator of all things,

The heavens stand in wonder,

While earth your glory sings.

Refrain:

O most holy Trinity,

Undivided unity,

Holy God, mighty God,

God immortal, be adored!

2 O Jesus, Word incarnate,

Redeemer most adored,

All glory, praise, and honor;

Be yours, O sov'reign Lord. [Refrain]

3 O God, the Holy Spirit,

Who lives within our soul,

Send forth your light and lead us

To our eternal goal. [Refrain]

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Originally posted 5/26/2024.

Re-posted 6/15/2025.

DR Squared: The Solemnity Of The Most Holy Trinity (Year A)

First Reading:  Exodus 34:4b-6, 8-9

(A)nd rising very early he went up into the mount Sinai, as the Lord had commanded him, carrying with him the tables. And when the Lord was come down in a cloud, Moses stood with him, calling upon the name of the Lord. And when he passed before him, he said: O the Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, patient and of much compassion, and true, And Moses making haste, bowed down prostrate unto the earth, and adoring, Said: If I have found grace in thy sight: O Lord, I beseech thee, that thou wilt go with us, (for it is a stiffnecked people,) and take away our iniquities and sin, and possess us.

Responsorial Psalm:  Daniel 3:52b; V. 52, 53, 54, 55

R.  (A)nd worthy to be praised, and glorified, and exalted above all for ever:

V.  Blessed art thou, O Lord the God of our fathers:

     and worthy to be praised, and glorified, and exalted above all for ever:

     and blessed is the holy name of thy glory:

     and worthy to be praised, and exalted above all in all ages.

V.  Blessed art thou in the holy temple of thy glory:

     and exceedingly to be praised, and exceeding glorious for ever.

V.  Blessed art thou on the throne of thy kingdom,

     and exceedingly to be praised, and exalted above all for ever.

V.  Blessed art thou, that beholdest the depths,

     and sittest upon the cherubims:

     and worthy to be praised and exalted above all for ever.

Second Reading:  2 Corinthians 13:11-13

For the rest, brethren, rejoice, be perfect, take exhortation, be of one mind, have peace; and the God of peace and of love shall be with you. Salute one another with a holy kiss. All the saints salute you. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the charity of God, and the communication of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Amen.

Gospel Reading:  John 3:16-18

For God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son; that whosoever believeth in him, may not perish, but may have life everlasting. For God sent not his Son into the world, to judge the world, but that the world may be saved by him. He that believeth in him is not judged. But he that doth not believe, is already judged: because he believeth not in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Saturday Of The Eighth Week In Ordinary Time (Year II)

First Reading:  Jude 17, 20b-25

But you, my dearly beloved, be mindful of the words which have been spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, building yourselves upon your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, unto life everlasting. And some indeed reprove, being judged:  But others save, pulling them out of the fire. And on others have mercy, in fear, hating also the spotted garment which is carnal. Now to him who is able to preserve you without sin, and to present you spotless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, in the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, To the only God our Saviour through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory and magnificence, empire and power, before all ages, and now, and for all ages of ages. Amen.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 63 (62):2b; V. 2-3a, 3b-4, 5-6

R.  For thee my soul hath thirsted; for thee my flesh, O how many ways!

V.  O God, my God, to thee do I watch at break of day.

     For thee my soul hath thirsted; for thee my flesh, O how many ways!

     In a desert land, and where there is no way, and no water:

V.  (S)o in the sanctuary have I come before thee,

     to see thy power and thy glory.

     For thy mercy is better than lives:

     thee my lips shall praise.

V.  Thus will I bless thee all my life long:

     and in thy name I will lift up my hands.

     Let my soul be filled as with marrow and fatness:

     and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips.

Gospel Reading: Mark 11:27-33

And they come again to Jerusalem. And when he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests and the scribes and the ancients, And they say to him: By what authority dost thou these things? and who hath given thee this authority that thou shouldst do these things? And Jesus answering, said to them: I will also ask you one word, and answer you me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men? Answer me. But they thought with themselves, saying: If we say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did you not believe him? If we say, From men, we fear the people. For all men counted John that he was a prophet indeed. And they answering, say to Jesus: We know not. And Jesus answering, saith to them: Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Optional Memorial Of Saint Paul VI, Pope

First Reading:  1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23

For if I preach the gospel, it is no glory to me, for a necessity lieth upon me: for woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel. For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation is committed to me:  What is my reward then? That preaching the gospel, I may deliver the gospel without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel. For whereas I was free as to all, I made myself the servant of all, that I might gain the more. To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak. I became all things to all men, that I might save all. And I do all things for the gospel's sake: that I may be made partaker thereof.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 96 (95):3;V. 1-2a, 2b-3, 7-8a, 10

R.  Declare his glory among the Gentiles: his wonders among all people.

V.  Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle:

     sing to the Lord, all the earth.

     Sing ye to the Lord and bless his name:

V.  (S)hew forth his salvation from day to day.

     Declare his glory among the Gentiles:

     his wonders among all people.

V.  Bring ye to the Lord, O ye kindreds of the Gentiles,

     bring ye to the Lord glory and honour:

     Bring to the Lord glory unto his name.

V.  Say ye among the Gentiles, the Lord hath reigned.

     For he hath corrected the world, which shall not be moved:

     he will judge the people with justice.  

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 16:13-19

And Jesus came into the quarters of Caesarea Philippi: and he asked his disciples, saying: Whom do men say that the Son of man is? But they said: Some John the Baptist, and other some Elias, and others Jeremias, or one of the prophets. Jesus saith to them: But whom do you say that I am? Simon Peter answered and said: Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answering, said to him: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven. And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

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Originally posted 5/29/2025.

DR Squared: Friday Of The Eighth Week In Ordinary Time (Year II)

First Reading:  1 Peter 4:7-13

But the end of all is at hand. Be prudent therefore, and watch in prayers. But before all things have a constant mutual charity among yourselves: for charity covereth a multitude of sins. Using hospitality one towards another, without murmuring, As every man hath received grace, ministering the same one to another: as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak, as the words of God. If any man minister, let him do it, as of the power, which God administereth: that in all things God may be honoured through Jesus Christ: to whom is glory and empire for ever and ever. Amen. Dearly beloved, think not strange the burning heat which is to try you, as if some new thing happened to you; But if you partake of the sufferings of Christ, rejoice that when his glory shall be revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 96:10, 11-12, 13

R.  (B)ecause he cometh to judge the earth.

V.  Say ye among the Gentiles, the Lord hath reigned.

     For he hath corrected the world, which shall not be moved:

     he will judge the people with justice.

V.  Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad,

     let the sea be moved, and the fulness thereof:

     The fields and all things that are in them shall be joyful.

     Then shall all the trees of the woods rejoice

V.  Before the face of the Lord, because he cometh:

     because he cometh to judge the earth.

     He shall judge the world with justice,

     and the people with his truth.

Gospel Reading:  Mark 11:11-26

And he entered into Jerusalem, into the temple: and having viewed all things round about, when now the eventide was come, he went out to Bethania with the twelve. And the next day when they came out from Bethania, he was hungry. And when he had seen afar off a fig tree having leaves, he came if perhaps he might find any thing on it. And when he was come to it, he found nothing but leaves. For it was not the time for figs. And answering he said to it: May no man hereafter eat fruit of thee any more for ever. And his disciples heard it. And they came to Jerusalem. And when he was entered into the temple, he began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the chairs of them that sold doves. And he suffered not that any man should carry a vessel through the temple; And he taught, saying to them: Is it not written, My house shall be called the house of prayer to all nations? But you have made it a den of thieves. Which when the chief priests and the scribes had heard, they sought how they might destroy him. For they feared him, because the whole multitude was in admiration at his doctrine. And when evening was come, he went forth out of the city. And when they passed by in the morning they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter remembering, said to him: Rabbi, behold the fig tree, which thou didst curse, is withered away. And Jesus answering, saith to them: Have the faith of God. Amen I say to you, that whosoever shall say to this mountain, Be thou removed and be cast into the sea, and shall not stagger in his heart, but believe, that whatsoever he saith shall be done; it shall be done unto him. Therefore I say unto you, all things, whatsoever you ask when ye pray, believe that you shall receive; and they shall come unto you. And when you shall stand to pray, forgive, if you have aught against any man; that your Father also, who is in heaven, may forgive you your sins. But if you will not forgive, neither will your Father that is in heaven, forgive you your sins.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Thursday Of The Eighth Week In Ordinary Time (Year II)

First Reading:  1 Peter 2:2-5, 9-12

As newborn babes, desire the rational milk without guile, that thereby you may grow unto salvation:  If so be you have tasted that the Lord is sweet. Unto whom coming, as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen and made honourable by God:  Be you also as living stones built up, a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. But you are a chosen generation, a kingly priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people: that you may declare his virtues, who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:  Who in time past were not a people: but are now the people of God. Who had not obtained mercy; but now have obtained mercy. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, to refrain yourselves from carnal desires which war against the soul, Having your conversation good among the Gentiles: that whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by the good works, which they shall behold in you, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 100 (99):2c; V. 2, 3, 4, 5

R.  Come in before his presence with exceeding great joy.

V.  Sing joyfully to God, all the earth:

     serve ye the Lord with gladness.

     Come in before his presence with exceeding great joy.

V.  Know ye that the Lord he is God:

     he made us, and not we ourselves.

     We are his people and the sheep of his pasture.

V.  Go ye into his gates with praise,

     into his courts with hymns:

     and give glory to him.

     Praise ye his name:

V.  For the Lord is sweet,

     his mercy endureth for ever,

     and his truth to generation and generation.

Gospel Reading:  Mark 10:46-52

And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho, with his disciples, and a very great multitude, Bartimeus the blind man, the son of Timeus, sat by the way side begging. Who when he had heard, that it was Jesus of Nazareth, began to cry out, and to say: Jesus son of David, have mercy on me. And many rebuked him, that he might hold his peace; but he cried a great deal the more: Son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus, standing still, commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying to him: Be of better comfort: arise, he calleth thee. Who casting off his garment leaped up, and came to him. And Jesus answering, said to him: What wilt thou that I should do to thee? And the blind man said to him: Rabboni, that I may see. And Jesus saith to him: Go thy way, thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he saw, and followed him in the way.

The readings form the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Optional Memorial Of Saint Augustine Of Canterbury, Bishop

First Reading:  1 Thessalonians 2:2b-8

(W)e had confidence in our God, to speak unto you the gospel of God in much carefulness. For our exhortation was not of error, nor of uncleanness, nor in deceit:  But as we were approved by God that the gospel should be committed to us: even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God, who proveth our hearts. For neither have we used, at any time, the speech of flattery, as you know; nor taken an occasion of covetousness, God is witness:  Nor sought we glory of men, neither of you, nor of others. Whereas we might have been burdensome to you, as the apostles of Christ: but we became little ones in the midst of you, as if a nurse should cherish her children:  So desirous of you, we would gladly impart unto you not only the gospel of God, but also our own souls: because you were become most dear unto us. 

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 96 (95):3; V. 1-2a, 2b-3, 7-8a, 10

R.  Declare his glory among the Gentiles: his wonders among all people.

V.  Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle:

     sing to the Lord, all the earth.

     Sing ye to the Lord and bless his name:

V.  (S)hew forth his salvation from day to day.

     Declare his glory among the Gentiles:

     his wonders among all people.

V.  Bring ye to the Lord, O ye kindreds of the Gentiles,

     bring ye to the Lord glory and honour:

     Bring to the Lord glory unto his name.

V.  Say ye among the Gentiles, the Lord hath reigned.

     For he hath corrected the world, which shall not be moved:

     he will judge the people with justice. 

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 9:35-38

And Jesus went about all the cities, and towns, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease, and every infirmity. And seeing the multitudes, he had compassion on them: because they were distressed, and lying like sheep that have no shepherd. Then he saith to his disciples, The harvest indeed is great, but the labourers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send forth labourers into his harvest.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

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Originally posted 5/27/2025.