Thanks, St Athanasius, for your clarity:
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.
ARISE! LET US BE GOING! 
Sadly, even some supposedly Christian denominations deny the Blessed Trinity: Unitarians, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, Christian Scientists, some Pentecostals and others.
The Church seemed so strong when I was growing up and the later realisation that we are living in a post-Christian world still jars. I knew such a time as this would come but I never expected it to be in my lifetime. All my relatives and most of my children have abandoned the Faith. It’s a lonely time for many who still believe what the Church teaches. Oftentimes, even our own agree with Pope Francis that we are “rigid” and “museum mummies”.
How I sympathise with you Aussie Mum. Both my children and my adult grandchildren have long abandoned the Faith. It is indeed a lonely time for those of us who still cling on against the odds.
Thank you Pelerin. I was feeling quite lonely when I wrote but then your kind comment came and the warmth of mutual understanding eased that loneliness and brought to mind how God thinks of everything. He knew what our age would be like and has allowed the internet so that we are not isolated in our own physical surroundings but can be part of online communities gathered around sound priests. These communities are family too for we are brothers and sisters in Christ.
Aussie Mum… Did you know Carmel, from WW, way back in the day?
–== I have been triggered! ==–
Begin rant.
“Post Christian world.” Feh! One is free to believe any foolish thing one wants. We are in this world, but should not be of it.
End rant.
That diagram does explain the Holy Trinity inexplicably explicable. I can understand though why the word “begotten” trips up some people, like me. I believe anyway.
this is a response to responses…. ( NOT to the great Athanasian creed which staggers when contemplated)
Well..my patron saint is Saint Monica.
Father MacRae has some excellent posts (and examples) on not giving up hope for loved ones, here is one line:
“Just by virtue of the fact that you pray to restore the faith or freedom of a lost or drifting loved one is itself an answer to your prayer. Cling to that, please, and never, ever, ever give up subjecting your doubt to the power of prayer.”
So, in solidarity with moms, grandmothers, wives who mourn the loss of Faith in their families….keep praying! Never give up, even as it is out of your hands.
God is the God of the Living.
I think Father Byers has some posts about Jesus and Guardian Angels doing “whatever it takes”…maybe he can repost them, because I need the reminders too.
Up at 2:50am. Just got back from long day at 9:55pm.
When I grow up, I want to be just as industrious as you, Father! Sweet dreams.
Very well said, Monica! I yearned to say something as well, but had not the words. I see now that I was right to wait.
Thank you Monica for that quote from Father MacRae, it is encouraging.
“Carmel, from WW, way back in the day”? I learnt of Our Lady of Mt Carmel in childhood (1950s) when enrolled with my classmates in the Brown Scapula; but I gather you are speaking of something else Father, yet related?
She died about 2001. Lots of bishops and priests visiting her with all her illnesses and her offering all for priests and bishops. Amazing strong woman. She would see her guardian angel.
No, I hadn’t heard of her Father until now. Do you know where I could find more information about her?
Fr Peter Joseph!
I don’t know Father Peter Joseph personally, so can’t ask him about her. Does he speak of her in one of his books? If so and if not expensive I could probably order that from Cardinal Newman Faith Resources in Sydney.
I’m sure not. She was pretty quiet.
A woman I knew in Albury just came to mind. We used to speak after Mass at St Patrick’s some years ago. She was dying, of cancer I think, and was a lovely woman with great faith. I used to marvel at how strong she was and am now wondering if she is the woman who offered her sufferings for priests and bishops that you mention.
Wagga Wagga. I used to bring her Holy Communion.
Albury is about an hour from Wagga Wagga. The lady I was thinking of was still mobile when I knew her but would have been bed-bound later and perhaps moved to Wagga Wagga before that. Probably a different person but the woman I knew was someone I could well imagine offering her suffering for priests and bishops.