St John Damascene was born in Damascus, hence his name, in the late seventh century. He was a priest and monk of the monastery of St Sabbas in Jerusalem. His writings are much treasured even today.

He said: ‘Think of the Father as a spring of life begetting the Son, like a river, and the Holy Ghost like a sea, for the spring and the river and sea are all one nature. Think of the Father as a root and of the Son as a branch and the Spirit as a fruit, for the substance in these three is one. The Father is a sun with the Son as rays and the Holy Ghost as heat’.

Today, let us listen carefully for God’s Word spoken in our hearts, for there the Trinity dwells through our Baptism. May God bless you and keep you close to Himself this day.