The Throne of the Trinity

[reiserclan]

I was wondering how to respond to my teenage son in regard to the Throne of the Trinity in heaven. My son wants to know if the three persons of the Holy Trinity are equivalent in their role and power and, if so, why God the Father is visualized in the center of the throne, God the Son is to His right hand and God the Holy Spirit is somewhere in-between? I think he perceives that the Person in the center must be the most powerful so how could They be equal?!

Does anyone have a good answer that I can pass along to him? I tried the CCC and scripture, but really didn’t seem to be able to “prove” anything.

Thanks.

 

[Church_Militant]

This is one of the most difficult mysteries of all Christianity. No one can say that he completely understands it, but that’s no big deal (to me). Most people seem to think that there must be some conflict between the persons of the trinity if they’re all equal. I think it’s a case of too many chiefs and not enough indians in our thinking that messes us up. The best answer that I’ve come up with is that it only makes sense that if God is perfect, then there is perfect harmony, understanding,and agreement between the persons themselves. I know it fails…but it’s the only one I can think of that makes any sense. Hope this helps some.
Pax vobiscum,

 

[reiserclan]

That is helpful and I think because it is a mystery it’s hard to define and delineate. I have read other Fathers of the Church and private revelations, but since it is my teenage son who I have to respond to, he wants to see something concrete in the bible or even from an encyclical from one of the Holy Fathers.

 

[RobedWithLight]

reiserclan:

I was wondering how to respond to my teenage son in regard to the Throne of the Trinity in heaven. My son wants to know if the three persons of the Holy Trinity are equivalent in their role and power and, if so, why God the Father is visualized in the center of the throne, God the Son is to His right hand and God the Holy Spirit is somewhere in-between? I think he perceives that the Person in the center must be the most powerful so how could They be equal?!

As persons they are equal in their power, majesty and wisdom.

Perhaps that manner of portraying the Blessed Trinity which you described was not meant to “prove” who is the most powerful among them, since I’m quite certain that is not what the artist who first drew it up had intended, and neither does the Church itself.

If there were symbolisms involved, let me venture to guess.

It is possible that the Son was portrayed at the right hand of the Father because that right hand symbolizes redemption as portrayed in the book of Revelation, where the redeemed were placed to the right and the damned on the left, and who else is the Redeemer who snatches (saves) these redeemed souls from the mouth of hell? Jesus Himself.

Gerry

 

[reiserclan]

Thank you RobedWithLight and Church Militant,

Both of your answers are very helpful. I appreciate your wisdom.

 

[JimG]

It’s helpful to keep in mind that God, as God, is pure spirit, having no materiality whatsoever. Thus, depictions of “placements” of the Persons of the Trinity can only have symbolic meaning. The Persons of the Trinity do not occupy space or time. (The Son, in his* human * nature, does have a body which can interact with space and time. As God, he also is pure spirit.)