Trinity Sunday

   Trinity Sunday is a Festival of late institution, as the day on which it is observed was originally kept as the Octave of Whitsun Day. It was not until A.D. 1260 that it was first directed by the Synod of Aries to be observed by the whole Church as Trinity Sunday, although Thomas a Beckett is said to have instituted this Festival in England in A.D. 1162, and reference is made to it as early as A.D. 834. The observance of this day is very significant and rounds out or completes the former commemorations of the year. As set forth in "Thoughts on the Services," "The Church's services have culminated; to-day they mount up to the Throne of the Godhead; for knowing the Son and the Holy Ghost, we know the Father also, and that these Three are not three Gods, but one God. The Church to-day celebrates the glory and majesty of God in His essence and in His works. In the word Trinity, she simply sums up what is revealed concerning Him, -- that in Substance He is One, but in Persons, Three. . . . The Collect enables us to worship the Unity which exists in the power of the Divine Majesty, even while we acknowledge the glory of the Eternal Trinity." Proper Lessons, Proper Psalms and Proper Preface in the Communion Office emphasize the importance of the Festival and mark it as one of the great days of the Church. The ecclesiastical color is white.