By Alex J. Nagem © April 28, 2025

I was about five years old the first time I saw the statue of the Trinity on display in St. Alphonsus Church. Many Sunday mornings, I would attend Mass with my dad at St. Alphonsus Church. There was a 5:30 a.m. Mass the steel mill and mine workers before their shift begins. After Mass, my dad would hold my hand and show me the statues, explaining who each one represented. This was my dad’s parish when he was a young boy. My parents were always good teachers regarding religion. They reminded me, my brother, and my sister to pray often throughout the day. There was a fascination with getting up early on a Sunday and hanging out with my dad for several hours.

After Mass, we would stop at Green’s Donuts to pick up the breakfast treats for my dad’s tavern.  I would have the first choice from the boxes of fresh donuts. When we arrived at the tavern, Harold was waiting for us. Harold was the custodian for my dad. He always had funny stories to tell me and words of practical wisdom. He would always ask me if I prayed for him at Mass. At a young age, I felt special praying for Harold. It was an important responsibility to pray for someone at my young age. It is still significant today. I often wonder why he didn’t go to Mass and pray for himself. Harold had a few issues that may have kept him from entering a church. Without airing his faults, his request to a young boy of innocence to say a prayer for him may have been his only touch of religion he had in some time.

Is it hope for a better spiritual afterlife, fear of a horrifying, endless nightmare, or perhaps a constant feeling of guilt and a desire for forgiveness that strengthens our religious beliefs? Now we confront the concept of the Trinity. What influences our belief in a Triune God? The Trinity is challenging for many to explain, but as Catholics and Christians, we believe in the existence of the Trinity. We believe in one God in three persons, not in three separate gods or individuals.

I don’t want to delve too deeply into an area of theology that I may not be able to explain with confidence, but the easiest example I have found explaining the Trinity is by looking at water. Water can be a liquid, a solid, or steam. All three forms are water. We know this because we have seen the change when we watch a boiling pot of water release steam or take ice, frozen water, from the freezer.

Our understanding of our Triune God is revealed to us through the teachings of Jesus the Son of God in Scripture. The complexity of God can only be grasped by faith, which is my personal belief. However, having faith or believing in God is only part of the equation. We must also act in a way that reflects being a child of God. Perhaps this is where some people lose their connection to religion. They believe in God, but do not live as if they truly believe. It’s similar to someone being married but not acting as if they are married. There is a loss of respect for each other. Eventually, the entire relationship falls apart due to a lack of belief or trust in the sanctity of marriage.

Similarly, although we may believe in God, we might stray from our religious convictions if we fail to act like Christians or uphold the teachings in Scripture. For those who stray, it should not be our place to condemn but to pray for them. I believe in the power of silent prayer. I strive to listen to what God wants me to say, do, write, and think. However, my free will may hinder the process. This is why I ask for your prayers. We all need prayers recited on our behalf. What better gift can we give someone than the gift of prayer? While some may consider it a simple and easy gift, if you truly believe that a conversation with our Triune God can make a change in someone’s life, the gift of prayer is priceless. Perhaps your prayers will help someone who has lost their religious conviction, or never had it, find their way into the Light of Jesus Christ.

“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. He causes the sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than other? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as you heavenly Father is perfect.” Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:44-48)

My continued prayers are said with you in mind, as I hope my family and I are remembered in yours.

“Vocatus Atque Non Vocatus, Deus Aderit”

Alex J. Nagem