Ephesians 3:13-21
Brethren: I pray you not to faint at my tribulations for you, which are your glory. For this cause I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom all paternity in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened by His Spirit with might unto the inward man. That Christ may dwell by faith in your hearts; that being rooted and founded in charity, you may be able to comprehend with all the saints, what is the breadth and length, and height, and depth. To know also the charity of Christ, which surpasseth all knowledge; that you may be filled unto all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do all things more abundantly than we desire or understand, according to the power that worketh in us: to Him be glory in the Church, and in Christ Jesus, unto all generations, world without end. Amen.
Haydock
Verse 13. Wherefore, I beseech you, be not discouraged nor disheartened at my tribulations and persecutions on the account of the gospel, nor at your own, which ought to be a subject both for you and me to glory in. Wi.
Verse 14-15. For this cause I pray and bow my knees to the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom all paternity (or fatherhood[5]) in heaven and earth is named. The Greek word oftentimes signifies a family, and therefore may signify, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named; and thus the sense will be, that God is not only the Father of his eternal Son, but (as not only the Latin text, but even the Greek may signify) of all angelical spirits in heaven, and of all men, especially Christians, made his adoptive sons in baptism. But here may be signified not only a family, but those in particular who are honoured with the name and dignity of fathers; so that the name which they have of fathers, or patriarchs, is derived from God the Father of all, and communicated to them in an inferior degree. This exposition is found in S. Jerom, in Theodoret, Theophylact. S. John Damascen, &c. Wi. — All paternity, or the whole family; patria. God is the Father both of angels and men: whosoever besides is named father, is so named with subordination to him. Ch.
Verse 17. Christ dwelleth in us by his gifts, and we are just by those his gifts remaining in us; and not by Christ’s proper justice only, as some modern innovators will have it. B. — And this not by faith only, but by faith rooted and founded in charity, which accomplishes all virtues. Ibidem.
Verse 18. What is the breadth, &c. It is not expressed to what must be referred these metaphorical words of breadth, length, &c. Some expound them of the charity which in our hearts we ought to have for one another; others, of the love which Christ shewed towards mankind, in coming to redeem all. Wi. — What, &c. This thought seems borrowed from Job xi: “Peradventure thou wilt comprehend the steps of God, and wilt find out the Almighty perfectly.” The inspired writer then shews us how the Almighty is incomprehensible; for, says he, “God is higher than the heavens; and what wilt thou do? he is deeper than hell; and how wilt thou know? The measure of him is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.” The apostle, alluding to these words, prays that the Ephesians may have faith and charity sufficient to enable them to comprehend all that is comprehensible of God; as S. Dionysius explains it. But we are not hence to conclude, that there exists such a thing as dimension or size with regard to God, for he is a pure Spirit: but these expressions are merely metaphorical. For by breadth we are to understand his virtue and wisdom, which extend over all his creatures: (Eccl. i.) “he poured out wisdom upon all his works.” By length is meant his eternal duration: (Ps. ci.) “but thou, O Lord, remainest for ever.” By height we are taught the infinite superiority of his nature over ours: (Ps. cxii.) “The Lord is high above all nations.” And by depth we are shewn the incomprehensibility of his wisdom: (Ecclesiastes) “Wisdom is a great depth; who shall find it out?” Hence it appears that the end of faith and charity is, that we may arrive at a perfect faith; which may know, as far as it is intelligible, the greatness of his wisdom, his eternal duration, &c. S. Tho. Aquin. in Eph.
Verse 19. That you may be filled unto all the fulness of God; i.e. that as God is full of love and charity for all, so may you in an inferior degree, according as you are capable, be filled with charity. Wi.
Denzinger
275: The Trinity
COUNCIL OF TOLEDO XI 675 Creed of Faith (especially concerning the Trinity and the Incarnation)
We confess and believe the holy and ineffable Trinity, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, one God naturally, to be of one substance, one nature, and also of one majesty and power. And we profess that the Father, indeed, is not begotten, not created but unbegotten. For He from whom both the Son received His nativity and the Holy Spirit His procession takes His origin from no one. Therefore, He is the source and origin of all Godhead; also is the Father Himself of His own essence, He who ineffably begot the Son [Another version: Father, essence indeed ineffable, Son of His own substance] from an ineffable substance; nor did He, however, beget other than what He Himself is: God God, light light, from Him, therefore, is all paternity
1849: Socialism
From the Encyclical, "Quod Apostolici muneris," Dec. 28, 1878
From the records of the Gospels the equality of men consists in this, that all have received the same nature, and are called to the same highest dignity of the sons of God; and at the same time that, since the same end is established for all, each is to be judged individually according to the same law, to obtain punishments or rewards according to merit. An inequality of right and power, however, emanates from the very author of nature, “from whom all paternity in heaven and earth is named” [Eph. 3:15]. But the souls of princes and subjects, according to Catholic doctrine and precepts, are so bound by mutual duties and rights that both the passion for ruling is tempered and the way of obedience is made easy, steadfast, and most noble. . . .
83: The Holy Spirit
"Decree of DAMASUS" from the acts of the Roman Synod, in the year 382
It has been said: We must first treat of the sevenfold Spirit, which reposes in Christ, the Spirit of wisdom: Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God [1 Cor. 1:24]. The Spirit of understanding: I will give thee understanding, and I will instruct thee in this way, in which thou shalt go [Ps. 31:8]. The Spirit of counsel: And his name shall be called angel of great counsel [Is. 9:6: LXX]. The Spirit of power (as above): The power of God and the wisdom of God [1 Cor. 1:24]. The Spirit of knowledge: on account of the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus the apostle [Eph. 3:19]. The Spirit of truth:I am the way and the life and the truth [John 14:6]. The Spirit of fear [of God]: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom [Ps. 110:10] … [there follows an explanation of the various names of Christ:Lord, Word, Flesh, Shepherd, etc.] … For the Holy Spirit is not only the Spirit of the Father or not only the Spirit of the Son, but the Spirit of the Father and of the Son. For it is written: If anyone love the world, the Spirit of the Father is not in him [1 John 2:15; Rom. 8:9]. Likewise it is written:Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his [Rom. 8:9]. When the Father and the Son are mentioned in this way, the Holy Spirit is understood, of whom the Son himself says in the Gospel, that the Holy Spirit proceedeth from the Father [John 15:26], and he shall receive of mine and shall announce it to you [John 16:14.]