Dear Father, a friend told me about a prayer called the Trisagium Angelicum which she prays in a group to which she belongs. I had never heard of it. What is it?
I think few people would be aware of this ancient prayer to the Blessed Trinity, so it is good that you ask the question.
After all, we Catholics should be familiar with the many aspects of our rich cultural and spiritual heritage.
The Trisagium Angelicum, or Angelic Trisagion, is a prayer of devotion to the Blessed Trinity elaborated by the Order of the Blessed Trinity, better known as the Trinitarians.
The Trisagium is their official prayer, and has been recited by them and many others for centuries.
The Trinitarians were founded in 1198 by St John de Matha and St Felix of Valois with the special mission of ransoming Christians held captive by nonbelievers as a result of the Crusades and the activities of pirates along the Mediterranean coast.
They also served the people of their local communities by performing works of mercy.
From the outset, a special dedication to the mystery of the Blessed Trinity was an essential element of their spirituality.
Returning to the Trisagium, the devotion begins with some brief opening prayers concluding with the Glory be.
This is followed by the Trinitarian antiphon, “Holy is God, Holy and strong, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us” and the Our Father.
The heart of the devotion is a verse and response repeated nine times: “To you, O Blessed Trinity, be praise, and honour, and thanksgiving, for ever and ever! Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of hosts.
Heaven and earth are filled with your glory,” followed by the Glory be.
These prayers, from the antiphon to the Glory be to the Father are said three times in honour of the three divine Persons.
The final prayers begin with another prayer to the Blessed Trinity: “God the Father unbegotten, only-begotten Son, and Holy Spirit, the Comforter: holy and undivided Trinity, with all our heart and voice we acknowledge you, we praise you, and we bless you: glory to you forever.”
Then another verse and response: “Let us bless the Father, and the Son with the Holy Spirit. Be praised and exalted above all things forever.”
The concluding prayer is: “Almighty, ever-living God, who has permitted us your servants, in our profession of the true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of that majesty to adore the Unity, grant that by steadfastness in this same faith, we may be ever guarded against all adversity: through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
Then all say: “Set us free, save us, vivify us, O Blessed Trinity!”
Why is this devotion called the Angelic Trisagion?
The Greek word trisagion means “thrice holy.” It refers especially to the threefold “Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of hosts” at the heart of the devotion.
These words come from the prophet Isaiah who saw a vision of the Lord sitting on a throne with the seraphim calling out: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory” (Is 6:3).
The same words come in the book of Revelation, where the four living creatures never cease vto sing “Holy, holy, holy” to the Lord God Almighty (cf Rev 4:8). The liturgy of the Church takes up this praise of God in every Mass in the Sanctus, or Holy, holy, holy.
But why is it called the Angelic Trisagion when there is no express mention of angels in any of the prayers?
The answer undoubtedly comes in the fact that it is the angels, the seraphim, who cry out “Holy, holy, holy” in the prophecy of Isaiah, an image of their praise of God in heaven.
The praise of Christ, “Holy is God, Holy and strong, Holy Immortal One” is found in the Eastern liturgies, both Orthodox and Catholic, before the reading of the New Testament and in the Divine Office.
It is also used in the liturgy of the Latin rite on Good Friday in the reproaches that may be recited during the adoration of the Cross.
So the Trisagium has a long history, going back to the Old Testament, and it expresses exalted praise of the Blessed Trinity.
It can be found in many prayer books and even on apps for mobile phones. It is a beautiful devotion to use in families, parishes and other groups before the feast of the Blessed Trinity.