VI.
The Triune God
The confession outlines the doctrine of the Trinity, defining the distinct persons of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit within the unity of the divine essence.
VI. Holy Scripture teaches us that in this one, simple divine essence we have confessed, there are three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.1 The Father is the first cause, principle, and origin of all things.2 The Son is His eternal Word and Wisdom. The Holy Spirit is His might, power, and efficacy.3 The Son is eternally begotten of the Father. The Holy Spirit proceeds eternally from both; the three persons are not confused but distinct, yet not divided, sharing one and the same essence, eternity, power, and equality.4
Faithful Witness
The church affirms its alignment with the ancient councils and the orthodox teachings of the early church fathers.
And in this we confess what has been determined by the ancient councils, and we detest all sects and heresies that have been rejected by the holy doctors, such as Saint Hilary, Saint Athanasius, Saint Ambrose, and Saint Cyril.
Read the original French
VI. Cette Ecriture sainte nous enseigne qu’en cette seule et simple essence divine, que nous avons confessée, il y a trois personnes, le Père, le Fils, et le Saint-Esprit. Le Père, première cause, principe et origine de toutes choses. Le Fils, sa parole et sapience éternelle. Le Saint-Esprit, sa vertu, puissance et efficace. Le Fils éternellement engendré du Père. Le Saint-Esprit procédant éternellement de tous deux, les trois personnes non confuses, mais distinctes, et toutefois non divisées, mais d’une même essence, éternité, puissance et égalité. Et en cela avouons ce qui a été déterminé par les conciles anciens, et détestons toutes sectes et hérésies qui ont été rejetées par les saints docteurs, comme saint Hilaire, saint Athanase, saint Ambroise, et saint Cyrille.
Notes
- 1 ↩"simple" renders simple as divine simplicity (not undemanding or unsophisticated).
- 2 ↩"principle" renders principe as source/principium, not a moral rule.
- 3 ↩"might" renders vertu as operative force (virtus), not moral virtue; efficace is the Spirit's effective working.
- 4 ↩"from both" renders de tous deux: the Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son (Filioque).
French Confession of Faith (Confession de La Rochelle / Gallican Confession) companion
Rule yourself daily, not just on retreat
Chosen Portion turns the mirror into a daily practice — a short reading and examining question each morning before you lead anyone.
Chosen Portion makes the mirror daily: the ruler-formation questions this collection preserves become a two-minute morning examination in the app.
- A daily formation reading drawn from centuries of counsel to those in authority
- One pointed examination question a day — two minutes, before the meetings start
- Track your practice over weeks and watch the examined life become a habit