St. Hilary of Poitiers: "The nature of this subject exhausts the meaning of words"

“I MUST undertake something that cannot be limited and venture upon something that cannot be comprehended, so that I may speak about God who cannot be accurately defined. He fixed the names of the nature—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Whatever is sought over and above this transcends the meaning of words, the limits of perception, and the concepts of understanding. It may not be expressed, attained, or grasped. The nature of this subject exhausts the meaning of words, an impenetrable light darkens the vision of the mind, and whatever is without limits is beyond the capacity of our power of reasoning.”

~St. Hilary of Poitiers: On the Trinity, Bk. 2, Chap. 5.(Note: The quote above is a translation by Fr. John Willis, S.J., which is other than the translation linked to at newadvent.org and amazon.com)

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