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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St. Hilary: Blessed Trinity

THOU unbegotten God, the Sire,
And Thou, the sole-begotten Son,
Who, with the Spirit’s sacred fire,
Art everlasting, three in one.

~St. Hilary of Poitiers: Deus Pater Ingenite.

The Adoration of the Trinity, by Albrecht Dϋrer.
Oil on lindenwood, 1511; Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna.

St. Hilary: "A clear definition of God"

“I am Who am” (Ex. 3:14). I was filled with admiration at such a clear definition of God, which spoke of the incomprehensible nature in language most suitable to our human understanding. It is known that there is nothing more characteristic of God than to be, because that itself which is does not belong to those things which will one day end or to those which had a beginning. But, that which combines eternity with the power of unending happiness could never not have been, nor is it possible that one day it will not be, because what is divine is not liable to destruction nor does it have a beginning. And since the eternity of God will not be untrue to itself in anything, He has revealed to us in a fitting manner this fact alone, that He is, in order to render testimony to His everlasting eternity.

~St. Hilary of Poitiers (c. 300 – c. 368): On the Trinity, Bk. 1, Chap. 5.