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Catholic Catechism (228-231)
IN BRIEF
228 “Hear, O Israel, the Lord
our God is one Lord
. . . .” (Deut 6:4; Mk 12:29). “The supreme being must be unique, without equal . . . If God is not one, he is not God” (Tertullian, Adv. Marc., 1, 3, 5: PL 2, 274).
229 Faith in God leads us to turn to him alone as our first origin and our ultimate goal, and neither to prefer anything to him nor to substitute anything for him.
230 Even when he reveals himself, God remains a mystery beyond words: “If you understood him, it would not be God” (St. Augustine, Sermo, 52, 6, 16: PL 38, 360 and>Sermo, 117, 3, 5: PL 38, 663).
231 The God of our faith has revealed himself as HE WHO IS; and he has made himself known as “abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” (Ex 34:6). God’s very being is Truth and Love.