Perhaps no words in the Creed mean less to the average Catholic than "I believe in the communion of saints." But when you understand these words, you see that they can mean much for your spiritual life. Communion first of all means sharing good things, especially nourishment and other things necessary for life. Christ is the Head of this spiritual communion of His grace and blessings for salvation. He shares the riches of His grace through the sacraments. The Holy Spirit also governs and guides the whole Church as well as its individual members. These divine gifts and the good things they engender-like charity, the teaching of faith, the example of hope-are the blessings we receive and share with other members of the Church and with people of good will, especially other Christians who are closely related to the Church by grace in their souls.

This communion has three states of being: the heavenly Church, the Church of the holy souls on their way to the heavenly Church (or the Church being purified), and the Church on earth. The Church on earth is often called the Church militant because we are engaged in the struggle against sin and evil. Today we will consider the heavenly Church, where we all seek to go. This is a reality which "eye has not seen, nor ear heard," nor can we think of it in adequate terms. The best description comes from Christ's beautiful but simple expression: "My Father's house." There is also the fascinating and mysterious description in the Book of Revelation, chapters 19 through 22. Perhaps the most important thing for us to remember about the heavenly Church is that the saints are our brothers and sisters and that by their prayers they assist us in our spiritual and material needs. Our Blessed Mother, Queen of all Saints, leads the intercession for us. We also learn from the saints that if they are friends to us, who are struggling souls on earth, we should be friends to one another.

Quotation for Meditation

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (§ 954, 955, 956)

"All of us, however, in varying degrees and in different ways share in the same charity towards God and our neighbors, and we all sing the one hymn of glory to our God. All, indeed, who are of Christ and who have his Spirit form one Church and in Christ cleave together" (See Lumen Gentium, 49; Eph. 4:16).

"So it is that the union of the wayfarers with the brethren who sleep in the peace of Christ is in no way interrupted, but on the contrary, according to the constant faith of the Church, this union is reinforced by an exchange of spiritual goods" (See Lumen Gentium, 49).

The intercession of the saints. "Being more closely united to Christ, those who dwell in heaven fix the whole Church more firmly in holiness. . . . [T]hey do not cease to intercede with the Father for us, as they proffer the merits which they acquired on earth through the one mediator between God and men, Christ Jesus. . . . So by their fraternal concern is our weakness greatly helped" (See Lumen Gentium, 49; 1 Tim. 2:5).

"Do not weep, for I shall be more useful to you after my death and I shall help you then more effectively than during my life" (St. Dominic, dying, to his brothers). "I want to spend my heaven in doing good on earth" (St. Thérèse of Lisieux).

Quiet Time and Then Discussion

Questions for Meditation

1. Do you think occasionally of the saints in heaven and the help they have given us?

2. Do you ever study the lives of the saints to learn from them?

3. Are there any saintly souls around us in this life?

Prayer

O Lord Jesus Christ, You are the King of all Saints, of heaven and of earth. Through Your Mystical Body, the Church, we share in Your grace and glory. Help us to be Your instruments to bring Your salvation to others and to live by Your holy words. Amen.