MARY AND THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS

CHURCH
- An assembly of God's people called to come together in communion to partake of that one bread
who is Christ.

CHRIST

- The head of this body, which is the Church

- The image of the invisibleGod

All of the members must be formed to His likeness until Christ be formed in them. For this reason, we
who have been made like to Him, who have died with Him and risen with Him, are taken up into the
mysteries of His life, until we reign together with Him.

Acts 2: 42
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to
prayer.

When God sent His Son into the world as Messiah, His aim of intervention in our lives is to establish
the new people of God- the community of saints. The Church grew among those who were the official
witnesses of Jesus. In faith and baptism, an individual is fused into the community, that is, it numbers
them among the saints the people who made up of those redeemed by the Lord.

TWO MEANINGS OF THE PHRASE "THE COMUNION OF SAINTS"

1. COMMUNION ON HOLY THINGS (SANCTA)

2. COMMUNION IN HOLY PEOPLE (SANCTI)

Both senses are true of the Church.

SANCTA

- Communion in faith- by taking to heart the teachings of the apostles

- Communion of charismsCommunion in the Sacraments and Prayers- especially Baptism and the
EucharistCommunion of common goods- in possession as we share things in common

- Communion of charity
SANCTI- Three States

1. The Church Militant - The pilgrims on earth

2. The Church Penitent - Those who are being purified

3. The Church Triumphant-Those who are already in glory

The communion of saints is the spiritual solidarity which binds together:

1. the faithful on earth,

2. the souls in purgatory,

3. and the saints in heaven

into the mystical body of Christ. In other words, WE ARE ALL ONE

These three states of the Church are also known as:

* The Church Militant - On earth

* The Church Suffering - In Purgatory

* The Church Triumphant - In Heaven

The saints we ask to pray for us are those men and women who the church declares, after close
scrutiny, to have made it from The Church Militant to their Heavenly reward in the Church Triumphant.

* The communion of saints has to do with a family relationship.

* We are all the adopted sons and daughters of God, through our baptism.

* We are sisters and brothers in Christ.

* Communion is possible because of God's grace.

* We all share spiritual gifts:

- Love for God and one another

- The Sacraments, especially the Eucharist

- Readiness to help those in need

- Praying for one another.

We do not Worship Saints!

* Saints are honored or venerated.

* Only God is worshiped or adored.

* The word "worship", just as many words in the English language, has changed in meaning. It now
means something reserved only for God.

* If people used to "worship" Mary, it was not meant in the same manner as Adoration of God.

* It was meant as honoring her.

Saints

* Holy persons (Latin "sanctus" -holy, consecrated)

* St. Paul describes a believer as a saint and routinely calls Christian communities saints. (eg Eph
1:1; 2Cor 1:1).

SAINTS
•We are all one family in heaven and on earth, united together, as children of the Father.
Eph. 3:14-15-
•We are called to be saints. Saints refer to both those on earth and in heaven who are in Christ. 1
Cor. 1:2; Rom. 1:7 -

COMMUNIO SANCTORUM
This expression also refers to the communion between holy persons (sancti); that is, between those
who by grace are united to the dead and risen Christ. Some are pilgrims on the earth; others, having
passed from this life, are undergoing purification and are helped also by our prayers. Others already
enjoy the glory of God and intercede for us. All of these together form in Christ one family, the
Church, to the praise and glory of the Trinity - CCC 961-962

CHURCH MILITANT
For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the
authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in
the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12
For though we live in the world we are not carrying on a worldly war, for the weapons of our warfare
are not worldly but have divine power to destroy strongholds.
2 COR 10:4
DEVOTION TO MARY

* "All generations will call me blessed"

* Hail Mary/Ave Maria

* Rosary and Angelus

* Novenas

* Pilgrimages

* Special prayers eg Memorare

What do all these mean to me... ?

* It reminds us, that individually, we are all called to be "saints";

- "be holy, for I am holy," (Lev 11:44 and 45)

- "Be perfect, as your heavenly Father isperfect" (Mt 5:48)

* It invites us to live a life of:

- Faith

- Hope

- Charity