Communion of Saints: "See You in the Eucharist!"

The Communion of Saints is a teaching that has been taught by the Church ever since the 4th century, unarguably. It's from the Apostle's Creed where it states we believe in "One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, the Communion of Saints," et cetera. So, it's stated early on, and it's something that is argued against [by non-Catholic traditions].

So, in the Bible in Matthew 15, Christ gives a parable about the lost sheep. In it, He says there will be more joy in Heaven over someone who has repented from his ways than someone who has been faithful the whole time. This shows that people who are in Heaven are still interacting with us here on earth.

When St. Thérèse of Lisieux died, one of the things she said was that she wanted to spend her Heaven doing good on earth. This reminds us of 1 Corinthians 13 where it talks about how love is not selfish; it's not self-serving. Once we are in Heaven, we want to do Good, and God bestows that upon us based upon what we were responsible for here on earth.

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"When St. Thérèse of Lisieux died,

one of the things she said was that

she wanted to spend her

Heaven doing good on earth."

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There are people who are closer to God than others. Such as Moses or Elijah, who actually made an appearance here on earth after they died. Reviewing that, we can see how God does have his chosen people that are closer with him and do greater works than any ole somebody.

The whole Communion of Saints references the words "Sancta" and "Sancti" which respectively mean, "in holy things," and "among holy people." The Doctrine of the Church even states, "What is the Church, if not the assembly of all the Saints?" (p. 946). Anybody can claim to be a Christian, but the Bible tells us, "They will know we are Christians by our love" (John 13:35). And so there are these people who have found the fullness of joy here on earth.

In Revelation, it references the prayers of the Saints... The Saints are mentioned all throughout the New Testament. As a convert coming into the Catholic Church, reviewing the concept of the Eucharist, I would hear people use the phrase, "See you in the Eucharist." It's literally this Holy Communion; it connects our community wholly. And so we hold that community with our brothers and sisters who have already passed on; whose souls are eternal, just as ours are and will be.

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"[The Eucharist] is literally this

Holy Communion; it connects our community wholly."

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We talk with them and ask them to pray for us since they have already gotten to that full union with God. Their prayers are stronger for us in that than they could have been while they were here in earth. We kind of have this "Big Brother" thing going on where they're looking out for us, and they're trying to ensure that we have their example to look after. They haven't abandoned us, just as Christ didn't abandon us when he went to Heaven after His death. He left His grace with us.

Now we have the ability to find that communion with them through the Eucharist where we are unified in the Body of Christ as the foundation in a very transcendental way. Christ tells us to, "Be Holy as I am Holy." We are called to that kind of Holiness. The Communion of Saints are the people who have reached that type of Holiness, and then proceeded into Heaven. Now they are supportive to us as we attempt to achieve the same things they achieved in their walk with God.

That's the summary of it all: Holy things among holy people, and "What is the Church if not the assembly of all the Saints?" I pray that we have more people that will be in that assembly, and that we can all grow together to get there. God bless!

*This blog is a transcript of this video I posted in 2013.