Membership-of-the-Church.pdf

RALPH RIGOR M. CANLAPAN, RN Instructor, Theology 3 College of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (P) THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS The communion that exists among the different parts of the Church militant, suffering, and triumphant—has two closely linked meanings: communion “in holy things” (sancta) and...

RALPH RIGOR M. CANLAPAN, RN Instructor, Theology 3 College of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (P) THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS The communion that exists among the different parts of the Church militant, suffering, and triumphant—has two closely linked meanings: communion “in holy things” (sancta) and communion among “holy persons” (sancti) THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS When we celebrate the Holy Eucharist, we proclaim at the same time the mystery of the Church as communion. Together with the angels and saints in heaven, we worship and praise the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as we acclaim “Holy, Holy, Holy…” The spiritual goods shared by Christ's believers are: Faith. The faith of the faithful is the faith of the Church. Sacraments. Means of sanctification are entrusted to the Church-the sacraments, most especially the Eucharist which celebrates and creates Christian community. Charisms. Each one receives charisms for the benefit of all (cf. 1 Cor 12:7). The spiritual goods shared by Christ's believers are: Wealth. “They had everything in common” (Acts 4:32). Charity. “None of us lives for oneself, and no one dies for oneself” (Rom 14:7). “If [one] part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if (one) part is honored, all the parts share its joy. Now you are Christ's body, and individually parts of it” (1 Cor 12:26-27). (cf. CCC 949-953). THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS Intercession of the Saints. “Being more closely united to Christ, those who dwell in heaven fix the whole Church more firmly in holiness... They 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” (CCC 956). THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS Communion with the Saints. “Exactly as Christian communion among our fellow pilgrims brings us closer to Christ, so our communion with the saints joins us to Christ, from whom as from its fountain and head issues all grace, and the life of the People of God itself” (CCC 957). THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS Communion with the Dead. “In full consciousness of this communion of the whole Mystical Body of Jesus Christ, the Church in its pilgrim members, from the very earliest days of the Christian religion, has honored with great respect the memory of the dead, and because it is a holy and a wholesome thought to pray for the dead that they may be loosed from their sins, she offers her suffrages for them. Our prayer for them is capable not only of helping them, but also of making their intercession for us effective” (CCC 958). The doctrine of communion of the saints points us to the Church as sacrament and mystery of communion and gives us a clear picture of the one Church as one God's family in which the life of all members, especially those who are suffering, poor, and persecuted, are linked in Christ and nourished through prayer, the Holy Eucharist, the exchange of spiritual goods, and penitential expiation. REMEMBER: Only those who are in the state of grace share fully in this communion. Those who are in the state of sin are only in imperfect communication even as the good deeds of others can help in their conversion. But the damned souls in hell are excluded from the communion of saints (cf. Belmonte, 1993). THE SUFFERING CHURCH Experience teaches us that there are people who die so suddenly, they have not had the opportunity to confess their sins, but are not guilty of serious “death dealing” sin and separation from God. Purgatory is “the state of final purification,” so that those who died in the state of grace but are weighed down by the remnants of selfishness and sin may be purified and thus enter into everlasting glory with the Lord (CFC 2104). Why do Catholics pray for the dead? In the Old Testament, Judas Maccabeus prayed, and even offered sacrifice, for a soldier who died in battle and was suspected to have committed apostasy. (Read 2 Mc 12:41-45.) Judas Maccabeus' gesture of prayer for the dead showed his hope for the final resurrection and in God's forgiveness. He hoped that God would forgive those who died at the end of an uncertain life (not ready for heaven but not worthy of eternal fire). Why do Catholics pray for the dead? His example shows also the belief that the living are capable of praying on behalf of the dead. We can help the souls in Purgatory to expiate their temporal punishment by offering prayers and Masses. Why do Catholics pray for the dead? All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven. THE PILGRIM CHURCH We have been emphasizing that the “militant” or “pilgrim” Church to which we all belong as baptized individuals is the sacrament of salvation, which is the sign and the instrument of the communion of God and all humanity. It means that we will be saved by means of the Church. THE PILGRIM CHURCH It also means that the Church is the sign and instrument of our coming together as the People of God, nourished with the Body of Christ (Eucharist) to become the Body of Christ (Church). THE TRIUMPHANT CHURCH The Church in heaven is called the triumphant Church because it is where the saints receive their ultimate victory, namely, the reward of eternal blessedness, the fullness of life, and the direct contemplation of God also called as beatific vision. THE TRIUMPHANT CHURCH While on earth, we have a foretaste of heaven through the Eucharist where members of the People of God are gathered together as one Body of Christ to share in the banquet of the Lord and to offer praise and thanksgiving to God in the company of saints and angels.