The Communion of Saints The Communion of Saints puts the word "HOPE" in my head, thus today's Scripture: "It is in you, the hope for glory" Colossians 1:27b 

When we pray the Creed and Holy Rosary, we are ac knowledging what we believe, and among those beliefs is the "communion of saints." We pray it often, but what does this communion of saints really mean? 

There were times that I struggled with this in my mind and I wish to share the meaning I have come to under stand. 

First, what is a "communion?" We generally think of it as receiving Holy Communion, the Body and Blood of Christ, but there's more to the meaning, namely: 

A body of Christians with a common religious belief, who practice that faith, in our case the Roman Cath olic faith, and love our Lord Jesus, with whom we are one in body, mind, and spirit. 

Secondly, who are the "saints?". Briefly, the saints are those who have been canonized by the Church, are in Heaven and are capable of interceding for us here on earth. These are the saints with a capitai "S." There are three groups of saints...those who have died and gone directly to Heaven...those who died and are currently in a state of purification preparing to enter Heaven, and the third group who are living members of the Church whose actions have not excluded them from Heaven. So, there are four groups who constitute the Communion of Saints. 

Next, those who are in this "Communion" fall into three groups, whose names we might not have associated with communion. They are the following: 

The Church Militant: Those of us who are still alive and making our effort to triumph over sin. The Church Triumphant: Those who have died and gone straight to Heaven The Church Suffering: Those who are currently in Purgatory who are in a state of purification and are the souls we pray for here on earth, that the gates of Heaven will be opened to them. 

The "Communion of Saints" may be seen as the spiritual union that exists among the saints in Heaven, the souls in Purgatory, and the faithful living on earth. Lumen Genti um stated it this way: "...the living communion which ex ists between our brothers (and sisters) who are in the glory of Heaven or who are not yet purified after their death..." 

And, of course, those of us yet living with the hope that Heaven will be our final destination. 

This is a short, but hopefully, a meaningful explanation of the Communion of Saints...the unity and cooperation of The Church Militant, The Church Triumphant, and The Church Suffering. 

In the interim... Stay Strong...Be Safe...Pray...and start each day with a grateful heart. 

Deacon Loris

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