What Is The Communion Of Saints

  What exactly is meant by the communion of Saints and where does it come from. In the Catholic Church the communion of Saints is the combination of the people alive on earth, the souls going through purification in purgatory that are being made ready to enter Heaven and those people that are already in Heaven. Those people that are in Hell are not part of the Communion of Saints.
  

Christ in Heaven with four Saints and a Donor

               Excellent Video On The Communion Of Saints

The center  or heart of the catholic church is communion. When we baptize a baby or anyone they are accepted into the communion of saints. Every time at Mass we recite the creed we are recognizing that we are all part of the communion of saints. When we celebrate the person at their funeral we are celebrating the fact that they are passing from this blessed life to the blessed life in eternity.

                                     Apostles Creed

  " I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord: Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen. "

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Baptizing a Baby in the Catholic Church

  From the beginning of the church there has always been a community. It is seen in scripture that after the day of Pentecost the apostles went to different homes to celebrate and partake in the Eucharist. This sharing in the Eucharist would make the members of the church one. From the start of the church it has always been known the we as Christians have an obligation to each other. Therefore together we form a community and come together as one family.
 

Pentecost Sunday

Apostles and  The Eucharist

  So where are the origins of the communion of saints in the bible? We read in 2 Maccabees  15:11-16 The Prophet Jeremiah is praying for the Jews centuries after his own death.  In Tobit 12:1-22 Raphael is one of the seven holy angels of God that presents the prayers of the saints. There are many other places in the bible for proof of the communion of saints. Here is a link to catholic apologetic s for the communion of saints http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2507728/posts . Here is a link from the catholic encyclopedia on the communion of saints http://www.ewtn.com/library/DOCTRINE/CECOMMSA.TXT  .

Tobit and Raffael

   Finally my favourite is Hebrews 12:1 where we read about a great cloud of witnesses. I always like to pray every morning when I am alone and ask my family and friends that have passed on to pray for all my children, family and Friends that are alive on earth. I also pray and ask for help from God, Jesus, The Holy Spirit and Mary the Mother Of God as well as the Angels. Here is an excellent link to an article on the great cloud of witnesses http://www.catholicchapterhouse.com/blog/2012/11/02/we-are-surrounded-by-so-great-a-cloud-of-witnesses-heb-121/   .

  

All Saints Day

  Well I hope you enjoyed my brief post, the links and Pictures.
   Thank You for reading and God Bless.