Post on 04-Jun-2018
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Communion of the SaintsCCC 962: We believe in the communion of all the faithful of Christ, those who arepilgrims on earth, the dead who are being purified, and the blessed in heaven, all
together forming one Church; and we believe that in this communion, the merciful
love of God and his saints is always attentive to our prayers.
--In the Apostles Creed we say: We believe in the Communion of Saints.
Asking For the Prayers of Others in the Bible
Pray for one another, that you may be saved (James 5:16) God ordered Abimelech
to ask for Abrahams prayers, He shall pray for thee and thou shalt live. (Gen. 20:7)
I beseech you therefore, brethren, through Our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the charity
of the Holy Spirit, that you help me in your prayers for me to God. (Rom. 15:30)
Church Militant- People Earth-They have to struggle ceaselessly against theenemies of the soul. They can relieve the sufferings of the souls in purgatory byprayer, fasting, and other good works, by indulgences, and by Masses offered forthem.
Church Suffering- Souls in Purgatory- They still have to expiate for their sinsbefore they can enter heaven. They to the angels and saints and pray for the livingon earth. They cannot merit anything, either for themselves or for the living, butthey intercede for us.
Church TriumphantSaints in Heaven- They have gained the crown of victory.
The blessed in heaven can help those in purgatory and on earth by praying for them.Those on earth should honor them and pray to them, because they are worthy of
honor and as friends of God will help the faithful on earth. This is why we pray to theangels and saints that they may intercede for us before God the Father, who hasmade us to share of the lot of the saints in light. (Col. 1:12). When our loved ones
die, they are not separated from us forever. Whether in heaven or purgatory, theystill love us and pray for us.
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The Communion of Saints
Jesus the One Mediator and Mary the Mediatrix of All Graces
If Jesus is the only Mediator between God and man, than why do we call
Mary, the Mediatrix of All Graces?
First of all, then, I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and
thanksgivings be offered for everyone, for kings and for all in authority, that
we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity. This is good
and pleasing to God our savior, who wills everyone to be saved and to come
to knowledge of the truth. For there is one God. There is also one mediator
between God and the human race, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave
himself as ransom for all. ( 1Tim. 2:1-6)--All of us are mediate for one another with supplications, prayers,
petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone. We help each other
to get to heaven.
--Our Lords Mediation is Different. His mediation was accomplished as God,
who gave Himself as a ransom for all. No one could give oneself as a
ransom for all, except God. Only Jesus can redeem us, because He is God.Because as God, He took upon our human nature, only He could redeem us
on the Cross. He wills we participate in His one mediation, as creatures. He
does not need us, but He chooses to use us to mediate for others. Mary, as
a creature, participates in the highest way possible, by Her supplications,
prayers, petitions and thanksgiving . She is more powerful than any other
creature. First because She is His Mother, but also because She was totally
without sin. She mediated Our Lords first miracle at Cana.
On the third day there was
a marriage at Cana in
Galilee, and the Mother of
Jesus was there. Jesus
was also invited to the
marriage with His disciples.
When the wine failed, the
Mother of Jesus said to
Him, They have no wine.
And Jesus said to Her, O
woman, what has this to do
with me and you? My hour
has not yet come. His
Mother said the servants,
Do whatever He tells
you.---Jesus said to them,
Fill the jars with water.(Jn 2:1-7)
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Communion of the SaintsScriptureRev. 5:8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before theLamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are theprayers of thesaints. (The 24 elders in heaven are offering the prayers of those on earth (the saints) to God.)
Rev. 8: 3-4 Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given muchincense to offer, with theprayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. The smoke of theincense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angels hand. (Angels offerthe prayers of those on earth to God in heaven)
TraditionCyril of Jerusalem
"Then [during the Eucharistic prayer] we make mention also of those who have already fallen asleep: first,
the patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and martyrs, that through their prayers and supplications God wouldreceive our petition. . . " (Catechetical Lectures 23:9 [A.D. 350]).
Ephraim the Syrian"You victorious martyrs who endured torments gladly for the sake of the God and Savior, you who haveboldness of speech toward the Lord himself, you saints, intercede for uswho are timid and sinful men, full ofsloth, that the grace of Christ may come upon us, and enlighten the hearts of all of us so that we may lovehim" (Commentary on Mark[A.D. 370]).
"Remember me, you heirs of God, you brethren of Christ; supplicate the Savior earnestly for me,that I maybe freed through Christ from him that fights against me day by day" (The Fear at the End of Life [A.D. 370]).
St. Augustine
"A Christian people celebrates together in religious solemnity the memorials of the martyrs, both toencourage their being imitated and so that it can share in their merits and be aided by their prayers"(Against Faustus the Manichean [A.D. 400]).
"At the Lords table we do not commemorate martyrs in the same way that we do others who rest in peaceso as to pray for them, but rather that they maypray for usthat we mayfollow in their footsteps" (Homilieson John 84 A.D. 416 .
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Communion of the Saints
Why do we Honor the Saints?-They Practiced Virtue, when they were on earth.
-By honoring those who were chosen friends of God, we honor God Himself and what God
has done through them.-The Saints in Heaven are far nearer to God and His throne,
because they have received the crown of glory.
-Our Communion with the Saints draws us nearer
to Christ, because they are with Him.
We Honor the Saints in Heaven-By Imitating their Holy Lives
-Praying to them (as we would talk to friends
and ask friends to intercede and pray for us).
God grants our requests through their prayers to
show us how much He loves them.
-Show Respect for the Relics and Images
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Communion of the Saints
Relics Scripture - OTIn 2 Kings 2:9-14, the prophet Elisha picked up the mantle of Elijah after Elijah had been taken up to heaven
in a whirlwind. With is, Elisha struck the water of the Jordan, which then parted so that he could cross. In
another passage (13:20-21), some people hurriedly bury a dead man in the grave of Elisha, "but when the
man came in contact with the bones of Elisha, he came back to life and rose to his feet.
Relics Scripture - NTSo extraordinary were the mighty deeds God accomplished at the hands of Paul that when handkerchiefs or
aprons that touched his skin were applied to the sick, their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of
them. Acts 19:11-12 Thus they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and mats so
that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on one or another of them. Acts. 5:15
By respecting relics and images we are not showing respect to paper, stone or wood, rather to the persons
these things represent. If we kiss a photograph of our deceased grandmother, we are not worshipping our
grandmother. We are honoring her and respecting her and giving her a kiss, if she could receive it from us.
When we honor venerate relics, statues or pictures, we do not believe there is any divine power within
them. They cannot of themselves work miracles. They are mere instruments, inanimate objects used by God.God acts through them.
Relic of Fr. Francis Xavier Seelos
Redemportist , priest
who served in the Louisiana, Maryland etc.
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RELICS
Early Church
The veneration of relics of the saints is found in the early history of the Church. A letter written by the
faithful of the Church in Smyrna in the year 156 provides an account of the death of St. Polycarp, their
bishop, who was burned at the stake. The letter reads, "We took up the bones, which are more valuable than
precious stones and finer than refined gold, and laid them in a suitable place, where the Lord will permit us
to gather ourselves together as we are able, in gladness and joy, and celebrate the birthday of his
martyrdom.
Legalization of Christianity
After the legalization of the Church in 312, the tombs of saints were opened and the actual relics werevenerated by the faithful. A bone or other bodily part was placed in a reliquarya box, locket and later a
glass casefor veneration. St. Helena found the true Cross. She was the mother of Constantine.
We Do Not Worship Relics
In his Letter to Riparius, St. Jerome (d. 420) wrote in defense of relics: "We do not worship, we do not adore,
for fear that we should bow down to the creature rather than to the Creator, but we venerate the relics of
the martyrs in order the better to adore Him whose martyrs they are.
Council of Trent
The Council of Trent (1563) defended invoking the prayers of the saints and venerating their relics and burial
places. "The sacred bodies of the holy martyrs and of the other saints living with Christ, which have been
living members of Christ and the temple of the Holy Spirit and which are destined to be raised and glorified
by Him unto life eternal, should also be venerated by the faithful. Through them, many benefits are granted
to men by God."
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Communion of SaintsDoesnt the First Commandment prohibit the making of Statues and Idols?
You shall not make of yourself a graven image or any likeness that is in the heaven above or that is on the
earth beneath or that is in the water under the earth, you shall not bow down to them. (Ex. 20:4-5)
However, Gods commandment was not absolute, because He commanded the Israelites to make cherub tobe placed on the Ark of the Covenant. ( Ex. 25:18-22) He wanted cherubim to be put into the curtains of the
tabernacle (Ex. 26:1) and the veil that concealed the ark. He commanded Moses to make a serpent of brassand mount it on a staff (Num. 21:6-9). Solomon craved out cherubim on the temple. (1 Kgs. 6:29-35).
Catacombs
From the earliest days of Christianity, Jesus and Mary,
angels and saints were depicted on the walls of the catacombs.
Jews and Idols
When the Jews created idols, such as the golden calf and bulls, etc., they sacrificed to them and burnedincense to them. Later the Roman Emperor wanted the early Christians to offer sacrifice to him and burnincense to an image of him, which was considered idol worship by the Christians. The emperor claimed to beGod (to be a divinity). Christians refused and were martyred.
Second Council of Nicaea, 787 AD
The Second Council of Nicaea dealt with the heresy called iconoclasm, as people began to destroy images ofthe saints and of the Lord. The Council said that images confirm the incarnation was real and not imaginary.The Council said the images reminded the faithful to love more ardently. They said true adoration belongs toGod alone. Images lead our thoughts to prayer and spiritual things. Our mind turns toward the one we love.
Photos, Statues, Images
The photograph or statue of a president of the USA honors the president. One does not worship the
president, by honoring the presidents image. We do not pray to the image of a crucifix or a relic or a statue,rather we pray to the person, whom it represents. We do not worship our bed when we kneel before it.
In a Catacomb, image of woman
touching Jesus wanting to be healed.
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Communion of the SaintsHonoring God Himself
By honoring the saints, we honor God Himself, who made them saints.
Without the help of God, they could not have done anything holy.
We worship and adore God alone.
We do NOT worship or adore saints.
LATRIA
We honor God by the highest and supreme honor :
(sacrifice, worship, and adorationThe Mass, Eucharist)
The sacrifice of the Mass is worship of God alone. Saints are remembered in theMass, as we celebrate their memory, but every Mass is a sacrifice to God alone.
DULIA
We honor the saints by veneration (not adoration, not worship and not sacrifice)
HYPERDULIA
We honor the Blessed Virgin Mary above all the Saints (not adoration, not worship,
not sacrifice). She is receives the greatest honor and veneration of Gods creatures.
Churches and altars are named after saints, but are dedicated to God alone.
The name of the church asks for saints special protection and help.
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Communion of Saints
Those who dies in the grace of God, and who are already in heaven,
and especially those whom the Church has canonized are saints.
Servant of God
When the subject arises that a person should be considered for Sainthood, a Bishop is
placed in charge of the initial investigation of the person's life. If it is determined that the
candidate is deemed worthy of further consideration, the Vatican grants a "Nihil Obstat."
A Latin phrase that means "nothing hinders. The candidate is called a "Servant of God."
Venerable
The Church Official, a Postulator, who coordinates the process and serves as an advocate,
must prove that the candidate lived heroic virtues. This is achieved through the collection of
documents and testimonies that are collected and presented to the Congregation for the
Causes of Saints in Rome. When a candidate is approved, he/she earns the title "Venerable.
Beatified
To be beatified and recognized as a "Blessed," one miracle acquired through the candidates
intercession is required in addition to recognition of heroic virtue (or martyrdom in the case
of a martyr).
Canonized
Canonization requires a second miracle after beatification, though a Pope may waive these
requirements. (A miracle is not required prior to a martyrs beatification, but one is required
before his/her canonization.) Once this second miracle has been received through the
candidate's intercession, the Pope declares the person a "Saint."
But she took up a devotion she had practiced from her childhood, as a good Hawaiian:"I have always loved Father Damien," Toguchi explained. "I have
prayed to him all my life. That is why I visited Kalawao (where his tomb is located), Molokai and our churches over many years,"she said. In November of1998, Toguchi began to feel much improved. Medical examinations revealed that the cancer was receding. Six months later, X-rays showed a complete
regression of the metastasis, though she had had no therapy. The cancer disappeared entirely. Zenit.org
i f i
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Incorrupt Saints
St. Bernadette Soburious, had apparitions of Mary at
Lourdes, France. Died 1879.
St. Vincent de Paul. Founded Daughters of Charity.
Died in 1660.
St. John Vianney. Lived in Ars France. Died 1859.
St. Cecilia
177 AD
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Communion of SaintsPatron SaintsSaint Agnes and Saint DymphnaRape and Chastity
Saint Andrew the Patron of ScotlandSaint Anne the Patron of Grandmothers, Mothers, Women in labor and Horse riders
Saint Anthony the Patron of Lost articles, the Poor, Amputees and Cemetery workersSaint Blaise- Patron of Sore Throats, the Patron of Wild animalsSaint Bonaventura - Bowel disorders
Saint Christopher, Patron of Travelers
Saint Gerard Majella, Patron Saint of Expectant Mothers
Saint Helena the Patron of ArchaeologistsSaint Henry the Patron of Childless and of the Handicapped
Saint Joseph the Patron of Belgium, Carpenters, Married couples , Pioneers, Happy DeathSaint Jude, Patron of Impossible Causes
Saint Luke, Patron of Artists
Saint Matthew the Patron of Accountants, Bankers, Bookkeepers, Stock brokers, Tax collectors
Saint Maximilian Kolbe the Patron of Drug Addiction
Saint Raphael the Patron of Pharmacists, Chemists, Eye diseases, Lovers and Shepherds
Saint Rose of Lima the Patron of South America and against VanitySaint Stephen the Patron of Austria, Casket makers, Hungary and Stone masons, Brick Layers
Saint Theresa of Avila the Patron of Headache sufferers
Saint Therese the Patron of Missions and Tuberculosis
Saint Vincent de Paul the Patron of Charitable Societies
(CHOOSE A SAINT FOR CONFIRMATION NAME)
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Communion of Saints