Lesson Ten - Communion of Saints, Resurrection and Life Eternal

Text by Pat Austin, St. Patrick's Cathedral RCIA Instructor

Chapter Thirteen -- The Communion of Saints

Communion of Saints -- Teaching/Doctrine of the Church. We refer to this doctrine when we say the Apostles' Creed. The Communion of Saints is a reality because we are members of the Mystical Body of Christ -- we are all one in Christ.

The word "saint" comes from Latin - sanctus - which means "holy." Every Christian soul that is baptized into Christ and in the state of Sanctifying grace is holy. That was the original meaning but today's meaning is usually limited to those in Heaven.

Communion -- in union with -- there exists a union among all souls (persons) in whom dwell the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ wherever these souls (persons) may be. These souls (persons) are called Saints.

Actually Saints are in three places -- Heaven, Purgatory, Earth.

Those in Heaven are referred to as The Church Triumphant - Blessed in Heaven. Those in Purgatory are referred to as The Church Suffering. We on Earth are referred to as the Church Militant or Pilgrim.

We all are united through the Mystical Body of Christ. We are one; one in Christ. What affects one member affects all members (1 Cor 12:12). It doesn't matter where we are. So the saints in Heaven can intercede for us. We can pray for the souls in Purgatory and help them. Our prayers may release them from Purgatory and they will go to Heaven. They can then intercede for us and so on -- The Communion of Saints.

Chapter Fourteen -- Resurrection and Life Everlasting

Death -- the separation of the soul from the body. The exact moment it occurs we don't know. The thinking and knowledge has changed in recent years. We used to think when the heart stopped beating that death occurred. This has been proven incorrect. However, whenever the soul leaves the body, judgement takes place.

Where does judgement take place? -- We really don't know. Actually the soul (person) doesn't "go" anyplace. The soul (person) is a spirit. It doesn't have to go someplace to be judged.

Actually each person (soul) will have two judgements; one at the moment of death and the other at the end of the world. These judgements are called particular judgement and general judgement.

Particular Judgement occurs at the moment of death. This is the judgement that sets your life for all eternity; either Heaven (Purgatory) or Hell.

What takes place at this particular judgment? -- We really don't know very much. Jesus tells us that He will be there (Where He is, the Father/Holy Spirit is). Jesus will say to some, "enter into my Kingdom, oh good and faithful servant. For when I was hungry, you fed Me, when I was naked, you clothed Me ... the wheat will be gathered into the barn. The chaff will be burned; you will be thrown into the everlasting fire; there will be wailing and grinding of teeth; etc. There are examples all throughout scripture, especially the Parables about Judgement Day.

There are all kinds of imagination used to describe this judgement -- Peter and the Pearly Gates, God holding HIs black book, justice scales -- but this is man's idea. God hasn't really said. A reasonable idea would be that when we come into the presence of God, his light will illuminate our soul and we will really see ourselves as God sees us -- as we are. We will know our fate in accordance with God's justice. God isn't going to be standing there pointing a finger with a scowl saying .... Whatever the judgement, this judgement cannot and will not be changed. God's mercy has ended. His justice prevails.

A soul that dies in the state of mortal sin (no Sanctifying Grace) -- it's fate -- Hell. The soul goes directly there. Hell is eternal. The suffering of Hell is eternal, it never ends.

There is a suffering of sense (a pain of sense) - everlasting fire. How do we know? These are Jesus' words. It is not fire as we know it because that kind of fire can not be felt by a spirit but there is some kind of spiritual fire.

There is a suffering of loss (pain of loss) - the soul (person) has lost God forever. This soul (person) was created for God and was created to return to God. Through the soul's own free will (the person's choices) the soul (person) has chosen "eternal separation from God." Of these two sufferings the suffering of the loss of God forever is the worst.

A soul that dies free from all trace of sin and free from all temporal punishment (debt of atonement) would go directly to heaven. When someone is in danger of dying one purpose of the Sacrament of the sick is to cleanse the soul from the "remains of sin." A plenary indulgence may be gained at the time of death through this Sacrament.

Heaven - Total union with God, not just "seeing" God. This total union with God is called the "beatific vision." Also the joy of being with Jesus, His Mother, Saints and Relatives.

A soul that dies free from mortal sin but not free from traces of sin or temporal punishment, that soul would enter Purgatory.

The General Judgement will occur at the end of the world. All souls (persons) will be united with their bodies. The body will be a glorified body. This new body will not be subject to the laws of nature.

The purpose of the Last Judgement is to show God's Justice, Wisdom and Mercy.

When will the world end? It really doesn't matter. What matters is that you are ready when your world ends.

Assignment: Text, Chapter 23 -- Cat. Sections 19, 20
Cat -- Chapter 24, Cat. Section 20