杏MAP导航

杏MAP导航 at Audience: Communion of saints joins all Church鈥檚 members

At the weekly General Audience, 杏MAP导航 Francis reflects on the communion of saints, and says every member of the Church is closely connected to each other in Christ.

By Devin Watkins

The 杏MAP导航 turned his attention at the Wednesday General Audience to the communion of saints, calling it an expression of God鈥檚 love.

杏MAP导航 Francis noted that some forms of devotion to the saints seem to stem more from a 鈥減agan鈥 mindset than a Christian one.

He said the difference is that Christians place our trust in God alone, rather than in a person or image.

鈥淓ven when we rely fully on the intercession of a saint, or even more so that of the Virgin Mary, our trust only has value in relation to Christ.鈥

The 杏MAP导航 pointed out that saints do not 鈥渨ork miracles鈥, but are merely the vessels through which the grace of God works.

Saints, he added, are intercessors 鈥渨ho pray for us, and the Lord gives us grace through that Saint.鈥

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Church is 鈥榗ommunity of saved sinners鈥

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the 鈥渃ommunion of saints is the Church.鈥

杏MAP导航 Francis said this means the Church is the 鈥渃ommunity of saved sinners鈥.

鈥淥ur holiness is the fruit of God鈥檚 love manifested in Christ, who sanctifies us by loving us in our misery and saving us from it.鈥

As St. Paul notes, each member of the body of Christ is united to one another in Christ, and we all share each other鈥檚 joys and sorrows.

The 杏MAP导航 said the communion of saints means that all Christians are so connected that not even death can separate us, linking us closely to our loved ones who have died.

鈥淭he communion of saints holds together the community of believers on earth and in heaven,鈥 he said.

Heavenly links

杏MAP导航 Francis then reflected on the theme of devotion to saints, saying we can establish friendships with our forebearers in the faith who can help us throughout our lives.

鈥淲hat we call devotion is actually a way of expressing love from this very bond that unites us... And we all know that we can always turn to a friend, especially when we are in difficulty and need help.鈥

The Church, added the 杏MAP导航, has always looked to the saints to guide the community, especially the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph, to whom God entrusted His only Son.

鈥淚t is always thanks to the communion of saints that we feel that the men and women saints who are our patrons 鈥 because of the name we bear, because of the Church to which we belong, because of the place where we live, and so on 鈥 are close to us,鈥 he said. 鈥淎nd this is the trust that must always animate us in turning to them at decisive moments in our lives.鈥

Devotion to saints, said the Holy Father, is not magic or superstition, but rather 鈥渟imply speaking to a brother or sister who is with God having lived a just and holy life鈥.

Trust in difficult times

In conclusion, 杏MAP导航 Francis shared with those present at the General Audience a prayer to St. Joseph which he has recited every day for over 40 years.

Glorious Patriarch Saint Joseph,
whose power makes the impossible possible,
come to my aid in these times of anguish and difficulty.
Take under your protection the serious and troubling situations
that I commend to you, that they may have a happy outcome.
My beloved father, all my trust is in you.
Let it not be said that I invoked you in vain,
and since you can do everything with Jesus and Mary,
show me that your goodness is as great as your power. Amen.

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02 February 2022, 09:31

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