UNIT SEVENThe Church is a Communion of Saints

7.1 Who Are the Saints?

Saints AliveThe hand of God is seen in the world through the actions of Gods people.Saints allow others to see God in them and in the world; they set examples and are inspiration for people who wish to follow Christ.

SaintOne who has been transformed by the grace of GodIn most basic sense, refers to all ChristiansNormally used to refer to those who the Church has canonized, honored with the title Saint, and declared worthy of veneration

Touched by GodIn Old Testament, to call someone holy was to say that he or she had been touched by God and set apart for a special and unique purposeHoly people recognized their own unique purpose and accepted the particular role which God had given them

Touched by GodNew Testament Letter to the Romans addresses those who are called to be saints. The Greek word translated saints is same word in other places is translated as holySaint recognizes and accepts Gods unique call to him or herLive authentically

The Communion Of SaintsChurch is a body of holy persons, both on earth and in heaven, who share spiritual possessionsBy 5th century, Church understood unity between Church on earth and Church in heavenGifts of members of each served other

The Communion Of SaintsChurch cannot be divided by deathSaints are fully united with ChristCommunion with those saints unites us more completely to ChristCommunion with those who have died and are not yet fully united to Christ Our prayers help those who have died, their prayers help us

Signs of HopeSaints help Church understand and explain the eschaton, Christian understanding of the end times

EschatologyThe study of the last things: The second coming of ChristThe resurrection of the deadThe kingdom of GodJudgment, heaven, hell and purgatory

In between timeNow, the time between the decisive in-breaking of the kingdom of God in Jesus and the perfection of history in the second comingDeath will continue to exist until the time of Christs return, but death no longer has the power it once had

Second comingJesus return in glory at the end of timeAt the second coming, the kingdom of God will be fully realized

Eschatological communityThe community of the end timesChurch even now shares in divine glorySeen in actions of saints while on earth, through their intercession in heavenPrayers of the faithful do make a difference

Jesus Works Through the SaintsJesus is the only mediator between God the Father and humanitySince Jesus resurrection and ascension Jesus communicates with us through other peopleSaints cooperate with Jesus and allow him to work through them

Doctor of the Church A title officially conferred upon a saint by the pope or by a general council declaring that person to have been particularly holy, wise, and learned, and therefore a source of sound theological teaching for the Church.

Father of the ChurchTitle for writers of the early Church who had a major impact on the development of Christian theology and doctrineCharacterized by holiness of life, orthodoxy of doctrine, approval of the Church, antiquitiesPeriod of the Church Fathers ended in the 7th century

Saints: The Benefits Of VirtueVirtues are the habits and inclinations which lead us to be true to our values even when we find this is difficult.The stories of the saints can help us see the power and the benefits of virtue:Teach us the possibilities that open when people learn virtues of faith, hope, love, temperance, fortitude, justice and prudence.

VirtueHabitual disposition to do goodAttitudes and habits which lead a person to do what God desiresValueSomething believed to be particularly important

Mary: The Model SaintDemonstrates the most authentic form of perfect imitation of ChristDisciple par excellenceShowed her complete commitment to God in the way she livedSaid yes to the angels request that she be the mother of the Savior

Mary: The Model SaintWilling to place all her trust in GodTotal dependence on God remind Church of its own missionOpen to Fathers will, even when she did not understand Remained faithful to Jesus to his deathAllowed herself to be emptied even as Christ was emptied

Self-Emptying and DiscipleshipMust be at the heart of all true faithSome will be called to follow Christ to the cross in a literal sense, giving up their lives for their faithAll are called to follow Christ to the cross as Mary did

RedemptionChrists saving work which freed humanity from the power of sin and death and restored them to unity with God

Mary As A Sign Of Gods PresenceMary is everything that the Church strives to beShe is a sign that the Church will eventually achieve what it is striving forMary is a sacramentSymbol and instrument of Gods presence with humanity

Mary is nothing without JesusShe is able to do what she does only because she is filled with Gods graceJesus human identity is derived from the fact that he was born of a specific woman, MaryGod chooses to work through human beingsGod calls each one of us to a unique role

Mary: Sign of the new covenantIn the Incarnation, Christ and Mary are indissolubly linked. They are united by bloodMary prefigures the ChurchIndissolubly linked to Christ through the blood of the cross

Mary: Sign of Gods electionWhen Mary is chosen to be the Mother of God, God makes an irrevocable commitment to involve human beings in all that he doesBecause Mary has been elected she is freed from every stain of original sin

Immaculate ConceptionDogma which states that Mary was free from the stain of original sin from the moment of her conception

Assumption of MaryDogma which states that the body of Mary was taken directly to heaven after her deathMary already shares in the resurrection of the body which is promised to all the faithful

Assumption: Sign of Churchs eschatological hopeIn her, we witness the resurrection of the body and the new creationGuarantee of the final resurrection of all the faithfulFinal triumph of God over evil is already accomplished

Mary Is Also a Sign of the Church Churchs role in the world and love for the worldMary, the mediatrix:Shares in the work of Christs mediationHas a role in making God accessible to humanityIntercedes for faithful, offers her assistance

Mary Is Also a Sign of the ChurchWe bring our concerns to Mary because it is Christs will that she and all members of the Church share in the work of her SonVatican II made it clear that all Mary does is because of ChristWe honor Mary because she had done what we are still struggling to do

Mary Is The Mother Of The ChurchShe has a particular role and responsibilityShe cooperates with Christ in caring for and guiding the ChurchMarys motherhood is a gift which Christ makes personally to the Church as a whole and to every individual

Church is MotherThe Church follows Marys exampleReceives the Word of God in faith and then brings forth sons and daughters who are conceived and born of the Holy Spirit

In ConclusionEveryone needs someone who is a good example for virtuous livingChurch offers its saints as models who help us respond to the crises which face us, as models who can help us to live more Christian livesGeneral theme of all saints is that they were faithful in everyday things

In ConclusionTo imitate saints, we should look for God in everything we do, and in all the people we meet.Communion of saints offers models for our faith, guides to help us as we reach out to the Lord.Saints in heaven are still living members of the Church.

In ConclusionGod gives us the grace to be holy, but accepting gods grace is difficult to do alone.Saints offer us support and encouragement we need to accept grace, and to become holy.Among whole communion of saints, Mary is preeminent because she is the perfect model of faith.

In ConclusionThe Magnificat expresses the faith of the true Church, the faith which clings to God and abandons all desire to be god.Mary is a brave woman, willing to risk everything because she trusts and loves God.Mary is sign of Church, which will become one with Jesus, has been called to bear God to the world.