A quick disclaimer and confession as I go into this post series. I have not done much formal research surrounding the communion of the saints, Mary, the rosary any other adjacent topic. These posts are purely a reflection of the experiences that I’ve had firsthand.
As I have conversations with my Protestant brothers and sisters, I’m often quick and eager to point out the many things that we have in common with our Catholic brothers and sisters. While I believe this is well intended, it might come across at times as persuasive, or even eluding some of the more critical areas of difference.
I recall, asking a dear friend, one time what he thought were the most critical differences between Protestant and Catholics. As a point of fact, he didn’t say Mary, recognizing the Saints, or even things related to justification. He talked about papal authority. But, I’m fairly certain that any issue surrounding treatment of the saints is on the short list of things that create either the most confusion, the most division, or both.
So, without sugarcoating anything or trying to elude the differences, please allow me to process what I have learned and experienced in the Catholic Church as a relates to the communion of the saints, Mary, and the rosary in this three part series. I’m going to go through this inductively not to avoid the hardest parts, but simply to show how I processed it and experienced it myself.
There is an enormous emphasis in the Catholic Church around the communion of the saints. Saints of old are honored, mentioned, and considered to be living members of the church. in other words, when we go to pray on any given day or at mass, we believe that those Saints are not dead, but actually alive. Not dormant, but conscious. Not deceased but dearly departed.
Why not call at the “list of saints?” Why not call “the roster of saints?” Because we are a communion, a community, a family! A communion implies relationship, fellowship, intimacy. We are in the “communion of saints.” And that’s why we relate with each other as we relate with Christ. Often in the culture that I grew up we used the word “communion” without knowing who we were referring to besides bread and juice at our occasional “communion services.” I can’t say I really took the communion the Saints seriously or thought about what it implied.
My daily devotional is called the Magnificat. It’s essentially a guide for each daily mass which includes the prayers for that day, and the scripture readings, and a few other things. Each month there’s reflections of different Saints. These are often martyrs who lived long ago, and in places I’ve never been. Each time I read them I am amazed by two things: (1) their extraordinary stories of faith in Jesus Christ and sacrifices they made to glorify Him and (2) why I’ve never heard of them. It seems each time I stumble upon one of the memorials it’s yet another brother or sister in the community of Saints that I’ve never known or recognized. As just a simple exercise here’s just the list that I’ve read about this month:
Maximilian Kolbe, Mary Magdalene of the Incarnation, Gregory VII, Alphonsus Liguori, Siméon Cardon and Companions, Eve of Saint Martin, Peter Vigne, Clement Marchisio, Teresa of Calcutta, Gemma Galgani, Pius X, Carlo Acutis, Philip Neri, Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, Juliana of Liège, John Neumann, Thomas Aquinas, Rose Philippine Duchesne, Román Adame Rosales, Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi, Teresa of Jesus of the Andes, Arnold Janssen, Peter and Paul
Feel overwhelming to read this list? It does for me too. Because I’ve never heard of them, and I have never recognized them or learned from their example. How did they get on this list? To be honest, I’m not really sure. I know if they were martyrs. That’s a sure fire bet. And I know if they had a great impact on evangelizing the world that’s probably another good sign too. If miracles are attributed to them, that’s important as well.
This next point as important as we remember those in the communion of the Saints. In the Catholic Church it is clear that the Saints are not inanimate bystanders. Meaning, wherever they are, however they are, they are not simply passive or reclining on a sofa. She discovered this quite eloquently when he was confronted by the Sadducees. He said in all 3 synoptic Gospels…
But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God: ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living. And when the crowd heard it, they were astonished at his teaching.
Matthew 22:29-33 ESV (also see Mark 12 and Luke 20)
It’s unclear what they are doing or what agency, vocation, authority, or power they have. But here is a fairly safe assumption: if they are alive and conscious one of the things that occupies their time is prayer.
Whoever we believe and assume are with Christ in glory are likely to get an appeal for prayer from countless in the Catholic Church worldwide. At the beginning of every mass, we confess our sins. And just after confessing our sins, we request intercessory prayer from Mary, all the angels and saints, and everyone present calling them out as our brothers and sisters. Yes, everyone in the body of Christ is in the communion of saints, including me and any Christian reading this post. My good dear friend and Catholic Bishop Eric Pohlmeier made this clear on All Saints day homily November 1st of last year.
I think I’ve believed in the communion of the Saints for a long, long time. It’s just my communion was pretty tiny. And it has excluded a lot of people with a enormous faith. So, recognizing the communion of the saints is not trying to elevate one Christian over the other or downgrade your every day Christian. It’s not a way to try and earn God‘s favor by getting the label of being a saint. The greatest saints are likely the ones who never wanted to be or were concerned about external recognition. In fact, many of them regularly testify to their contrition over sin even as people laud their great sacrifices and contributions to the world.
I listen to a podcast by Bishop Robert Barron. He’s a very eloquent and wise is theologian. He says there are two dramas being played out in the world. First, there is the ego-drama. This is the play that I am writing, I am directing, I am producing, and most importantly, that I am starring in. Then there’s the Theo-drama. This is the play that God is writing, that God is directing, God is producing, and most importantly, that God is starring in. He’s the hero! He is the Alpha and Omega! And to him, we sing holy, holy, holy! We sing worthy is the Lamb! And reading about those songs and relating with those who sing them do not distract me away from our Savior. They point me to Him!
And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.
Revelation 5:8-10 ESV
Talking about the communion of the Saints, and relating with saints of old seems a waste of time for many Protestants, not to mention sketchy, even scandalous. They likely see a request for intercessory prayer as equivalent to worshiping the Saints or angels. I can see that perspective because I had it for so long. Now I just see a communion of saints praying with each other and for each other to our one and only Savior. It’s not too different than when I attend mass. If I’m a little bit late or arrive just on time, I often enter a fairly full sanctuary of people, kneeling and praying. Sometimes I bump into a few others who are shuffling in. Yes I see people. Yes I see representations of saints (pictures, statues, etc.). And yet all the attention is being directed not to me, not to them but to Jesus Christ. I’m simply just joining in the collective communion. And I am challenged by that communion to devote everything to Jesus Christ and worship Him alone!
To read Part 2 entitled “OK… Can we talk about Mary” click here?