The Church Sacrament of Salvation The Church

The Church Sacrament of Salvation

The Church Chapter 7

Chapter 7 The Church as a Communion of Saints

Chapter Objectives The student will be able to understand: • The Communion of Saints • Indulgences • What is a saint • The intercession of the saints • The Final Judgment • The relationship between the heavenly and earthly liturgies • The Particular Judgment • Purgatory • Aid to the souls in Purgatory • Hell • Heaven • The Parousia

Keys to Chapter 7 • There is a real solidarity among the members of the Pilgrim, Suffering, and Triumphant Churches. • It is right for us on earth to venerate the saints in Heaven and to come to the aid of the souls in Purgatory. • The Mass is a window into Heaven. • The future holds death and judgment, followed by Heaven, Hell, or Purgatory, and finally the Resurrection from the Dead and the Final Judgment. • We choose our eternal destiny in this life.

For Discussion: • What is the Communion of Saints? • How do we participate in the heavenly liturgy? • What does the “end of time” signify for Christians? • What are the Particular Judgment, the Second Coming, and the Last Judgment? • What are Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory? continued

For Discussion: • Why do we pray for the Holy Souls in Purgatory? • How can a merciful God send anyone to an eternal Hell? • What is the meaning of koinonia or communio, and how do these words describe the reality of the Church? • How can the saints intercede for us?

The Communion of Saints Lesson Objectives • The Communion of Saints • Indulgences • What is a Saint

The Communion of Saints Basic Questions What is the Communion of Saints? The Communion of Saints is the unity of all the members of the Body of Christ on earth, in Purgatory, and in Heaven.

The Communion of Saints Basic Questions What is an indulgence? The members of the Body of Christ on earth can assist the members in Purgatory through indulgences, that is, remission of the temporal punishment due to sins already forgiven.

The Communion of Saints Basic Questions What is a saint? A saint is a member of the Church—the Mystical Body of Christ—on earth, in Purgatory, or in Heaven. The Church may officially declare a member of the Church in Heaven to be a saint by canonization, adding him to the calendar and promoting his public veneration.

Focus Question What is the first meaning of the term Communion of Saints? Through the Mass and especially in the reception of the Eucharist, the members of the pilgrim Church on earth are in communion with the Church in Heaven.

Focus Question What is the second meaning of the phrase Communion of Saints? Through our union with Christ, we are brought into communion with everyone else who is united to him, that is, the entire Church on earth, in Purgatory, and in Heaven.

Focus Question How do we enter the Communion of Saints? In Baptism, we are incorporated into the Mystical Body of Christ, thus becoming adopted sons and daughters of the Father and brothers and sisters in Christ.

Focus Question What is the relationship between “the holy catholic Church” and “the Communion of Saints”? In a sense they mean the same thing.

Focus Question In this phase of salvation history, in what three states does the Church exist? 1. The Church Militant, which is the pilgrim Church on earth, is comprised of Christ’s faithful here on earth. 2. The Church Suffering includes those in Purgatory who have died in communion with God, but who have not yet been fully purified. 3. The Church Triumphant is the heavenly Church in glory.

Focus Question What is the Communion of Saints? It is the union within the Church between God and man and among men.

Focus Question What is the “work” of the entire Church in all three states? It is to continue the saving work of Jesus Christ.

Focus Question What is the “work” of the Church Triumphant? The blessed souls who enjoy heavenly glory intercede for the Church on earth.

Focus Question What is the “work” of the Church Militant? Christians on earth remain united to Christ and work to bring the entire world into union with him.

Focus Question What is the “work” of the Church Suffering? The Holy Souls in Purgatory: 1. become purified so as to be able to enter Heaven; and 2. intercede for the Church on earth.

Guided Exercise Break down the selection from the Catechism of Pius X into bullet points to show the three ways that the Church, in its different states, is one.

Focus Question What does the word “indulgence” mean literally? It means a freeing from a penalty.

Focus Question Is an indulgence the forgiveness of sin? No. It is the remission of the temporal punishment due to sins for which the guilt has already been forgiven.

Focus Question What is the “source” of an indulgence? The source of an indulgence is the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints.

Focus Question Who can dispense the treasury of the satisfactions of the Church? The Church herself can dispense them because she is the minister of salvation.

Focus Question What is the distinction between a partial and plenary indulgence? A partial indulgence removes part of the temporal punishment due to sin. A plenary indulgence removes all the punishment due to sin.

Focus Question Who can gain indulgences? The faithful can gain indulgences for themselves or apply them to the Holy Souls in Purgatory.

Focus Question What is the basis of the efficacy of an indulgence? An indulgence is an act of faith on the part of a member of the Church Militant that requires an offering of some prayer, sacrifice, or work of service in imitation of Christ and the saints. This act builds virtue and disposes us to receive grace. For this act, the Church rewards us from the “treasury of merits”—the abundance of grace won for us by Christ and by his faithful people down through the ages.

Guided Exercise Conduct a think/pair/share using the following question: How do indulgences reflect the solidarity that exists among the members of the Church in her three current states?

Guided Exercise Conduct a think/pair/share using the following question: What would you say to someone who objects that indulgences are corrupt because people can use them to buy forgiveness of sins even before they have committed them?

Focus Question What is the literal meaning of the word saint? It means “holy one. ”

Focus Question What is another meaning of the word saint in the Catholic Church? It is a title that refers to those Christian men and women who remained faithful during their time on earth and have reached the glory of Heaven.

Focus Question What is the official process for declaring someone a saint? Canonization.

Focus Question What does canonization establish? The Church proclaims that the person canonized practiced heroic virtue, lived in fidelity to God’s grace, and is now in Heaven.

Focus Question What is the importance of saints for the pilgrim Church? The Church proposes them to us as models and intercessors, that is, as persons we can imitate and pray to for help.

Focus Question What is celebrated on November 1 in the liturgy in the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church? The Solemnity of All Saints celebrates all of the unknown saints who are now in Heaven.

Focus Question What do all the saints, except the Blessed Virgin Mary, have in common with us? They were sinners just like us, who had to struggle to overcome temptation. Like they were, we are saintsin-the-making.

Focus Question Why is it right for us to ask the saints in Heaven for help? Their work in Heaven is to intercede constantly for the Church on earth.

Veneration of the Saints in Heaven Lesson Objectives • The intercession of the saints

Veneration of the Saints in Heaven Basic Questions Why do Catholics venerate the saints? The Sacred Scriptures, the early Church, and the Magisterium all testify that it is a good thing to venerate the saints in Heaven and pray for their intercession.

Focus Question What has always been the attitude of the pilgrim Church toward the saints? The Church has always venerated the Apostles, the martyrs, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the angels, and has asked for their intercession.

Focus Question Do the saints help us by their own power? No. They intercede for us. All benefits come from God the Father through Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Focus Question Where does the New Testament support the idea that the members of the Church should pray for one another? One example would be St. Paul’s instruction to his disciple, St. Timothy, that “supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men” (1 Tm 2: 1 -4).

Focus Question What is an intercessory prayer? It is praying to God on behalf of another.

Focus Question How did the Roman centurion offer an example of intercessory prayer? He asked Jesus for his servant to be healed. He interceded for his servant.

Focus Question If God already knows our needs and the needs of our neighbor, why should we pray? Intercessory prayer is a powerful way to express love for others.

Focus Question Who are the “saints” who can pray for us? They are all members of the Body of Christ, both those in Heaven and those on earth, that is, other Christians. (This includes the souls in Purgatory. )

Focus Question In Colossians, when St. Paul uses the word saint, to whom does he refer? Both the living members of the Church and those “in light, ” that is, those who are now in Heaven.

Focus Question How do we know from Sacred Scripture that the saints in Heaven are praying for us? In Revelation, the angels bear the “golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. ”

Focus Question What is one thing that the saints pray for, according to Revelation? They cry out to God to right the wrongs that have been committed on earth.

Guided Exercise Write and answer three focus questions on what you consider the three most important points from the sidebar on St. Therese of Lisieux.

Guided Exercise Come up with three examples of veneration of the saints in the early Church.

The Divine Liturgy in Heaven and on Earth Lesson Objectives • The Final Judgment • The relationship between the heavenly and earthly liturgies

The Divine Liturgy in Heaven and on Earth Basic Questions What is the Final Judgment? At the Final Judgment, every person will be judged by his good and evil acts and by how he has responded to the grace Christ offered to him.

The Divine Liturgy in Heaven and on Earth Basic Questions What is the relationship between the heavenly and earthly liturgies? The Mass is the participation in a liturgy that is constantly taking place in Heaven with Christ as the Eternal High Priest.

Guided Exercise Write a paragraph summarizing the section “The End of History: A New Heaven and a New Earth” (p. 250) by answering the following question: What four things do we know about the end of the world from Scripture?

Focus Question On what basis will we be judged at the end of the world? We will be judged according to our acceptance or refusal of the grace that Christ has offered us.

Focus Question Should we be afraid of the Last Judgment? For those who die in the friendship of Christ, the Last Judgment is a promise of heavenly reward, not a threat.

Focus Question What is the lot of all Christians at all times of the history of the Church? In every age, the pilgrim Church endures trial and persecution.

Focus Question What is the Book of Revelation? It is a prophetic vision of the end times.

Focus Question What does the word “apocalypse” mean literally? It means “unveiling” (from the Greek apokalypsis).

Focus Question What are three subjects of Revelation? 1. The ongoing spiritual struggle of the pilgrim Church against the demonic forces of Satan. 2. The solidarity and communion of saints and angels in Heaven and on earth. 3. The intimate union shared by Christ and his Bride, the Church, in their glorious marriage feast.

Focus Question What is an event related in Revelation that has already occurred? The destruction of Jerusalem.

Focus Question What is an event related in Revelation that will occur in the future? The unveiling of a new Heaven and a new earth.

Focus Question How is Christ portrayed as both priest and victim in Revelation? Christ wears the robes of the High Priest, but also appears as the Lamb, “standing, as though it had been slain” (Rev 5: 6).

Focus Question How is Christ’s offering of himself in Heaven different from his offering of himself on earth? On earth, the Son’s Sacrifice of the Cross was bloody. In the heavenly liturgy, however, Christ’s offering is bloodless.

Focus Question What does the author of Hebrews tell us Christ does in Heaven? He “always lives to make intercession” for “those who draw near to God through him” (Heb 7: 25).

Focus Question What is the primary focus of Revelation? The “heavenly liturgy” offered to the Father by Christ with the angels and saints.

Focus Question Who else takes part in this heavenly liturgy? The Book of Revelation shows us that all of Heaven —angels and saints—takes part in this liturgy, worshiping God and giving thanks for the salvation received through Christ.

Focus Question What are some of the elements in our own liturgy of the Mass that we see in St. John’s description of the heavenly liturgy? An altar, robed priests, candles, incense, the “Gloria, ” readings from Scripture, the “Holy, ” chalices, and the “Lamb of God. ”

Focus Question What is the “marriage supper of the Lamb” in Revelation? It is when God comes to dwell with his people in the New Jerusalem.

Focus Question What is the “marriage supper of the Lamb” on earth? It is the Mass, where the pilgrim Church shares in communion with Christ.

Focus Question How does God already dwell with his people? Through Christ’s Real Presence in the Eucharist.

Guided Exercise Do a focused reading on the final four paragraphs of this section, beginning, “But the Mass…” (p. 253), using the following question: How is the Mass both a foreshadowing of and an actual participation in the heavenly liturgy?

Last Things: The Particular Judgment and Purgatory Lesson Objectives • The Particular Judgment • Purgatory • Aid to the souls in Purgatory

Last Things: The Particular Judgment and Purgatory Basic Questions What is the Particular Judgment? The Particular Judgment is when each soul is judged by Christ immediately upon death and then enters Heaven (either directly or after purification) or Hell.

Last Things: The Particular Judgment and Purgatory Basic Questions What is Purgatory? Purgatory is a state in which the just soul undergoes a purification that involves both joy and suffering before entering Heaven.

Last Things: The Particular Judgment and Purgatory Basic Questions Can we help the souls in Purgatory? We can aid the souls in Purgatory through our prayers, Masses, indulgences, alms, and sacrifices.

Guided Exercise Conduct a think/pair/share using the following question: According to the paragraph beginning, “The Particular Judgment is an act” (p. 255), how is this act both a “judicial judgment” and a realization?

Focus Question Why is death the end of our opportunity to shape our supernatural destiny? At death the possibility of merit, demerit, or conversion ceases.

Focus Question What are three alternatives the soul faces upon judgment? Immediate entry to Heaven, purification in Purgatory followed by entry into Heaven, or Hell.

Focus Question What are some Scriptural passages that support the idea of immediate judgment? Two are Christ’s words to the good thief, “Today you will be with me in Paradise” (Lk 23: 43), and the parable of the poor man Lazarus, in which Lazarus is in a state of happiness and the rich man is in torment. In the first case, the good thief would need to be judged as fit for Heaven in order to enter it that very day. In the parable, the rich man is punished and Lazarus rewarded, which implies judgment has taken place.

Focus Question According to St. John of the Cross, what will be the ultimate criterion by which we will be judged? We will be judged by how much we have loved.

Guided Exercise Perform a focused reading of the paragraph beginning, “Therefore, in Purgatory…” (p. 257), using the following question: Why is sin, something which does not particularly bother many souls before death, suddenly become so painful in Purgatory?

Focus Question Why does Purgatory exist? Because the soul must be completely purified and perfected before entering Heaven.

Focus Question Who is in Purgatory? The souls of those who, having died in grace, have not fully paid the punishment for their pardoned mortal sins or their venial sins.

Focus Question How long will Purgatory be in existence? It will last only until the Final Judgment.

Focus Question Is Purgatory a place? No. It is a state of existence. The separated souls, being spirits, do not properly occupy space, although in common language we refer to Purgatory as a place for these souls.

Focus Question What is the basis of the joy of the souls in Purgatory? It is the assurance that they will enter the joy of Heaven.

Focus Question What is the basis of the pain of Purgatory? It is the delay in seeing God, which is caused by their own fault.

Focus Question How does one avoid Purgatory? By avoiding venial sin, striving to do the will of God, and accepting with joy the trials and sufferings of life, which are a preparation for Heaven.

Focus Question What are the two judgments spoken of in the New Testament? There are: 1. the final meeting with Christ when he comes again, which is the Last, or General, Judgment; and 2. the retribution immediately after each person’s death as a consequence of his or her faith and deeds, which is the Particular Judgment.

Focus Question What is the Particular Judgment? It is when each person, in his immortal soul, stands before the judgment seat of Christ and receives his eternal reward; either to a period of purification, or directly to his definitive state in Heaven, or to eternal condemnation.

Focus Question What is judged in the Particular Judgment? The Particular Judgment judges the state of a person’s soul.

Focus Question How can we help the souls in Purgatory? The souls in Purgatory are helped both by the prayers and suffrages of the pilgrim Church as well as by the prayers of the Virgin and the saints. Extension: A suffrage is a short intercessory prayer.

Focus Question What is the best way of helping souls in Purgatory? The sacrifice of the Mass.

Focus Question What is special about All Soul’s Day? On All Soul’s Day, all the priests of the Church offer Mass for the souls in Purgatory.

Focus Question What are other ways to help the Holy Souls in Purgatory? The application of indulgences for the dead, giving alms in their memory, or offering up sacrifices and penance on their behalf can benefit the Holy Souls.

Guided Exercise Complete a paragraph shrink on the passage from Pope Benedict XVI beginning, “The encounter with him…” (p. 256), in order to see how there is nothing cruel or vindictive about the “fire” of Purgatory.

Focus Question What does the Old Testament teach us about Purgatory? In the Second Book of Maccabees, Judas Maccabeus took up a collection among his solders to have a sacrifice made to atone for the dead soldiers whom, he discovered, had committed idolatry. The passage concludes that, “It is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead” (2 Mc 12: 46, Douay-Rheims).

Focus Question How is Purgatory reflected in the practice of the Jews of Christ’s time and today? The Jews in Christ’s time prayed for the dead, and today this traditional Jewish practice is continued in the praying of the Kaddish, prayers to reduce the time spent in Gehenna for those who have died.

Focus Question What is the logic behind belief in the existence of Purgatory? If those who have died are in Heaven, they do not need prayers. If they are in Hell, prayers will not do them any good. So there must be a place where our prayers do some good, hence Purgatory.

Focus Question How does St. Paul support the idea of Purgatory? St. Paul taught that a Christian who sins “will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire” (1 Cor 3: 15).

Focus Question Who were some early Church Fathers who wrote about Purgatory? Tertullian and St. Cyprian wrote about Purgatory.

Focus Question Which Church councils confirmed the Church’s teaching on Purgatory? The Second Ecumenical Council of Lyons in 1274 and later the Ecumenical Councils of Florence (1439) and Trent (1563) confirmed the existence of Purgatory.

Focus Question Why is praying for the dead an obligation of justice? Some souls may be detained in Purgatory partly through our fault, because of our sins of commission or omission.

Focus Question Why are prayers for the dead a work of piety? Piety is the fulfillment of obligation toward family members. We should pray for those in our own natural and supernatural families.

Focus Question Why is prayer for the dead a work of mercy? The souls in Purgatory cannot do anything for themselves; therefore, we show mercy to them by asking that their time be shortened.

Focus Question Why is prayer for the dead an act of charity? It is charity because we have to wish for the good of others.

Last Things: Heaven, Hell, and the Parousia Lesson Objectives • Heaven • Hell • The Parousia

Last Things: Heaven, Hell, and the Parousia Basic Questions What is Hell? Hell is the state of self-chosen eternal separation from God, who is the only source of life and happiness.

Last Things: Heaven, Hell, and the Parousia Basic Questions What is Heaven? Heaven is the state of complete happiness with the rest of the blessed souls in enjoying the vision of God.

Last Things: Heaven, Hell, and the Parousia Basic Questions What is the Parousia? The Parousia is the Second Coming of Christ and the Final Judgment at the end of time.

Guided Exercise Discuss the following questions: Does God’s goodness preclude the existence of Hell? Can God save someone who refuses to be saved? Is it possible that someone would freely choose Hell, including freely staying there?

Focus Question What is the result of dying in a state of mortal sin without repentance? It is remaining separated from God forever because of our free choice.

Focus Question What are some images that Christ used to describe Hell? Christ spoke often of Hell as “fire” and “darkness” where there will be “weeping and gnashing of teeth, ” as condemned souls are tormented “where their worm does not die. ”

Focus Question What is the chief punishment of Hell according to the Catechism, no. 1035? The chief punishment of Hell is eternal separation from God, in whom alone man can possess the life and happiness for which he was created and for which he longs.

Focus Question What is Heaven? It is the state of everlasting life in which we see God, become like him in glory, and enjoy eternal happiness.

Focus Question Are there different degrees of happiness in Heaven? Yes. The souls in Heaven enjoy various degrees of happiness according to their degree of love and friendship with God during their earthly life. However, each person receives the full measure of happiness he can possess. continued

Focus Question Are there different degrees of happiness in Heaven? Extension: An analogy to explain this paradox is containers filled with water. Many containers can be filled to the brim, but because they can be different sizes, one may contain more water than another. In the same way, people in Heaven can be completely happy, but some can be happier than others because their capacity is greater since they loved more while on earth.

Focus Question What are some of the images of Heaven found in Scripture? Life, light, peace, wedding feast, wine of the kingdom, the Father’s house, the heavenly Jerusalem, and paradise are all scriptural images of Heaven.

Focus Question Can we grasp what Heaven is like now? No. “No eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Cor 2: 9).

Focus Question Of what does the happiness of Heaven consist? The essential happiness of Heaven consists of the immediate vision of God, the full and perfect satisfaction of every desire, and in the happy society of all the blessed.

Focus Question Why will we find happiness in each other in Heaven? We will love one another as ourselves and so we will rejoice in the good that each possesses. As the pleasure and enjoyment of one increases, so will it increase for all.

Focus Question How does the happiness of Heaven increase? The joy and happiness of Heaven increases as other souls enter, as loved ones still on earth progress in their spiritual lives, and as one’s apostolic efforts and sufferings endured in the service of God bear fruit on earth with the passage of time.

Focus Question What is the relationship between earthly and heavenly happiness? Because of the intimate communion with God, the saints on earth are overflowing with all that can truly be enjoyed or even desired in this life. This is a foretaste of Heaven.

Focus Question What is the Parousia? It is the Second Coming of Christ, at which time he will appear in power and majesty as judge and establish his Kingdom in all its fullness.

Focus Question What does parousia mean, literally? It comes from Greek, meaning “apparition” or “presence. ”

Focus Question What will happen at the General, or Universal, Judgment? Christ will judge every human being personally and publicly.

Focus Question What are some of the things we will learn at the Final Judgment? We will understand the ultimate meaning of the whole work of creation and of the entire economy of salvation as well as the marvelous ways by which God’s Providence led everything toward its final end. continued

Focus Question What are some of the things we will learn at the Final Judgment? The Last Judgment will reveal that God’s justice triumph over all the injustices committed by his creatures and that God’s love is stronger than death. We will learn why God sometimes allows the good to suffer and the wicked to prosper, and we will see all the good and bad effects of human actions.

Focus Question What will happen to us at the Last Judgment? Our souls will be reunited to our now immortal bodies. The good will go to Heaven and the wicked to Hell.

Focus Question When will the Last Judgment occur? Only God knows the day and the hour.

Focus Question What will happen to the universe after the Last Judgment? The universe itself will be renewed as all things are perfectly recreated in Christ.

Focus Question Of which three archangels do we know the names from Scripture? Only three angels are named in Sacred Scripture: Sts. Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael.

Focus Question Why is St. Michael portrayed as a great warrior? In the Book of Revelation, St. Michael leads the holy angels in battle against Satan and his demons.

Focus Question Why should we be devoted to St. Michael? He is invoked to protect the Church against the Devil.