Unit 4: Communion of Saints

Who was in Jesus’ Community brainstorm

Answer The sick, the unwanted, the tax collectors, corrupt, those who chose him

What is the character of community? brainstorm

Answer Trust, faith, food, support, help, forgiveness

What kind of community do you have? brainstorm

How important is community Brainstorm

Project!!! Make a collage of your community (20 pictures minimum) > in it you have to explain who, what, why you enjoy from being with them in an 8pt paragraph Due next class

What can make you a saint? brainstorm

Answer To realize that you are a sinner, you are not above God, and to give yourself to God

As Catholics… We are called to be like Jesus This does not mean we should try to do everything that Jesus did. It means we should try to be true to ourselves and to our relationship with God just as Jesus was.

The calling… We are called to follow Jesus’ example, loving generously and using our gifts and talents to help others. We all live together as a community. Death cannot destroy the bonds of the Christian community and love. those who have died are part of our community, but in a new way (brainstorm)

Community of Saints All of the faithful form one body in Christ. All of us, living or dead are part of the body of Christ When we say that we believe in the communion of saints, we are saying that we believe we are all connected to each others in Christ.

Death Our physical death is not just an end to earthly life It is also the beginning of everlasting life, when we will become closer to God and to all those who are one with God.

Cont. God created human beings for eternal life. Jesus came to destroy death and make it possible for us to turn back to God and to share the eternal life that God offers

Saints They are people who see God’s great love for them and at the way God wants them to be, even when it is hard. Each of us is called to be a saint Saints are people who make a difference in the world – not by doing remarkable things, but doing ordinary things remarkably well

Cont. They learn to hear God’s call in everyday life and are not afraid to answer that call All saints go where they are needed, even if it is not where they want to go Saints are human beings who lived holy lives in obedience to God.

However… Saints are not born saints, they were born in the state of Original Sin (just like everyone else) and were sinners throughout their lives. Saints are not perfect, sinless, or invulnerable. Saints are ordinary people who came from ordinary families. All saints are human and have experienced many things in their lives: sickness, marriage, and struggles

Cont. They had to learn how to make the right decisions God acts through saints to produce the miracles around them

Types of Saints Saints are usually remembered for some personal reason This could be their special mission work – so they may be “the patron saint of orphans” if they worked in an orphanage. This could be their special gift – so “the patron saint of musicians”

Cont. Or because of their undoubting faith, these people have been killed for refusing to give up their faith; we call these people martyrs which translates to “witness”

Intercessions Asking members of the communion of saints in Heaven to pray to god on your behalf or on the behalf of others Catholics do not worship saints, instead we ask saints to pray for us. We ask saints for an intercession, which means to act as an advocate for someone else. It means asking the saint to ask Jesus/God (as well as Mary) for help

The four-step process to sainthood 1. Servant of God – when the case is opened for consideration 2. Venerable – when the Vatican counsel determines that you did lead a life of heroic virtue (meaning that you worked aggressively to improve your spirituality and that you never gave up trying to better yourself and grew in holiness)

Cont. 3. Beatification – after the Church establishes one miracle, it is presented to the Pope to see if the person is worthy of being called a saint; this is when the person is considered “blessed” 4. Canonization – another miracle and the person’s cause is presented to the people to become saints. If all the evidence is there, then the person is seen to be a saint

Stipulations There is a major investigation for all formal requests that are made for people to become saints. Miracles that occur either before or after death are necessary in becoming a saint

Miracles during life Levitation – the person levitates into the air (often during prayer) Bi-location – the person appears in two places (far apart) at once Stigmata – the person’s body has the five wounds of Christ (both hands and feet and the wound on their side); these wounds often bleed during mass or feast days and then stop.

Miracles during death Incorruptibility – long after the person is dead, their body is found free of decay when exhumed from the grave Liquefaction – the dried blood of the person long dead miraculously liquefies on the feast day Odor of sanctity – the body of the person exudes a sweet aroma like roses, instead of smelling of decay

Patron Saints Are chosen as protectors and guardians over life These areas include occupations, illnesses, churches, countries, and specific cause (anything that is important to us).

Cont. Popes have named patron saints, but they can also be chosen by individuals or groups as well. Patron saints are often chosen today because of an interest, talent or event in the saint’s life that overlaps in a certain area

Examples Saint Francis of Assisi loved nature and is therefore the patron saint of ecologists Saint Francis of Sales was a writer and is therefore the patron saint of journalists

Relics They are the material remains of a deceased saint or martyr and objects closely associated with those remains. They can be entire skeletons, but more usually the consist of a part of the body such as a bone, piece of hair or tooth. Pieces of clothing worn by the deceased saint or even an object that has come into contact with a relic is also considered a relic

Classification of Relics First Class: items that are directly associated with the events of Christ’s life or the physical remains of a saint Ex. A manger, cross, bone, hair, limb, etc.

2 nd Class An item that the saint wore, owned or used Ex. A sock, shirt, glove, a crucifix, a book, etc.

3 rd Class Any object that is touched by a first class relic

A tasteful Relic A well-known example is the tongue of Saint Anthony. When they found his body, everything had turned to dust, except for his tongue, which remained as a testament to his teachings