Did you know that when you pray, you never pray alone? There are angels and Saints who long to pray with you. This Sunday we honor and celebrate all of our Saints in Heaven on “ALL Saints Day”, and on Monday we honor the souls of those who have passed away this year with a commemoration we call “All Souls Day”.
We know that Christ is the Resurrection and the Life, and that the souls of the just are in God’s hands. One of the things I love about being Catholic is something called the Communion of Saints. I like to refer to it as the “Circle of Power”. This circle involves prayer on Earth and even in Heaven. As we all journey through this life on Earth, we have the opportunity to pray and intercede for others. We can pray for someone who is in need or is sick or suffering. We can help our neighbor and the poor or downtrodden, and we can love and serve our God. This is called the Church Militant.
We are militant because we are fighting in spiritual warfare as we go through our life. Temptations and sin may arise in our lives. Poor choices and wrong associations can lead us away from God. That is why we need to stand strong and uplift each other. Men who are strong in their Faith should help other men to be strong. Women should help other women to be strong. Each member of the body of Christ is valuable and important.
Next in our “Circle” is the Church Suffering. These are the people who are in the process of being purged of their venial sins or imperfections. Most of us are not prepared to die when it happens. If we knew when and how we were to die, then we would all be better prepared.
When those souls have been purged of their imperfections, they then become the final segment of the Circle of Power. They become the Church Triumphant! These are the Saints in Heaven who are praying with us and for us here on Earth. How cool is that!? We pray for them, they pray for us and the Circle is complete! It is all designed to bring us to Heaven.
So on this week let us remember we are all called to be Saints, so let’s respond to God’s call also, let us remember those who have died, and let us do our part as the Church Militant, standing together as the Body of Christ as we try our best to get each other to Heaven. Nothing is more important than that. Something to think about. May God richly bless you always!