Intercession of the Saints

Class date: Feb 18, 2018

• Prayer: Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit

1. Communion of Saints – Study Guide p. 27
   1. During the Creed at every Mass and at the beginning of the Rosary, we say that we believe in the “communion of saints.” Can someone tell me what we mean by this phrase? (Hint: you may look in CCC 946)
   2. Key items:
      
      1. In Baptism,
      2. we are joined together in a supernatural union
      3. as members of Christ's own body,
      4. and thus as members of each other.
      5. Therefore: the sin of one harms the whole, but the good of one benefits the whole
   3. Investigate the following – all find the following verses
      
      1. Vine and the Branches – John 15:1-5
      2. 1 Cor 12:12-27 (esp 25-27) – unity in Christ's Body
      3. Rom 12:4-16 – ditto

2. Intercessory prayer – see Pat Madrid's article

1. 1. All Christians are members of Christ's Body and thereby of one another (as we just saw)
   2. How many bodies does Jesus have? See: Eph 4:4-6, Col 3:15. He has only one body – not one on earth and another in heaven
   3. What can separate us from Christ? In particular, can death? See: Rom 8:35-39. (Death can't separate us from Christ or one another – cannot break bond of union, which is love.)
   4. Christians are bound together in charity (many refs, not looking up, but e.g. Rom 12:10, 1 Cor 10:24, 13, 1 Thess 4:9-10). How is this especially shown? See: 1 Tim 2:1-4, Rom 15:30-32 (many more). [By intercessory prayer, good and pleasing to God]
   5. Do you pray for your family and friends? Why? Do you think that the saints in heaven, perfected Christians, are more or less likely to do this?

3. Testimony of the Early Church
   1. the first Christians universally venerated the saints and asked for their prayers (intercession)
   2. e.g. St. Augustine, St. Clement of Alexandria, St. Cyprian, St. John Chrysostom,  and many more

4. Objections: Use the ones in book or Pat's article above

5. Sum up – imagine the throne rooms of two kings – Pat Madrid – read from book, p. 58
   1. Which one would really be more impressive?

6. Questions from Study Guide p 11 and / or Friendly Defenders if needed

Close with prayer.