The Queen: Editorial: Mary in The Communion of Saints
Fr. James McMillan, SMM
Mary in The Communion of Saints
During the Creed at Mass, . . .
. . . we all profess to believe in “The Communion of Saints.” This is the real, supernatural, but mysterious union that exists between Christ and all the members of His Mystical Body. It is a union that includes the blessed in heaven, the souls in Purgatory, and those who are still in the Pilgrim Church on earth.
His Mystical Body
We are so united because we share in the one life of Christ. As St. Paul tells us: “It is no longer I who live; it is Christ Who lives in me.” We are all members of the one Head, Christ our Lord. He lives in us, and we live in Him.
As members, of course, we all have different roles to fulfill. Some are called to be apostles, some to teach, some to preach, some to live in the married state, some to lead a single life. But all are living the one life of Christ, and are in constant association with Him in the work of Redemption.
The saints in heaven have a role to play, that of interceding for us here on earth and for the souls in Purgatory. Those in Purgatory have their role to perform, that of expiating for whatever remains of sin may be left in them.
The Role of Our Lady
The role of Our Lady in this Communion of Saints is a special one.
It is, as Pope Paul VI pointed out in his letter, Marialis Cultus, “one that is maternal.” As such, it is a role that is more universal than others, since it is a motherhood that encompasses the entire Communion of Saints.
Editorial
From time to time, The Queen will republish Editorials or create new Editorials on various topics.
Calling this union to mind more often would make our prayer life easier and deeper. It would help us to have a greater love for God and for our neighbors. Knowing that we are one with Christ would certainly draw us closer to Him, and knowing that we are one with Our Lady would surely lead us to a deeper devotion to her and to her divine Son.
Return to The Queen: Articles
The Second Vatican Council explained her maternal role: “This motherhood of Mary in the order of grace continues uninterruptedly from the consent which she loyally gave at the Annunciation and which she sustained without wavering beneath the cross, until the eternal fulfillment of all the elect.
Taken up to heaven she did not lay aside this saving office, but by her manifold intercession continues to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation. By her maternal charity she cares for the brethren of her Son, who still journey on earth surrounded by dangers and difficulties, until they are led into their blessed home.”
Mary’s Function
It is her function in the Communion of Saints to give us Christ, our life. That is why her role is, as Pope Paul VI reminded us, “one that is maternal.” She joins with the Holy Spirit to produce Christ in us, as she joined with Him in producing the Son of God made man,
Our Prayer Life Suffers . . . When
We sometimes have difficulty in remembering that these are not just pious effusions, just imaginary concepts. Our oneness with Christ, through Our Lady, is a definite spiritual reality, one that we should consider more often. Our prayer life suffers considerably when we fail to remember and to emphasize the closeness of our union with Christ, Our Lady and all the saints, in heaven, here on
earth, and in Purgatory.
Like any other mystery of our Faith, the Communion of Saints is not necessarily an easy one to grasp. But, like the other mysteries, its meaning can be more and more understood through reflection and prayer. We all pray to the saints, and we pray for the souls in Purgatory. But, quite often, we do so without the conscious realization that we are united to them and with them in the one life of Christ, and that the life of Christ within us has been given through the Holy Spirit and Our Blessed Lady.
Calling this union to mind more often would make our prayer life easier and deeper. It would help us to have a greater love for God and for our neighbors. Knowing that we are one with Christ would certainly draw us closer to Him, and knowing that we are one with Our Lady would surely lead us to a deeper devotion to her and to her divine Son.
