The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-10-26
JFOMMLINIONz or SAINT SC o. F. RESOLUTION


it is today the solemn asseveration of
the Catholic Church.
Whence, then, the microscopy func-
ton attributed to the Saints by the
Catholic Church, clearly implied, the
Church teaches, in the article of the
Apostles Creed-"I believe
in the Communion of the Saints?" We
answer: From the free-willed order
ing of the Redeemer and Saviour
Himself, due altogether to His love
and merciful condescension.
In the Christian dispensation love
is supreme. The whole dispensation
has its birth in Gods eternal love for
mankind: it's whole course through
time was to be outward effusion of
this love. AS one of the effects of
this love, the Incarnate World willed
that men be united to Him in closest,
most intimate bond, even to become,
as it were, members of His own body:
Now" writes st. Paul, you are the
body of Christ, and members of mem
her," And, then, as the consequence
of their union with Himself, He willed
that they be united with one another,
even to becoming members of one an.
other: $50 we being many are one
body in Christ, and every one members
one of another" And, further, in re-
suit of their mutual love, He ordered
that they help one another: THAT
there might be no schiSm in the body
but the members might be mutually
careful one for another" Thence the
privilege of the members to intercede
one for another. AS a token of His
| love for His members, as an encour
agement to them to love one another
| He, the Head, authorized the members
to take, through petition, one for an
other graces from the divine treasury
and in this manner, in a degree other
| wise impossible, to be mutually care
| full one for another" "The Communion
of the Saints" in it's microscopy func
ton, is one of the many Deauteous
blossomings of that mysterious love
for mankind which babe the Eterna
| Word from Heaven to Bethlehem
| from Bethlehem to Calvary.
| In the prerogative of intercessioI
| given to the members of the body o.
| Christ no shadow is there of infringe
ment upon the mediatorship of the
)re Saviour: no shadow of substitu
ton of human for divine merit. Thu
Saints offer prayers that through Hi:
| owe and mercy the merits OF thu
! Saviour be applied to fellow-member:
| of the same mystic body. When WI
address the Saints, We ask for thei
| intercession. We say to them: "Pra.
| for u.s." Never to the Saints do WI
say: Grant us grace, grant us saliva
| ton. To grant grace and salvation
is the privilege solely of Him Wh'
merited grace, who alone is entities
to dispose of it. Before Him thu
Saints are as having nothing: outsid
of Him the Saints, however high il
favor, are powerless of will and vol
of hand to help us,
But why in any manner bring tn
Saints into action? Why not at one
mount to the Source of grace, an
there without aid from other creature
take immediate draught from its al
i copious flow? No absolute need, III
deed, is there of the company of tn
Saints, when we present ourselves BIZ
fore the Great Mediator: to Him tn
road is always open: alone we ma
travel it: alone we often do trave
it. Yet, there is a signal advantag
in approaching Him hand in hand wit
fellow-members of His mystic bod!
The Great Mediator is pleased whe
His members put into practice Hi
mandate that they love one anothel
that they be mutually careful one c
: the other" And, then, our prayer
, for love and mercy reach the Thron
of Grace, worthier and more con
polling when mingled with the prayer
of others, nearer and dearer to Jesus
Slight our personal value: poor an
weak our claims upon the divine trea
ury. The prayers of the Saints unite
with our prayers, the deeds of tn
Saints are made ours. Not we, Ill
: worthy ones, who then pray, but thos
more beloved of God, whose titles t
, hearing He more readily acknow
edges.
| CTo be continued.)