The Communion Of Saints And Obedience

 

This week my guest poster, Mr. John Gregory, gives us much food for thought concerning the Communion of Saints and the duty of obedience. I'm sure you will get much out of it, as I did! Please feel free to comment as usual. If you have a specific comment or query for me, I will answer as I always do, but it will take me a bit longer to reply this week.

God bless you all, my dear readers---Introibo

The Communion Of Saints And Obedience

By John Gregory

For as in one body we have many members, but all the members have not the same office; so we being many, are one body in Christ and everyone members of another (Romans 12: 4 & 5)

As it is with any corporate body, so it is with the Mystical Body of Christ, which is the Roman Catholic Church, that the Church Militant works best when the leaders are not corrupt and are faithfully submitted to.  We are all part of one body.  Has anyone encountered a bully that takes your arm and hits you in the face with your hand and says, “why are you hitting yourself”?  When Catholics have strifes and contentions, hatred and ill will, calumny and detraction among us we must ask ourselves, “why are we hitting ourself?” This recalls to mind a debate I was having with a ““bible” “Christian”” on meriting.  I told him we can make up for what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ.  He freaked out, saying nothing lacks in the sufferings of Christ, which is true, but this bible Christian must have missed in the bible (which he claims to be the sole rule of authority for Christians), “Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up those things that are wanting of the sufferings of Christ, in my flesh, for his body, which is the church”.  Colossians 1: 24.  The commentary is as follows, "Wanting:" There is no want in the sufferings of Christ in himself as head: but many sufferings are still wanting, or are still to come, in his body the church, and his members the faithful.

The one true faith is so beautiful as we have advocates not only on earth who can pray for us but also in heaven and very likely purgatory, certainly when they reach heaven, but the common teaching is that despite not being able to pray for themselves in purgatory, they can pray for us.  The protestants, at best can run the race on one leg, while we use the whole body in the most effective and efficient ways.  They ask not the intercession of the Queen Mother of the King of Kings, along with the prayers of all just men in Heaven.  The prayers they avail themselves from earthly dwellers is only for temporal prosperity as they are “already saved”.  The “Savior” of the bible Christians is a personal Lord and Savior, but our fellowship is with the Church Militant, Suffering and Triumphant as Saint John alludes below in our trusty Catechism of Trent (CoT):  

“The Communion of Saints”

The Evangelist Saint John, writing to the faithful on the divine mysteries, explains as follows why he undertook to instruct them in these truths: That you may have fellowship with us, and our fellowship may be with the Father, and with his son Jesus Christ. (1 John 1: 3) This fellowship consists in the Communion of Saints, the subject of the present Article.

IMPORTANCE OF THIS TRUTH

Would that in its exposition pastors imitated the zeal of Paul and of the other Apostles.  For not only is it a development of the preceding Article and a doctrine productive of abundant fruit; it also teaches the use to be made of the mysteries contained in the Creed, because the great end to which we should direct all our study and knowledge of them is that we may be admitted into this most august and blessed society of the Saints, and may steadily persevere therein, giving thanks with joy to God the Father, who hath made us worthy to be partakers of the lot of the saints in light. (Colossians 1: 12)

Unlike false Christians, Catholics have not a perceived unity with Christ, as well as whoever happens to agree with us.  He is not merely my personal Lord and Savior, he is our Redeemer, we, who form the Mystical Body of Christ with a unity of Faith, Sacraments and disciplines.  We are in this together as it were.  God has worked it out that, generally speaking, we cannot do it alone, we need the help of others.  From the moment of conception until the day we die we are either dependent on others or cannot accomplish our goals without the help of others.  Parents, priests, friends and neighbors.  What would a restaurant be like if no one kept it clean, or washed the dishes or served the food?  Picture a football team missing a quarterback or offensive lineman.  We are put in this world, in part, to help one another, to make things easier for one another, to encourage one another.  Yet what happens?  We needlessly make things more difficult for one another with needless bureaucracy, shoddy customer service and exorbitant pricing.   

Manifest pride, raising its ugly head to keep one another down.  We ruin someone’s birthday because he gave us a strange look twelve years ago.  Jump in front of a man with our full cart of groceries when he has only one item to be checked out.  Give a cold shoulder to someone because of the latest gossip we heard about him.  We live our lives based upon perception rather than reality.  That is, we do what we do based upon what others think rather than on what God knows.  We seek the approval of man rather than God and make our lives and eternity miserable in the process.  Let us fast from pride which makes us believe we need to get back at others who have offended our magnificent personage and feast on the main entre of humility which turns the other cheek and prays for those who persecute them.  Exit pride that thinks we know it all and enter humility which seeks to learn from others such as the splendid (CoT) relates below:

Meaning of “The Communion of Saints”

The faithful, therefore, in the first place are to be informed that this part of the Article, is, as it were, a sort of explanation of the preceding part which regards the unity, sanctity and catholicity of the Church.  For the unity of the Spirit, by which she is governed, brings it about that whatsoever has been given to the Church is held as a common possession by all her members.

COMMUNION OF SACRAMENTS

The fruit of all the Sacraments is common to all the faithful and these Sacraments, particularly Baptism, the door, as it were, by which we are admitted into the Church, are so many sacred bonds which bind and unite them to Christ.  That this communion of Saints implies a communion of Sacraments, the Fathers declare in these words of the Creed: I confess one Baptism.  After Baptism, the Eucharist holds the first place in reference to this communion, and after that the other Sacraments; for although this name (communion) is applicable to all the Sacraments, inasmuch as they unite us to God, and render us partakers of Him whose grace we receive, yet it belongs in a peculiar manner to the Eucharist which actually produces this communion.

COMMUNION OF GOOD WORKS

But there is also another communion in the Church which demands attention.  Every pious and holy action done by one belongs to and becomes profitable to all through charity, which seeketh not her own. (1 Corinthians 13: 5) This is proved by the testimony of Saint Ambrose, who, explaining these words of the Psalmist, I am a partaker with all them that fear thee, (Psalm 118) observes: As we say that a limb is partaker of the entire body, so are we partakers with all that fear God.  Therefore has Christ taught us that form of prayer in which we say our, not my bread; and the other Petitions are equally general, not confined to ourselves alone, but directed also to the common interest and the salvation of all.

The same may be observed in the Church.  She is composed of various members; that is, of different nations, of Jews, Gentiles, freemen and slaves, of rich and poor; when they have been baptized, they constitute one body with Christ, of which He is the Head.  To each member of the Church is also assigned his own peculiar office.  As some are appointed apostles, some teachers, but all for the common good; so to some it belongs to govern and teach, to others to be subject and obey.

THOSE WHO SHARE IN THIS COMMUNION

The advantages of so many and such exalted blessings bestowed by Almighty God are enjoyed by those who lead a Christian life in charity, and are just and beloved of God.  As to the dead members; that is, those who are bound in the thralldom of sin and estranged from the grace of God, they are not so deprived of these advantages as to cease to be members of this body; but since they are dead members, they do not share in the spiritual fruit which is communicated to the just and pious.  However, as they are in the Church, they are assisted in recovering lost grace and life by those who live by the Spirit; and they also enjoy those benefits which are without doubt denied to those who are entirely cut off from the Church.

COMMUNION IN OTHER BLESSINGS

Not only the gifts which justify and endear us to God are common.  Graces gratuitously granted, such as knowledge, prophecy, the gifts of tongues and of miracles, and others of the same sort, are common also, and are granted even to the wicked, not, however, for their own but for the general good, for the edification of the Church.  Thus, the gift of healing is given not for the sake of him who heals, but for the sake of him who is healed.

In fine, every true Christian possesses nothing which he should not consider common to all others with himself, and should therefore be prepared promptly to relieve an indigent fellow-creature.  For he that is blessed with worldly goods, and sees his brother in want, and will not assist him, is plainly convicted of not having the love of God within him. (1 John 3: 17)

Those, therefore, who belong to this holy communion, it is manifest, do now enjoy a certain degree of happiness and can truly say: How lovely are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! My soul longeth and fainteth for the courts of the Lord. . . . Blessed are they who dwell in thy house, O Lord. (Psalm 83: 2, 3, 5) [CoT]

As mentioned earlier, the Church Militant works best when the leaders are not corrupt and are faithfully summitted to.  This starts in the family.  Like a body, the family is composed of the head (dad), the heart (mom), and the members (children).  If the head says, “don’t walk off the cliff” and the members disobey, we have issues.  This is true in parishes as well.  If the priest is weak and allows lay people to run his church problems arise.  The big donor who remakes the Church into the image and likeness of herself which the priest fears to contradict for fear of losing support.  One bad apple can ruin the whole basket as a drop of poison ruins the whole leaven.  One disobedient soul who refuses to wear tie and jacket to Sunday Mass week after week (this should be done for daily Mass as well unless undue inconvenience would be caused such as not having time to change into work cloths after Mass), after hearing a sermon on how we should dress for Mass.  Any number of ways that women do the same.  Pope Pius XII and Saint Paul put it very well.  “Let Us remind all that they must generously and faithfully obey their holy pastors who possess the right and duty of regulating the whole life, especially the spiritual life, of the Church. ‘Obey your prelates and be subject to them. For they watch as having to render an account of your souls; that they may do this with joy and not with grief.’"  (Mediator Dei; Hebrews 13: 17)

Children, in addition to obeying their parents when under their domain, must honor them throughout their lives.  Primarily this should be concern for their salvation.  We live in terrible times.  In my experience it seems many old people, at least those who are semi well to do, do everything in their power to put off even thinking of death.  My parents themselves admitted that it is common among the Irish to not buy their plots for fear that the result would be that they would die soon after.  

Like the rest of the world, they have everything exactly backwards. The most important part of our existence is where we spend our eternity, ultimately it is the only thing that matters.  Yet, people go out of their way to not even think about it, even in their extreme old age.  People pushing ninety or older who were raised Catholic and still claim to be, convince themselves that Jesus dying for our sins means they do not have to worry about going to Hell.  I encountered such a gentleman, and it threw me for a loop.  Was this the same intelligent man I talked to years before who made a very valid point that even if Catholic teaching on Hell is only possibly right wouldn’t you want to err on the safe side?  Is this the same person who agreed “in theory” that contraception is a grave evil?  A grave evil but if we believe in Jesus, we do not have to worry about going to Hell over it?  People will convince themselves of anything, no matter how brutally fanciful, that contradicts stubborn facts they prefer not to accept.  

Generous “Catholic” souls who care for their parents' physical well-being in their old age prefer not to concern themselves with getting them a certainly valid priest in grave illness, even if their parents expressed a certain openness to receiving Last Rites from a valid priest. Please don’t fall into the trap of reassuring your parents that death is certainly not imminent in their serious illness and act as if their salvation is in the bag when they have been members of the nordite anti-Christ church since its inception.  Do all you can to get a valid priest to them in their grave illness.  If your parents are squeamish about it let the priest know ahead of time that they may be resistant.  If they insist that they do not want a traditional priest, talk to a good priest about the situation and follow his advice.  But for the love of God and your parents' souls do not act like a grave illness is nothing to worry about nor pretend they have it made in shade when it comes to their salvation.  

He went down with them, and came to Nazareth; and was subject to them (St. Luke 2: 51)

MANNER OF HONORING PARENTS

The honor which children are commanded to pay to their parents should be the spontaneous offering of sincere and dutiful love.  This is nothing more than their due, since for love of us, they shrink from no labor, no exertion, no danger.  Their highest pleasure is to feel that they are loved by their children, the dearest objects of their affection.  Joseph, when he enjoyed in Egypt the highest station and the most ample power after the king himself, received with honor his father, who had come into Egypt. (Genesis 46: 29) Solomon rose to meet his mother as she approached; and having paid her respect, placed her on a royal throne on his right hand. (3 Kings 2: 19)

We also owe to our parents other duties of respect, such as to supplicate God in their behalf, that they may lead prosperous and happy lives, beloved and esteemed by all who know them, and most pleasing in the sight of God and of the Saints in heaven.

We also honor them by submission to their wishes and inclinations.  My son, says Solomon, hear the instruction of thy father and forsake not the law of thy mother; that grace may be added to thy head, and a chain of gold to thy neck. (Proverbs 1: 8, 9) Of the same kind are the exhortations of Saint Paul.  Children, he says, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is just; (Ephesians 6: 1) and also, children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord. (Colossians 3: 20) (This doctrine) is confirmed by the example of the holiest men.  Isaac, when bound for sacrifice by his father, meekly and uncomplainingly obeyed; (Genesis 22: 9) and the Rechabites, not to depart from the counsel of their father, always abstained from wine. (Jeremias 35: 6)

We also honor our parents by the imitation of their good example; for, to seek to resemble closely anyone is the highest mark of esteem towards him.  We also honor them when we not only ask, but follow their advice.

Again, we honor our parents when we relieve their necessities, supplying them with necessary food and clothing according to these words of Christ, who, when reproving the impiety of the Pharisees, said: Why do you also transgress the commandments of God because of your traditions?  For God said: “Honour thy father and thy mother,” and “He that shall curse father or mother let him die the death.”  But you say: “Whosoever shall say to his father or mother.   The gift whatsoever proceedeth from me, shall profit thee.”  And he shall not honour his father or his mother; and you have made void the commandment of God for your tradition. (St. Matthew 15: 3 – 6)

But if at all times it is our duty to honor our parents, this duty becomes still more imperative when they are visited by severe illness.  We should then see to it that they do not neglect confession and the other Sacraments which every Christian should receive at the approach of death.  We should also see that pious and religious persons visit them frequently to strengthen their weakness, assist them by their counsel, and animate them to the hope of immortality, that having risen above the concerns of this world, they may fix their thoughts entirely on God.  Thus blessed with the sublime virtues of faith, hope and charity, and fortified by the helps of religion, they will not only look at death without fear, since it is necessary, but will even welcome it, as it hastens their entrance into eternity.

Finally, we honor our parents, even after their death, by attending their funerals, procuring for them suitable obsequies and burial, having due suffrages and anniversary Masses offered for them, and faithfully executing their last wills. (CoT)

I mentioned earlier concern for Vatican II sect parents of Catholic children when it comes to assisting them to make a good end and asked a sage for advice and the following was the response.

My advice to you, my dear friends, is a few suggestions.  They are all important and Jesus and Mary would like it best.  First, pray the rosary every day for these poor people.  Recommend them every day to Mary.  If possible, say the whole Rosary every day (15 decades).  She will be pleased with your supplications and will answer your prayers for sure (even if they go to other people).  Remember to say it devoutly and with attention.  

Second, recommend them to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  Not just the Heart of Mary, but the Rosary, and the Heart of Jesus are hopes of mankind.  Immerse these souls in these two Sacred Hearts, and I assure you all, Jesus and Mary will do everything to save them.  Mary will intercede for them to her Son.  Which she will do when you pray the Rosary as well.  Jesus, of course, will hear her and deliver His graces through her hands to distribute to these poor sinners.  Pray, pray, pray, and never cease to pray.  The Hearts of Jesus and Mary are attentive to the force of your supplications.  

Third, offer all the holy Masses you attend, and Holy Communions you receive, as well as all true Masses being offered throughout the world, for these souls.  The Mass is the most perfect prayer for souls when you recommend them in the consecration, when Christ comes down from Heaven to earth to offer Himself as the Eternal High-Priest for the salvation of souls.  Every time one person receives Holy Communion worthily, something good happens to everyone on earth and Purgatory.  

Last, but not least, God relishes sacrifices offered for poor sinners.  Offer every day of your lives for them, as well as your sleep, the food you eat, the water you drink, your joys, your sorrows, your sufferings, and even your heartbeats.  Make these sacrifices as an act of both supplication and reparation to God for sinners.  God will help you save your soul as well as those of others.  I recommend and even beg you all to make this last recommendation in the most perfect way you can do.  Make the consecration to Jesus through the hands of Mary, as recommended by Saint Louis Marie de Monfort.  There are books on this that explain this consecration, how to do it.  I cannot explain now how this consecration helps to save souls but read about it and I assure you, you will understand what this means.  

It will save many souls through the hands of Mary, most holy.  I suggest you all follow every one of these suggestions which are not really hard for those who love God and want to do His will.  Ask the Holy Ghost for assistance.  If you but do all these things you will save your soul as well as the souls of many, many others.  Take care not to sin yourself, these things will not be profitable to you or others if you too become a castaway.  Purify your soul and sin not.  I assure you; God will do the rest through Mary’s hands.  If those you are trying to save lose their souls because they do not accept God’s numerous graces, you are not to blame because you did all you could do to save them.  God will bestow His graces to other souls who are more ready to accept them, thus you will gain more merits for yourself.  (From my daughter)

For reinforcement might we take a glance at Moral and Pastoral Theology, by theologian Davis, first published in 1935?

Duties of Children

Children are bound to love, reverence and obey their parents: to love them, because of the natural union between parent and child, and by reason of the benefits received; to reverence them, because of a parent’s dignity and authority, the dignity of co-operation in creation, the authority in the natural unit of society, which is the family; to obey them, because the parent has a right and duty to educate the child, physically, morally, religiously and intellectually.

Love and reverence are absolute and perpetual obligations; obedience is conditional and temporary whilst the child has need of a parent, but both Civil and Ecclesiastical law may and do determine the duration of the state of tutelage, and therefore the obligation of submission and obedience, beyond the strict requirements of Natural law.

Each of these duties of love, reverence and obedience, has its own specific object, and can be specifically violated, and obviously the two former are more obligatory in the case of parents than of strangers.  The sins of children against parents are, therefore, in the nature of things, and because rational nature so dictates, more serious than would be their sins against others.

The love which children owe must be that of benevolence and beneficence, that is, interior love externally exhibited by relieving parents’ needs, evincing external signs of love, guarding parents from evil, corporal and spiritual.  Children seriously sin against this precept by hating their parents, wishing them serious evil, showing serious signs of great hatred, treating them heartlessly, speaking to them as to enemies, not helping them, when possible, in grave necessity of soul or body, inciting them to great anger and sadness, seriously neglecting to visit them in sickness.

Reverence, both interior and exterior, is due to parents: “Cursed is he that honoureth not his father and mother” (Deuteronomy 27: 16).  Children sin grievously against this precept of reverence by striking parents unjustly, raising the hand to strike them, heaping reproaches undeservedly on them, uttering unjust and serious threats, despising or disregarding them in their poverty, cursing them, seriously ridiculing them, refusing to show customary signs of respect to their great and reasonable sorrow. [cf. Exod. 21, 15 : 21, 17 ; Prov 30, 17.  It is held to be not sinful, though revolting to noble natures, if a child who has achieved high position in the State disregards parents in a humble condition of life, provided, of course, the latter are not in need of help.]

Children are bound to obey their parents in their lawful commands so long as they live under the parental authority.  When emancipated, they still owe them love and reverence but not obedience.  They are emancipated when they have completed the twenty-first year of age—though still living under the parental roof—or when they marry, or enter the religious life.  [In English law a child is emancipated when twenty-one years of age.  In American law, emancipation may take place before that age by agreement in writing or by parol.  Judicial emancipation may be got in some of the States of the Union before the age of twenty-one.  In many States, females attain majority at eighteen years of age : cf. Slater (ed. 1909), I, p. 272.] They sin grievously by disobedience in a grave matter that falls within the scope of parental authority, and if such matter is seriously forbidden by parents.  As a fact, young children do not usually offend grievously in disobeying, on account of their levity and inadvertence, and for want of seriousness on the part of parents.

Children who have come to the use of reason are entitled to embrace the True Faith if they do not belong to it. Parents have no power to forbid this, neither can they oblige their children to adopt a particular state of life in the world, but the parents’ legal consent is sometimes necessary, and their canonical consent is necessary, probably up to the emancipation of the child (c. 89).  Parents may not force their children to marry, nor to enter the religious state, nor deter them from the latter (cc. 971, 1087, 2352). 

Although, after choosing a fixed state of life, children are emancipated, yet on account of parents’ grave need they may be obliged to defer, for a time, their choice, if they cannot otherwise help their parents.  Thus, though a minor may legally enlist without his parents’ consent, he may be obliged to remain in civil life for a time.

In regard to marriage, minors should ordinarily have the approval of their parents, both for entering on marriage and for their choice of partner, but on the other hand, parents should not be selfish in putting unreasonable obstacles in the way of their children’s marriage.  By so doing, they forfeit love and respect, since they do not allow the freedom which they enjoyed themselves.  In any case, the approval of parents is not necessary to the valid marriage of their children (c. 1034), though, from the motive of love, children may sometimes be obliged to accede to a parent’s wish.  According to the Marriage Act (an. 1823), the consent of certain persons—including guardians in default of parents—is necessary for the marriage of minors, though absence of consent does not render the marriage void.  But if such marriage of a minor is procured, without the necessary consent, by the false oath or declaration of one of the parties, the Attorney or Solicitor General may sue for a forfeiture of any interest in property accruing to such party by reason of the marriage.  Children are bound by Natural law to support parents who cannot support themselves; there is also the legal obligation to provide necessary maintenance.

Conclusion

A key to maintaining an existence that is pleasing to God is prudence.  The prudence to know when to speak and when to be silent.  When to encourage and when to correct.  This especially when it comes to honoring your father and your mother in the best way possible by doing all in your power (at least all that can be reasonably expected from you by God) to make sure your parents die a happy death.  As the sage (my daughter Anastasia, aged 14 at the time of the writing) above mentioned, we must pray for them, prudence would certainly dictate that prayer is more effective than trying to win an argument with them.  The key to their salvation, and ours, can be our perseverance in prayer.  Not giving up.  “Doing violence to God”, pounding on His door at midnight and not taking “no” for an answer.  

What is interesting to consider is the big picture throughout your life.  If you look at all your interactions with those God puts on your path as a potential for facilitating a happy final end for all, you will build your relationships upon truth, honesty and integrity.  You will be known as an honest and reliable person, and your admonishments will be taken more seriously as a result.  If your goal is to help your parents save their souls, you will not let trifling quibbles get in the way.  Their souls are more important than how you are perceived.  A prayer is far more beneficial than a petty grudge.  Winning souls are far more important than winning arguments.  It is indeed quite true that we must live holy lives ourselves if we want to help others save their souls.