The Communion of Saints




"By the Communion of Saints we mean that all the members of the Church in heaven, on earth, and in purgatory, are in communion with each other, as being one body in Jesus Christ.'' Rom. xii. 5: "We being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another."

 "We are in communion with the Saints in heaven by honouring them as the glorified members of the Church; and also by our praying to them, and by their praying for us."--Catechism."


  O Christ, Thy guilty people spare!
Lo, bending at Thy gracious throne,
 Thy Virgin Mother pours her prayer,
 Imploring pardon for her own.

Ye Angels, happy evermore!
Who in your circles nine ascend,
As ye have guarded us before,
So still from harm our steps defend.

Ye Prophets and Apostles high!
Behold our penitential tears;
 And plead for us when death is nigh,
And our all-searching Judge appears.

Ye Martyrs all! a purple band,
And Confessors, a white-robed train;
Oh, call us to our native land,
From this our exile, back again.

And ye, O choirs of Virgins chaste:
Receive us to your seats on high;
With Hermits whom the desert waste
Sent up of old into the sky.

Drive from the flock, O Spirits blest!
The false and faithless race away;
That all within one fold may rest,
Secure beneath one Shepherd's sway.

To God the Father glory be,
And to His sole-begotten Son;
The same, O Holy Ghost, to Thee,
While everlasting ages run.
Amen.

 



 FIRST VESPERS.

 V. Laetamini in Domino, et exultate justi.
 R. Et gloriamini omnes recti corde.

 V. Be glad, O ye just, and rejoice in the Lord.
 R. And be joyful all ye that are right of heart.


 SECOND VESPERS.

 V. Exultabunt Sancti in gloria.
 R. Laetabuntur in cubilibus suis.

 V. Thy Saints shall rejoice in glory.
 R. And shall be joyful in their beds.