(8) If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. (9) For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.
- Sacred Scripture Romans 14:8-9 on Communion of Saints
(25) Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, (26) and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
- Sacred Scripture John 11:25-26 on Communion of Saints
(38) Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living; for all live to him.
- Sacred Scripture Luke 20:38 on Communion of Saints
(21) For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (22) If it is to be life in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. (23) I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.
- Sacred Scripture Philippians 1:21-23 on Communion of Saints
(13) But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. (14) For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.
- Sacred Scripture 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 on Communion of Saints
(13) And I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord henceforth." "Blessed indeed," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!"
- Sacred Scripture Revelation 14:13 on Communion of Saints
(22) For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
- Sacred Scripture 1 Corinthians 15:22 on Communion of Saints
(3) For you have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (4) When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
- Sacred Scripture Colossians 3:3-4 on Communion of Saints
(32) ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living.
- Sacred Scripture Matthew 22:32 on Communion of Saints
(8) Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
- Sacred Scripture 2 Corinthians 5:8 on Communion of Saints
(4) But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us, (5) even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), (6) and raised us up with him, and made us sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
- Sacred Scripture Ephesians 2:4-6 on Communion of Saints
(Hebrews 11:32-40)
(32) And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, (33) quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. (34) Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. (35) They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
(36) And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
(Hebrews 12:1-2)
(1) Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, (2) looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
- Sacred Scripture Hebrews 11:32-40; 12:1-2 on Communion of Saints
(10) “See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven. (12) What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? (13) And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. (14) So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
- Sacred Scripture Matthew 18:10-14 on Communion of Saints
(1) Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. (2) And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
(3) So he told them this parable: (4) “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? (5) And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. (6) And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.’ (7) Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
- Sacred Scripture Luke 15:1-7 on Communion of Saints
(8) “Or what woman, having ten silver coins,[a] if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? (9) And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost.’ (10) Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
- Sacred Scripture Luke 15:8-10 on Communion of Saints
(19) “There was a rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. (20) And at his gate lay a poor man named Laz′arus, full of sores, (21) who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table; moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores. (22) The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried; (23) and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Laz′arus in his bosom. (24) And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send Laz′arus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.’ (25) But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Laz′arus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. (26) And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ (27) And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house, (28) for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ (29) But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ (30) And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ (31) He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”
- Sacred Scripture Luke 16:19-31 on Communion of Saints
(1) After this I heard what seemed to be the mighty voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying,
“Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,
(2) for his judgments are true and just;
he has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication,
and he has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”
(3) Once more they cried, “Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever.”
- Sacred Scripture Revelation 19:1-3 on Communion of Saints
(9) When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne; (10) they cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before thou wilt judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell upon the earth?” (11) Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.
- Sacred Scripture Revelation 6:9-11 on Communion of Saints
(13) And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all therein, saying, “To him who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might for ever and ever!”(14) And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
- Sacred Scripture Revelation 5:13-14 on Communion of Saints
(17) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (18) Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, (19) and also for me, that utterance may be given me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, (20) for which I am an ambassador in chains; that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
- Sacred Scripture Ephesians 6:17-20 on Communion of Saints
(17) I cried aloud to him,
and he was extolled with my tongue.
(18) If I had cherished iniquity in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened.
(19) But truly God has listened;
he has given heed to the voice of my prayer.
(20) Blessed be God,
because he has not rejected my prayer
or removed his steadfast love from me!
- Sacred Scripture Psalm 66:17-20 on Communion of Saints
(13) Is any one among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let him sing praise. (14) Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. (15) And the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. (16) Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects. (17) Eli′jah was a man of like nature with ourselves and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. (18) Then he prayed again and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth its fruit.
- Sacred Scripture James 5:13-18 on Communion of Saints
(7) Likewise you husbands, live considerately with your wives, bestowing honor on the woman as the weaker sex, since you are joint heirs of the grace of life, in order that your prayers may not be hindered.
- Sacred Scripture 1 Peter 3:7 on Communion of Saints
(22) But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, (23) and to the assembly of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, and to a judge who is God of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, (24) and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks more graciously than the blood of Abel.
- Sacred Scripture Hebrews 12:22-28 on Communion of Saints
(3) And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer; and he was given much incense to mingle with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar before the throne; (4) and the smoke of the incense rose with the prayers of the saints from the hand of the angel before God. (5) Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth; and there were peals of thunder, loud noises, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.
- Sacred Scripture Revelation 8:3-5 on Communion of Saints
(12) What he saw was this: Oni′as, who had been high priest, a noble and good man, of modest bearing and gentle manner, one who spoke fittingly and had been trained from childhood in all that belongs to excellence, was praying with outstretched hands for the whole body of the Jews. (13) Then likewise a man appeared, distinguished by his gray hair and dignity, and of marvelous majesty and authority. (14) And Oni′as spoke, saying, “This is a man who loves the brethren and prays much for the people and the holy city, Jeremiah, the prophet of God.” (15) Jeremiah stretched out his right hand and gave to Judas a golden sword, and as he gave it he addressed him thus: (16) “Take this holy sword, a gift from God, with which you will strike down your adversaries.”
- Sacred Scripture 2 Maccabees 15:12-16 on Communion of Saints
(8) And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints;
- Sacred Scripture Revelation 5:8 on Communion of Saints
(11) “I will not conceal anything from you. I have said, ‘It is good to guard the secret of a king, but gloriously to reveal the works of God.’ (12) And so, when you and your daughter-in-law Sarah prayed, I brought a reminder of your prayer before the Holy One; and when you buried the dead, I was likewise present with you. (13) When you did not hesitate to rise and leave your dinner in order to go and lay out the dead, your good deed was not hidden from me, but I was with you. (14) So now God sent me to heal you and your daughter-in-law Sarah. (15) I am Raph′ael, one of the seven holy angels who present the prayers of the saints and enter into the presence of the glory of the Holy One.”
- Sacred Scripture Tobit 12:10-16 on Communion of Saints
(12) When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice; and the woman said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul.” (13) The king said to her, “Have no fear; what do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a god coming up out of the earth.” (14) He said to her, “What is his appearance?” And she said, “An old man is coming up; and he is wrapped in a robe.” And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground, and did obeisance.
(15) Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul answered, “I am in great distress; for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams; therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do.” (16) And Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since the Lord has turned from you and become your enemy? (17) The Lord has done to you as he spoke by me; for the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand, and given it to your neighbor, David. (18) Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord, and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Am′alek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day. (19) Moreover the Lord will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines; and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me; the Lord will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.”
- Sacred Scripture 1 Samuel 28:12-19 on Communion of Saints
(1) ‘O Lord Almighty, God of Israel, the soul in anguish and the wearied spirit cry out to thee. (2) Hear, O Lord, and have mercy, for we have sinned before thee. (3) For thou art enthroned for ever, and we are perishing for ever. (4) O Lord Almighty, God of Israel, hear now the prayer of the dead of Israel and of the sons of those who sinned before thee, who did not heed the voice of the Lord their God, so that calamities have clung to us.
- Sacred Scripture Baruch 3:1-4 on Communion of Saints
- Roman Catacombs on the Sacred Tradition of Communion of Saints
"So is he always pure for prayer. He also prays in the society of angels, as being already of angelic rank, and he is never out of their holy keeping; and though he pray alone, he has the choir of the saints standing with him." (The Stromata, Book 7, Ch. 12) [AD 198 - 203]
- St. Clement of Alexandria on the Sacred Tradition of Communion of Saints
"We fly to thy protection, O holy Mother of God. Despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin." [AD 250 - 300]
- Ancient Prayer to the Virgin Mary on the Sacred Tradition of Communion of Saints
"But not the High-Priest [Christ] alone prays for those who pray sincerely, but also the angels . . . as also the souls of the saints who have already fallen asleep." (On Prayer) [AD 250]
- Origen on the Sacred Tradition of Communion of Saints
"Let us remember one another in concord and unanimity. Let us on both sides always pray for one another. Let us relieve burdens and afflictions by mutual love, that if any one of us, by the swiftness of divine condescension, shall go hence the first, our love may continue in the presence of the Lord, and our prayers for our brethren and sisters not cease in the presence of the Father's mercy. I bid you, dearest brother, ever heartly farewell." (Epistle 56, Paragraph 5) [AD 253]
- St. Cyprian of Carthage on the Sacred Tradition of Communion of Saints
"We then commemorate also those who have fallen asleep before us, first, patriarchs, prophets, apostles, martyrs, that God, by their prayers and intercessions, may receive our petitions." (Catechetical Lectures 23, Section 9) [AD 348 - 350]
- St. Cyril of Jerusalem on the Sacred Tradition of Communion of Saints
"You victorious martyrs who endured torments gladly for the sake of the God and Savior, you who have boldness of speech toward the Lord himself, you saints, intercede for us who are timid and sinful men, full of sloth, that the grace of Christ may come upon us, and enlighten the hearts of all of us so that we may love him." (Commentary on Mark) [AD 370]
- St. Ephraim the Syrian on the Sacred Tradition of Communion of Saints
"Do thou, [Ephraim] that art standing at the Divine altar, and art ministering with angels to the life-giving and most Holy Trinity, bear us all in remembrance, petitioning for us the remission of sins, and the fruition of an everlasting kingdom." (Sermon on Ephraim the Syrian) [AD 380]
- St. Gregory of Nyssa on the Sacred Tradition of Communion of Saints
"Mayest thou [Cyprian] look down from above propitiously upon us, and guide our word and life; and shepherd [or shepherd with me] this sacred flock . . . gladdening us with a more perfect and clear illumination of the Holy Trinity, before Which thou standest." (Orations 17) [AD 380]
- St. Gregory of Nazianzus on the Sacred Tradition of Communion of Saints
"May Peter, who wept so efficaciously for himself, weep for us and turn towards us Christ's benignant countenance." (Hexaem) [AD 392]
- St. Ambrose of Milan on the Sacred Tradition of Communion of Saints
"For he that wears the purple himself goes to embrace those tombs, and, laying aside his pride, stands begging the saints to be his advocates with God, and he that has the diadem implores the tent-maker [Paul] and the fisherman [Peter], though dead, to be his patrons. Will you dare then, tell me, to call the Lord of these dead; whose servants even after their decease are the patrons of the kings of the world?" (Homily 26 on Second Corinthians) [AD 398 - 407]
- St. John Chrysostom on the Sacred Tradition of Communion of Saints
"At the Lord’s table we do not commemorate martyrs in the same way that we do others who rest in peace so as to pray for them, but rather that they may pray for us that we may follow in their footsteps." (Homilies on John 84) [AD 416]
- St. Augustine of Hippo on the Sacred Tradition of Communion of Saints
(8) If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. (9) For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.
- Sacred Scripture Romans 14:8-9 on Communion of Saints
(25) Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, (26) and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
- Sacred Scripture John 11:25-26 on Communion of Saints
(38) Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living; for all live to him.
- Sacred Scripture Luke 20:38 on Communion of Saints
(21) For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (22) If it is to be life in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. (23) I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.
- Sacred Scripture Philippians 1:21-23 on Communion of Saints
(13) But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. (14) For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.
- Sacred Scripture 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 on Communion of Saints
(13) And I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord henceforth." "Blessed indeed," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!"
- Sacred Scripture Revelation 14:13 on Communion of Saints
(22) For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
- Sacred Scripture 1 Corinthians 15:22 on Communion of Saints
(3) For you have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (4) When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
- Sacred Scripture Colossians 3:3-4 on Communion of Saints
(32) ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living.
- Sacred Scripture Matthew 22:32 on Communion of Saints
(8) Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
- Sacred Scripture 2 Corinthians 5:8 on Communion of Saints
(4) But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us, (5) even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), (6) and raised us up with him, and made us sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
- Sacred Scripture Ephesians 2:4-6 on Communion of Saints
(Hebrews 11:32-40)
(32) And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, (33) quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. (34) Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. (35) They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
(36) And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
(Hebrews 12:1-2)
(1) Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, (2) looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
- Sacred Scripture Hebrews 11:32-40; 12:1-2 on Communion of Saints
(10) “See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven. (12) What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? (13) And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. (14) So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
- Sacred Scripture Matthew 18:10-14 on Communion of Saints
(1) Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. (2) And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
(3) So he told them this parable: (4) “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? (5) And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. (6) And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.’ (7) Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
- Sacred Scripture Luke 15:1-7 on Communion of Saints
(8) “Or what woman, having ten silver coins,[a] if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? (9) And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost.’ (10) Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
- Sacred Scripture Luke 15:8-10 on Communion of Saints
(19) “There was a rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. (20) And at his gate lay a poor man named Laz′arus, full of sores, (21) who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table; moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores. (22) The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried; (23) and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Laz′arus in his bosom. (24) And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send Laz′arus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.’ (25) But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Laz′arus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. (26) And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ (27) And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house, (28) for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ (29) But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ (30) And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ (31) He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”
- Sacred Scripture Luke 16:19-31 on Communion of Saints
(1) After this I heard what seemed to be the mighty voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying,
“Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,
(2) for his judgments are true and just;
he has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication,
and he has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”
(3) Once more they cried, “Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever.”
- Sacred Scripture Revelation 19:1-3 on Communion of Saints
(9) When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne; (10) they cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before thou wilt judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell upon the earth?” (11) Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.
- Sacred Scripture Revelation 6:9-11 on Communion of Saints
(13) And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all therein, saying, “To him who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might for ever and ever!”(14) And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
- Sacred Scripture Revelation 5:13-14 on Communion of Saints
(17) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (18) Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, (19) and also for me, that utterance may be given me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, (20) for which I am an ambassador in chains; that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
- Sacred Scripture Ephesians 6:17-20 on Communion of Saints
(17) I cried aloud to him,
and he was extolled with my tongue.
(18) If I had cherished iniquity in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened.
(19) But truly God has listened;
he has given heed to the voice of my prayer.
(20) Blessed be God,
because he has not rejected my prayer
or removed his steadfast love from me!
- Sacred Scripture Psalm 66:17-20 on Communion of Saints
(13) Is any one among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let him sing praise. (14) Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. (15) And the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. (16) Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects. (17) Eli′jah was a man of like nature with ourselves and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. (18) Then he prayed again and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth its fruit.
- Sacred Scripture James 5:13-18 on Communion of Saints
(7) Likewise you husbands, live considerately with your wives, bestowing honor on the woman as the weaker sex, since you are joint heirs of the grace of life, in order that your prayers may not be hindered.
- Sacred Scripture 1 Peter 3:7 on Communion of Saints
(22) But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, (23) and to the assembly of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, and to a judge who is God of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, (24) and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks more graciously than the blood of Abel.
- Sacred Scripture Hebrews 12:22-28 on Communion of Saints
(3) And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer; and he was given much incense to mingle with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar before the throne; (4) and the smoke of the incense rose with the prayers of the saints from the hand of the angel before God. (5) Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth; and there were peals of thunder, loud noises, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.
- Sacred Scripture Revelation 8:3-5 on Communion of Saints
(12) What he saw was this: Oni′as, who had been high priest, a noble and good man, of modest bearing and gentle manner, one who spoke fittingly and had been trained from childhood in all that belongs to excellence, was praying with outstretched hands for the whole body of the Jews. (13) Then likewise a man appeared, distinguished by his gray hair and dignity, and of marvelous majesty and authority. (14) And Oni′as spoke, saying, “This is a man who loves the brethren and prays much for the people and the holy city, Jeremiah, the prophet of God.” (15) Jeremiah stretched out his right hand and gave to Judas a golden sword, and as he gave it he addressed him thus: (16) “Take this holy sword, a gift from God, with which you will strike down your adversaries.”
- Sacred Scripture 2 Maccabees 15:12-16 on Communion of Saints
(8) And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints;
- Sacred Scripture Revelation 5:8 on Communion of Saints
(11) “I will not conceal anything from you. I have said, ‘It is good to guard the secret of a king, but gloriously to reveal the works of God.’ (12) And so, when you and your daughter-in-law Sarah prayed, I brought a reminder of your prayer before the Holy One; and when you buried the dead, I was likewise present with you. (13) When you did not hesitate to rise and leave your dinner in order to go and lay out the dead, your good deed was not hidden from me, but I was with you. (14) So now God sent me to heal you and your daughter-in-law Sarah. (15) I am Raph′ael, one of the seven holy angels who present the prayers of the saints and enter into the presence of the glory of the Holy One.”
- Sacred Scripture Tobit 12:10-16 on Communion of Saints
(12) When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice; and the woman said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul.” (13) The king said to her, “Have no fear; what do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a god coming up out of the earth.” (14) He said to her, “What is his appearance?” And she said, “An old man is coming up; and he is wrapped in a robe.” And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground, and did obeisance.
(15) Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul answered, “I am in great distress; for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams; therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do.” (16) And Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since the Lord has turned from you and become your enemy? (17) The Lord has done to you as he spoke by me; for the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand, and given it to your neighbor, David. (18) Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord, and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Am′alek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day. (19) Moreover the Lord will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines; and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me; the Lord will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.”
- Sacred Scripture 1 Samuel 28:12-19 on Communion of Saints
(1) ‘O Lord Almighty, God of Israel, the soul in anguish and the wearied spirit cry out to thee. (2) Hear, O Lord, and have mercy, for we have sinned before thee. (3) For thou art enthroned for ever, and we are perishing for ever. (4) O Lord Almighty, God of Israel, hear now the prayer of the dead of Israel and of the sons of those who sinned before thee, who did not heed the voice of the Lord their God, so that calamities have clung to us.
- Sacred Scripture Baruch 3:1-4 on Communion of Saints
"So is he always pure for prayer. He also prays in the society of angels, as being already of angelic rank, and he is never out of their holy keeping; and though he pray alone, he has the choir of the saints standing with him." (The Stromata, Book 7, Ch. 12) [AD 198 - 203]
- St. Clement of Alexandria on the Sacred Tradition of Communion of Saints
"We fly to thy protection, O holy Mother of God. Despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin." [AD 250 - 300]
- Ancient Prayer to the Virgin Mary on the Sacred Tradition of Communion of Saints
"But not the High-Priest [Christ] alone prays for those who pray sincerely, but also the angels . . . as also the souls of the saints who have already fallen asleep." (On Prayer) [AD 250]
- Origen on the Sacred Tradition of Communion of Saints
"Let us remember one another in concord and unanimity. Let us on both sides always pray for one another. Let us relieve burdens and afflictions by mutual love, that if any one of us, by the swiftness of divine condescension, shall go hence the first, our love may continue in the presence of the Lord, and our prayers for our brethren and sisters not cease in the presence of the Father's mercy. I bid you, dearest brother, ever heartly farewell." (Epistle 56, Paragraph 5) [AD 253]
- St. Cyprian of Carthage on the Sacred Tradition of Communion of Saints
"We then commemorate also those who have fallen asleep before us, first, patriarchs, prophets, apostles, martyrs, that God, by their prayers and intercessions, may receive our petitions." (Catechetical Lectures 23, Section 9) [AD 348 - 350]
- St. Cyril of Jerusalem on the Sacred Tradition of Communion of Saints
"You victorious martyrs who endured torments gladly for the sake of the God and Savior, you who have boldness of speech toward the Lord himself, you saints, intercede for us who are timid and sinful men, full of sloth, that the grace of Christ may come upon us, and enlighten the hearts of all of us so that we may love him." (Commentary on Mark) [AD 370]
- St. Ephraim the Syrian on the Sacred Tradition of Communion of Saints
"Do thou, [Ephraim] that art standing at the Divine altar, and art ministering with angels to the life-giving and most Holy Trinity, bear us all in remembrance, petitioning for us the remission of sins, and the fruition of an everlasting kingdom." (Sermon on Ephraim the Syrian) [AD 380]
- St. Gregory of Nyssa on the Sacred Tradition of Communion of Saints
"Mayest thou [Cyprian] look down from above propitiously upon us, and guide our word and life; and shepherd [or shepherd with me] this sacred flock . . . gladdening us with a more perfect and clear illumination of the Holy Trinity, before Which thou standest." (Orations 17) [AD 380]
- St. Gregory of Nazianzus on the Sacred Tradition of Communion of Saints
"May Peter, who wept so efficaciously for himself, weep for us and turn towards us Christ's benignant countenance." (Hexaem) [AD 392]
- St. Ambrose of Milan on the Sacred Tradition of Communion of Saints
"For he that wears the purple himself goes to embrace those tombs, and, laying aside his pride, stands begging the saints to be his advocates with God, and he that has the diadem implores the tent-maker [Paul] and the fisherman [Peter], though dead, to be his patrons. Will you dare then, tell me, to call the Lord of these dead; whose servants even after their decease are the patrons of the kings of the world?" (Homily 26 on Second Corinthians) [AD 398 - 407]
- St. John Chrysostom on the Sacred Tradition of Communion of Saints
"At the Lord’s table we do not commemorate martyrs in the same way that we do others who rest in peace so as to pray for them, but rather that they may pray for us that we may follow in their footsteps." (Homilies on John 84) [AD 416]
- St. Augustine of Hippo on the Sacred Tradition of Communion of Saints
- Roman Catacombs on the Sacred Tradition of Communion of Saints
The Catholic belief in the intercession of saints reflects a profound understanding of communion within the Mystical Body of Christ. It emphasizes that saints, who are alive in Christ in heaven, continue to intercede for the faithful on earth. This practice has been upheld by the Church throughout history as a profound expression of our unity with the communion of saints.
The communion of saints embodies the unity of believers across time and place, embracing both the living on earth and those who, having passed away, are alive in Christ. Through their intercessory prayers, the saints in heaven remain attuned to earthly events and tirelessly advocate for the needs of the Church. Perfected in Christ, they actively engage in the spiritual life of the Church, interceding on our behalf before the throne of God. This enduring communion powerfully illustrates the deep connection between the Church on earth and the triumphant heavenly Church.
In Catholic doctrine, invoking the intercession of saints does not supplant Christ's role as our Mediator but enriches it. Just as we request prayers from living friends and family, we also seek the prayers of saints—who, though departed from earthly life, are alive in Christ. This practice is firmly rooted in Scripture, which affirms the spiritual unity that transcends earthly boundaries. As Jesus proclaimed, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26).
Reflecting on the words of Scripture, we find guidance in James 5:16: ""Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."" This verse underscores the spiritual power of the prayers of the righteous, including the saints, who, being perfected in Christ, continually intercede for the Church.
Moreover, the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) affirms the communion of saints and the intercessory role of the saints in paragraphs 956-957. It teaches that the saints do not cease to intercede with the Father for us, as they offer the merits they acquired on earth through Christ Jesus, the one mediator between God and men (cf. 1 Timothy 2:5), by whose merits they too were redeemed.
Furthermore, the Second Vatican Council's teachings emphasize the importance of the saints' intercession in the life of the Church. It highlights that by their prayers, saints embrace and pray for the Church, offer their pious deeds to the Father, and contribute to the salvation of their brothers and sisters in Christ, thereby fostering an intimate bond of spiritual solidarity within the communion of saints.
Lastly for clarification, the Church distinguishes between different forms of honor and worship. Dulia refers to the veneration and honor accorded to saints and angels who are considered exemplary models of faith and virtue. This veneration recognizes their holiness and their role as intercessors but does not equate to the worship reserved for God alone, known as latria. Hyperdulia, a special form of dulia, is given uniquely to the Blessed Virgin Mary due to her singular role as the Mother of God and her perfect union with Christ. Latria, on the other hand, is the worship and adoration due only to God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Catholics understand that while they venerate saints and seek their intercession, their worship is reserved exclusively for God, affirming the unique divine authority and majesty.