At audience, Pope speaks on 'communion of the holy'
October 30, 2013
“God’s love burns away our sins,” Pope Francis told his general audience on October 30.
Speaking to more than 80,000 people gathered in St. Peter’s Square, the Pope continued his weekly reflections on the characteristics of the Catholic Church, focusing on the Church as “the communion of the holy”—which he described as “one of the most consoling aspects of our faith.”
The term “holy” is used for all those who are united to Jesus Christ through Baptism, the Pope said. Through that union the faithful participate in the “ardent fire of love” that marks the live of the Trinity. “God’s love burns away all our selfishness, our prejudices, our divisions,” the Pope said.
The communion of the holy also refers to the bonds that unite Christians with each other, the Holy Father continued. That support is essential during times of trial, he said. “Who among us has not experienced insecurity, disorientation, and even doubt along the path of faith?” When troubles come, the Pope said, “it is important to find the courage and the humility to open ourselves to others.” Christians, he said, constitute “a great family, whose members help each other.”
Beyond that, the Pontiff said, the communion of the holy “goes beyond earthly life; it goes beyond death and lasts forever. It is a spiritual communion, born at Baptism, and it is not interrupted by death.”
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