Lumen Gentium: The Eschatological Nature of the Pilgrim Church and Its Union with the Church in Heaven (50, continued)

Chapter VII of Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, is entitled “The Eschatological Nature of the Pilgrim Church and Its Union with the Church in Heaven.” It continues as follows:

“50. . . . Nor is it by the title of example only that we cherish the memory of those in heaven, but still more in order that the union of the whole Church may be strengthened in the Spirit by the practice of fraternal charity.(277) For just as Christian communion among wayfarers brings us closer to Christ, so our companionship with the saints joins us to Christ, from Whom as from its Fountain and Head issues every grace and the very life of the people of God.(13*) It is supremely fitting, therefore, that we love those friends and coheirs of Jesus Christ, who are also our brothers and extraordinary benefactors, that we render due thanks to God for them (14*) and ‘suppliantly invoke them and have recourse to their prayers, their power and help in obtaining benefits from God through His Son, Jesus Christ, who is our Redeemer and Savior.’(15*) For every genuine testimony of love shown by us to those in heaven, by its very nature tends toward and terminates in Christ who is the ‘crown of all saints,’(16*) and through Him, in God Who is wonderful in his saints and is magnified in them.(17*)”

(277) Cf. Ephesians 4:1-6.

(13*) Cf. Pius XII, Litt. Encycl. Mystici Corporis: AAS 35 (1943) p. 216.

(14*) Quoad gratitudinem erga ipsos Sanctos, cfr. E. Diehl, Inscriptiones latinae christianae vereres, 1, Berolini, 1925, nn. 2008 2382 et passim.

(15*) Conc. Tridentinum, Sess. 25, De invocatione... Sanctorum: Denz. 984 (1821).

(16*) Breviarium Romanum, Invitatorium infesto Sanctorum Omnium.

(17*) Cf. v. g., 2 Thessalonians 1, 10.

 

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Dogmatic Constitution on the Church - Lumen Gentium