At Mass, we celebrate and “receive Jesus Christ in communion,” we proclaim the Communion of Saints in our Profession of Faith, and we pray the Lord’s Prayer in the Communion Rite. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, we are no longer able to gather for liturgical celebrations. So, how are we to view our call to “communion?”
I did not grow up Catholic, and the Communion of Saints was not part of my religious upbringing. The Catechism describes the Communion of Saints as “a coming together of ‘holy things,’” which includes the coming together of the pilgrims on earth, the dead who are being purified, and the blessed in Heaven (CCC 962).
Our Catholic faith challenges us to expand our human notion of “communion,” and one beyond the linear construct of time. Through RCIA, I came to understand that the Communion of Saints means the mystical coming together of the followers of Christ. Every time we celebrate the Eucharist, I am overwhelmed with the realization that I am communing with the entire mystical community of faith: our fellow sojourners, the Holy Trinity, the desert fathers and mothers, our favorite canonized saints, and our family members and friends who have died in the faith. In light of the coronavirus restrictions, how are we to honor that call to communion and relationship when we are socially isolated?
Creative brothers and sisters in the Diocese of Evansville, and places beyond, are discovering innovative ways to stay engaged and to celebrate the Communion of Saints. One Evansville neighborhood – while maintaining social distancing – walked door-to-door in an adjacent neighborhood to engage with residents and provide necessities. Drive-by parades and caravans are being organized to support one another for special events like birthdays, weddings and anniversaries, teachers trying to support restless students, and for families who can’t convene for a funeral Mass. Bible study groups are using Zoom video-conferencing to stay connected with members. St. Joseph Parish in Jasper and Monastery Immaculate Conception in Ferdinand are ringing church bells at 3 p.m. local time daily, to remind everyone that they are never alone. On an international level, the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra in the Netherlands is utilizing video-conferencing to safely convene their rehearsals; and with the help of YouTube, they are uplifting spirits around the globe with their rendition of Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.” Visit https://youtu.be/3eXT60rbBVk to experience this international communion.
During Lent and Easter, we are called to conversion and spiritual growth. Even with the challenge of social distancing, we have opportunities to grow in communion with God and others. As we approach the Easter season, what might you do to grow spiritually and emotionally? How can you expand your understanding of the mystical Communion of Saints? And, how might you share the light of the Risen Lord with someone who is desperate for hope?
Resources for coming together as the Communion of Saints
- Catholic radio is available throughout the Diocese of Evansville. In Evansville, tune to 103.5 FM; in Jasper 93.1 FM; in Vincennes 90.5 FM; in Bloomington area 89.9 FM; and in the Terre Haute area tune to 91.9 FM.
- Daily Mass is available on the St. Benedict Cathedral Facebook page and on the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN). Contact your cable or satellite provider for station numbers and times. Find a list of other streaming opportunities on The Message website at http://evdiomessage.org.
- Become a “telephone buddy.” Your voice could be a welcomed balm for isolated parishioners and neighbors.
- Send a note of cheer to someone via U.S. mail, email, Facebook or another electronic means.
- Within your domestic church, dedicate one hour to prayer each week. Welcome the Holy Trinity and all the saints to guide and comfort you during this Holy Hour.
- Establish a daily routine to read the three Bible passages associated with Daily Mass. Readings and a 3-5 minute video reflection are available at usccb.org/bible/readings.
- Read an inspirational book, and share it with a friend.
- Intercessory prayers: 1) generate a list of the saints and spiritual mentors that have made a difference in your life; 2) keep a prayer list of others for whom you have committed to pray. Dedicate one-hour of time each week to lift up their names in private prayer.
Rachel Forbes Kaufman is an officer of the SW Indiana Guild of the Catholic Medical Association, and the founding director of The Retirement Institute, a second-half-of-life faith formation ministry. To engage with Rachel, visit https://forbeswellbeingadvisors.org/.