Tenth catechesis of the Pope, 2 February 2022
Saint Joseph and the communion of saints
Cdear brothers and sisters, good morning!
Today I would like to focus on an important article of faith that can enrich our Christian life and can also set up our relationship with the saints and with our dearly departed in the best possible way: I am talking about the communion of saints.
Many times we say, in the Creed: "I believe in the communion of saints". What is the communion of saints? The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: «The communion of saints is precisely the Church» (n. 946). But look at what a beautiful definition: "The communion of saints is precisely the Church"! What does this mean? That the Church is reserved for the perfect? No! It means that it is the community of saved sinners. The Church is the community of saved sinners. This definition is beautiful. Our holiness is the fruit of God's love manifested in Christ, who sanctifies us by loving us in our misery and saving us from it. Always thanks to him we form one body, says Saint Paul, in which Jesus is the head and we are the members (see 1 Cor 12, 12). This image of the body of Christ makes us immediately understand what it means to be linked to each other in communion. «If one member suffers – writes Saint Paul – all the members suffer together; and if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with him. Now you are the body of Christ and, each according to your part, members of him" (1 Cor 12, 26-27). This is what Paul says: we are all one body, all united by faith, by baptism, all in communion: united in communion with Jesus Christ. And this is the communion of saints.
Dear brothers and sisters, the communion of saints is such a strong bond that it cannot be broken even by death. In fact, the communion of saints does not only concern the brothers and sisters who are next to me in this historical moment, but also concerns those who have concluded their earthly pilgrimage and have crossed the threshold of death. They too are in communion with us. Let us think, dear brothers and sisters: in Christ nothing can ever truly separate us from those we love because the bond is an existential bond, a strong bond that is in our very nature; only the way of being together with each of them changes, but nothing and no one can break this bond.
In this sense, the friendship relationship that I can build with a brother or sister next to me, I can also establish with a brother or sister who is in heaven. Saints are friends with whom we very often form friendships. We have friends in heaven. In the history of the Church there are constant friendships that accompany the believing community: first of all the great affection and very strong bond that the Church has always felt towards Mary, Mother of God and our Mother. But also the special honor and affection that you paid to Saint Joseph. Ultimately, God entrusts to him the most precious things he has: his Son Jesus and the Virgin Mary. It is always thanks to the communion of saints that we feel close to us the saints who are our patrons, for the name we bear, for example, for the Church to which we belong, for the place where we live, and so on, also for a personal devotion. And this is the trust that must always inspire us when we turn to them in the decisive moments of our lives. Praying to a saint is simply talking to a brother, a sister who is before God, who has lived a righteous life, a holy life, an exemplary life, and is now before God. And I speak with this brother, with this sister and I ask for his intercession for my needs.
Precisely for this reason I like to conclude this catechesis with a prayer to Saint Joseph to whom I am particularly attached and which I have recited every day for more than 40 years. It is a prayer that I found in a prayer book of the Sisters of Jesus and Mary from the late eighteenth century. It is very beautiful, but more than a prayer it is a challenge to this friend, to this father, to this guardian of ours who is Saint Joseph. It would be nice if you learned this prayer and could repeat it. I'll read it.
«Glorious Patriarch Saint Joseph, whose power can make impossible things possible, come to my aid in these moments of anguish and difficulty. Take under your protection the very serious and difficult situations that I entrust to you, so that they have a happy solution. My beloved Father, all my trust is placed in you. Let it not be said that he called upon you in vain, and since you can do everything with Jesus and Mary, show me that your goodness is as great as your power." And it ends with a challenge: "Since you can do everything with Jesus and Mary, show me that your goodness is as great as your power."
I have entrusted myself to Saint Joseph every day with this prayer for more than forty years: it is an old prayer. Forward, courage, in this communion of all the saints we have in heaven and on earth: the Lord does not abandon us.