communio sanctorum
Communion of Saints
The living bond among all members of Christ's Body — the faithful on earth, the souls in purgatory and the saints in heaven — who share one life and help one another by prayer.
communion of holy persons — and of holy things
The Church is one family across death. The Catechism describes three states of the one Church: the pilgrims on earth, those being purified, and those in glory, all united in Christ's love and communicating spiritual goods to one another. The saints intercede for us, we pray for the souls in purgatory, and the merits and prayers of any member benefit all. The Latin phrase also means “communion in holy things,” above all the Eucharist, which makes this unity real.
Councils
Where the Church settled or debated this. Follow a council to read our article on it, or the decrees themselves.
- 1962–1965Second Vatican Councilthe decrees
Sources checked 29 September 2026