Editing Communion of saints (section)

== History ==
The concept of the [[Koinonia|communion]] of [[saint]]s is linked with [[Paul the Apostle|Paul]]'s teaching, as in [[Romans 12]]:4–13 and [[1 Corinthians]] 12:12–27, that in Christ Christians form a single body.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://apostles-creed.org/interpretation/the-communion-of-saints/ |title=The communion of saints |access-date=29 July 2017 |archive-date=29 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729191156/http://apostles-creed.org/interpretation/the-communion-of-saints/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://churchmotherofgod.org/orthodox-terminology/glossary-c/662-communion-of-saints.html |title=Orthodox Church of the Mother of God: Glossary C |access-date=29 July 2017 |archive-date=29 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729180517/https://churchmotherofgod.org/orthodox-terminology/glossary-c/662-communion-of-saints.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04171a.htm |title=Joseph Sollier, "The Communion of Saints" in ''Catholic Encyclopedia'' (New York 1908) |access-date=1 April 2008 |archive-date=15 October 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061015012418/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04171a.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[New Testament]] word {{Lang|grc|ἅγιος}} ({{Transliteration|grc|hagios}}, 'saint') can refer to Christians who, whatever their personal sanctity as individuals, are called holy because they are consecrated to God and Christ. This usage of the word ''saint'' is found some fifty times in the New Testament.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://biblehub.com/greek/40.htm |title=Biblehub: ''hagios'' |access-date=29 July 2017 |archive-date=29 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729172921/http://biblehub.com/greek/40.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[Heidelberg Catechism]], citing [[Romans 8#Verse 32|Romans 8:32]], 1 Corinthians 6:17, and [[1 John]] 1:3, asserts that all members of [[Christ]] have [[Communion (Christian)|communion]] with him, and are recipients of all his gifts.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.heidelberg-catechism.com/en/lords-days/21.html |title=Heidelberg Catechism, Lord's Day 21, Q55 |access-date=29 July 2017 |archive-date=29 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729181350/http://www.heidelberg-catechism.com/en/lords-days/21.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Similarly, the [[Catechism of the Catholic Church]] states: {{"'}}Since all the faithful form one body, the good of each is communicated to the others.... We must therefore believe that there exists a communion of goods in the Church. But the most important member is Christ, since he is the head.... Therefore, the riches of Christ are communicated to all the members, through the sacraments.' 'As this Church is governed by one and the same Spirit, all the goods she has received necessarily become a common fund.{{'"}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P2B.HTM |title=Catechism of the Catholic Church, 947 |access-date=15 March 2020 |archive-date=1 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301083521/http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P2B.HTM |url-status=live }}</ref>

The persons who are linked in this communion include those who have died and whom [[Hebrews 12#Verses 1–2|Hebrews 12:1]] pictures as a cloud of witnesses encompassing Christians on earth. In the same chapter, Hebrews 12:22–23 says Christians on earth "have come to [[Mount Zion]], and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in Heaven, and to a judge who is God of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect."<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/novemberweb-only/144-53.0.html |title=John E. Colwell, extract from ''The Rhythm of Doctrine: A Liturgical Sketch of Christian Faith and Faithfulness'' |access-date=29 July 2017 |archive-date=31 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731072844/http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/novemberweb-only/144-53.0.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=eCU8nYfeJhEC&dq=communion+of+saints+%22cloud+of+witnesses%22&pg=PA369 Robin M. Van, L. Maas, Gabriel Odonnell, ''Spiritual Traditions for the Contemporary Church'' (Abingdon Press 1990), p. 369]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://saintjohnwellesley.org/2013/11/faith-matters-a-great-cloud-of-witnesses-the-communion-of-saints/ |title=A Great Cloud of Witnesses: The Communion of Saints |access-date=29 July 2017 |archive-date=29 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729184519/http://saintjohnwellesley.org/2013/11/faith-matters-a-great-cloud-of-witnesses-the-communion-of-saints/ |url-status=live }}</ref>