53 In the Catholic Church, You Are Never Alone

In today’s episode we talk about how the Church Christ is the Mystical Body of Christ, and as members of it, we are all members of Christ and members of one another. There is a communion of goods and a communion of people. There are three stages in the one Catholic Church: those that are in Heaven, those that are in Purgatory, and those that are still on this earth. We consider the example of St. Thomas More, who was strengthened in his last moments by the thought of the saints and angels in Heaven, contemplating his fidelity and cheering him on. We also consider how St. Therese of Lisieux said “I want to spend my heaven in doing good on earth”, reminding us that the saints continue to help us while being in the presence of God.

- All the things we speak about in this episode can be found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, numbers 947 to 962: http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p123a9p5.htm

- A simple description of the trial of St. Thomas More, who died under the reign of Henry the VIII, for not wanting to support the King in divorcing Catherine of Aragon and marrying Anne Boleyn: https://www.famous-trials.com/thomasmore/986-home

- The quote from St. Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, is taken from: Clarke, Therese of Lisieux: Her Last Conversations, pg. 102, ICS Publications, Washington, D.C., 1977.

- Fr. Patrick Wainwright is a priest of Miles Christi, a Catholic Religious Order.

- Visit the Miles Christi Religious Order website: https://www.mileschristi.org

- This Podcast’s Website: https://www.forcollegecatholics.org

- To learn about the Spiritual Exercises (silent weekend retreat) preached by the Priests of Miles Christi, visit: https://www.mileschristi.org/spiritual-exercises/

- Recorded at our Family Center in South Lyon, Michigan.

- Planning, recording, editing and publishing by Fr. Patrick Wainwright, MC.

- Gear: Shure MV7 USB dynamic microphone

- Intro music from pond5.com