My mother

Communion of Saints

A number of years ago — out of the blue — I thought of a priest — Father Ralph — who I hadn’t thought of in years. Ralph provided instruction for me to become a Roman Catholic convert at age 16. We had lost touch with each other over the years. But all of a sudden, here he was in my thoughts.

I did track him down. Ralph had left the priesthood and married a former nun — this was the 60s and many priests did the same. I spoke with his wife on the phone. And she told me he had died a couple of months before. Recently a number of former parishioners had gathered in his old church in Fort Wayne, Indiana, to celebrate his life. And the exact day they had all gathered was the day I first thought of him. His wife and I both agreed that he must have wanted me there also!

This couldn’t have been a coincidence. I firmly believe this was Ralph’s spirit reaching beyond the grave to touch my soul. And this is the essence of what we mean as the communion of saints. I — and maybe you — have many family members and friends who have died but are still with me in this sense. And when I pray, they are with me still — my brother, my parents and others. In fact, when I pray at night, I look at their photographs on the wall and pray a good night to all their souls who are still with me in communion.

Well, I hope maybe this little piece has awakened some memories of people in your life who have also touched your heart and soul from beyond the grave, because they are still with you as Ralph and others are with me. And give thanks for the gift of communion that God gives, adding depth and rich blessing to your journey.