Three Branches of Our Church

The Church has three branches, all waiting for the moment of Parousia:

 

• Church Militant (us here on earth)


• Church Suffering (those souls in Purgatory)


• Church Triumphant (those souls who have already attained the Beatific Vision)

Each branch has particular roles and particular responsibilities.

 

A small group of girls discussed this very topic last month.

 

And this month (actually on November 1st and 2nd ;) ), the Church lives it out very consciously.

 

The funny thing is - we Catholics don't fear cemeteries at night - we RELISH them!

 

Not much to see - it was DARK!!!

 

Candles were placed on the headstones or front of them; and each site was blessed with holy water. This work was done by the members of our parish - the Church Militant - the members of the Faithful here on earth. Following All Saints Mass (in thanksgiving for and honor of those who have attained the Beatific Vision and provided us examples here on earth), the cemetery can be visited in honor of All Souls (November 2nd - all those who have gone before us, including those we don't know are in heaven yet or in purgatory (and we pray they are not elsewhere)).