common to all the Sacraments, because all unite us to God, and render us partakers of him whose grace they communicate to us, this communion belongs, in a peculiar manner, to the Eucharist, by which it is directly accomplished. [1]
But there is, also, another communion in the Church, which demands attention: every pious and holy action, done by one, belongs to and becomes profitable to all, through charity, " which seeks not her own." [2] In this we are fortified by the concur rent testimony of St. Ambrose, who explaining these words of the Psalmist; " I am a partaker with all them that fear thee," observes: " As we say that a member is partaker of the entire body, so are we partakers with all that fear God." Therefore, has Christ taught us to say, "our," not "my" [3] bread; [4] and the other petitions of that admirable prayer are equally general, not confined to ourselves alone, but directed, also, to the general interest, and salvation of all. This communication of goods is often, very appositely illustrated in Scripture by a comparison borrowed from the members of the human body: in the human body there are many members, but though many, they, yet, constitute but one body, in which each performs its own, not all, the same functions. All do not enjoy equal dignity, or discharge functions alike useful or honourable; nor does one propose to itself its own exclusive advantage, but that of the entire body. [5] Besides, they are so well organised and knit together, that if one suffers, the rest naturally sympathise with it, and if, on the contrary, one enjoys health, the feeling of pleasure is common to all. The same may be observed of the Church; although composed of various members; of different nations, of Jews, Gentiles, freemen and slaves, of rich and poor; yet all, initiated by faith, constitute one body with Christ, who is their head. To each member of the Church, is, also, assigned its own peculiar office; and as some are appointed apostles, some teachers, but all for the common good; so to some it belongs to govern and teach, to others to be subject and to obey.
But, the advantages of so many and such exalted blessings, bestowed by Almighty God, are pre-eminently enjoyed by those who lead a Christian life in charity, and are just and beloved of God; whilst the dead members, that is, those who are bound in thraldom of sin, and estranged from the grace of God, although not deprived of these advantages, so as to cease to be members of this body, are yet, as dead members, deprived of the vivifying principle which is communicated to the just and pious Christian. However, as they are in the Church, they are assisted in recovering lost grace and life by those who are animated by the Spirit of God, and are in the enjoyment of those fruits which are no doubt, denied to such as are, entirely, cut off from the communion of the Church. [6]
