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In the Episcopalian Prayers of the People, Rite I, we pray as follows:

In the communion of [__ and of all the] saints, let us commend ourselves, and one another, and all our life, to Christ our God.

As such, we have at least one Protestant (sort of) group that acknowledges the concept of the communion of the saints. That said, there isn't a lot of understanding of that loaded term.

This term, of course, harkens back to the Apostle's Creed which states:

I believe in the holy catholic church: the communion of saints: the forgiveness of sins, and the life everlasting.

The question, however, is what is the nature of this communion? Is it a fixed gathering of all believers at one time in one place, or is it like an earthly institution, like say, the Boy Scouts, where the membership changes over time, but there is always a membership.

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And before anyone links to the Catholic Encyclopedia, its in there :) –  Affable Geek Mar 20 '13 at 13:15
Maybe you could tell us what the Catholic Encyclopedia says about it? –  DJClayworth Mar 20 '13 at 13:24
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From a reformed background the communion of the Saints is a mystical union every believer has with one another due to our common union in Christ. This does not necessarily imply we are actually 'experiencing others' that we have never met. It means we are all united in Christ as a new creation just as all humanity was once united in Adam. By being members of the same mystical body, we share the same nature and life, which is communion with God.


Simply put, the communion of the Saints is the church. Not visible, but invisible. The invisible church refers to those persons who are redeemed, regenerate and spiritually united with Christ by sincere faith. It is not dependant upon a denomination, building or sacrament. Faith alone unites a person into Christ as members of his body.


Of course the church, or Christ's body includes those in heaven and on earth. We are all mystically joined into one body with the same desire, love, hopes etc. by the same Spirit.

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