COMMUNION OF SAINTS, THE. This expression, which is a translation of the Latin comnmunio sanetorum, is the third clause of the third section of the Apostles' Creed in its present form, that is to say, of the common Creed of Western Christendom. It is not found in any Eastern Creed, nor is any allusion made to it in the Commentary on the Apostles' Creed by Ruffinus of Aquileia in Italy, which was written about 390. The first allusion to it seems to have occurred in a baptismal Creed of the South-Gallican Church, which Is at least a century later. According to Heurtley, the clause can hardly be regarded as established before the close of the eighth century. It was therefore an insertion in the original creed. It is not even certain what the clause means. The Latin expression may, and has been, trans lated " communion of sacred things." The earliest comments take sanctorum to refer to persons rather than things. The Catechism of the Council of Trent takes it to refer to things rather than to persons, that is to say to participation in the Sacraments. Calvin
explains: " Everyone of us must maintain brotherly concord with all the sheep of the flock, give due authority to the Church, and, in short-, conduct ourselves as sheep of the flock." According to the Heidelberg Catechism, the clause means : " First, that believers, all and several, have communion in Christ and all His blessings, as His members; then, that each member is bound promptly and gladly to contribute the blessings he has received to the common good and to the salvation of all." It is contended by some of the Catholics of the Church of England that belief in the Communion of Saints involves prayers for the dead. According to the Roman Catechism the clause is an explanation of the foregoing words, " I believe in the holy Catholic Church." The Cath. Diet. explains : " The communion of saints consists in the union of the Church on earth, and connects the Church on earth with the Church suffering in Purgatory and triumphant in heaven." See the Prot. Diet.