In his 1946 book Remade for Happiness, Bishop Fulton Sheen dedicates considerable time challenging the assertion that religion is a personal experience without need for community. As Sheen moves through his argument, his central theme is the idea of ecclesia, that there is a commonness shared among all Catholics that reaches back to the founding of the Church and moves far beyond our present.

We think about this concept in another, more talked about, idea. The Communion of Saints is the whole Church, those in Heaven, those in Purgatory, and those on earth. The different groups can interact with one another, and offer efficacious actions for the other’s benefit. Prayer courses through the entire community, flowing grace into every corner.

This togetherness, being part of a massive family, is what strengthens us in our daily vocation. We can ask the saints for their intercession, offer our sufferings for those in purgatory, and receive the spiritual support of those on earth. The mystical body of Christ can spread graces throughout time and space, even to members who have never met.

Last week, after the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the CEO of Hallow posted that he had met Charlie recently, who shared that he used the Hallow app regularly for prayer. Hallow is decidedly a Catholic app, pulling from the rich spiritual traditions of Catholicism and Charlie was an evangelical Christian. Yet, through prayer and unknown to either of us, we were united. This is the power of ecclesia.

The allegory of Creation tells us the essential truth that it is not good for us to be alone. We were made for one another, for community, and through our Baptism, we joined the largest, most famous family in human history. Through our family, we are connected to saints famous and obscure, to those undergoing purification in purgatory, and billions of our fellow humans alive today. It is good.