Charles Péguy, the famous French poet and essayist (1873–1914), tells the following story: There was a Frenchman who was so bored, so terribly bored, that it is impossible imagine the magnitude of such boredom. His life was so gray, cold, and gloomy that all through the day, this man, who was bored in the morning and in the afternoon, felt a strong temptation: if he committed an enormous sin, that weariness would leave him. Just one sin, a great sin that would free him forever from tedium. To commit that sin, this man only had to write a letter, just that, write the letter and send it by mail.
The man, a practicing Christian, struggled against that temptation. One day, overwhelmed by that inexpressible and unbearable weariness, he decided to write the letter that would free him from these things. However, when he looked at the calendar to date the letter, he saw that it was the feast day of Saint Louis, King of France. That made him recall the heroism of the King’s life, the admirable deeds of that great French saint. So, he thought: I cannot commit this enormous sin today, on his feast day; I will do it tomorrow.
The next day was the memorial of Saint Ceferino, a saint totally unknown to him. Nevertheless, the saint interceded and managed to dissuade him from writing the letter. The following day was the memorial of another saint, who also dissuaded him. The days and the saints continued, moving him not to commit that terrible sin that would free him from tedium.
Péguy draws the following moral: “There is not a single point, not a single minute in the life of a Christian that is not under a special protection by the saints.” This beautiful teaching is based on a truth of faith that we Christians repeat every Sunday: “I believe in the communion of saints.” This mystery of faith refers to the communion of goods that exists among the members of the Church because they form one single Body.
The Second Vatican Council says: “The union of the wayfarers with the brethren who have gone to sleep in the peace of Christ is not in the least weakened or interrupted, but on the contrary, according to the perpetual faith of the Church, is strengthened by communication of spiritual goods […] they do not cease to intercede with the Father for us, […] Thus by their brotherly interest our weakness is greatly strengthened” (LG 49).
The ‘communion of saints’ means that we receive help not only from our brothers who are still here on earth (which is why we pray for one another) but we also receive help from those who have been saved and already enjoy the vision of God. They intercede for us so that we too may go where they are.
