335.  Q. Why do we believe that the saints will help us?  A. We believe that the saints will help us because both they and we are members of the same Church, and they love us as their brethren.

336.  Q. How are the saints and we members of the same Church?  A. The saints and we are members of the same Church, because the Church in heaven and the Church on earth are one and the same Church, and all its members are in communion with one another.

337.  Q. What is the communion of the members of the Church called?  A. The communion of the members of the Church is called the communion of saints.

338.  Q. What does the communion of saints mean?  A. The communion of saints means the union which exists between the members of the Church on earth with one another, and with the blessed in heaven and with the suffering souls in purgatory.

339.  Q. What benefits are derived from the communion of saints?  A. The following benefits are derived from the communion of saints:—­the faithful on earth assist one another by their prayers and good works, and they are aided by the intercession of the saints in heaven, while both the saints in heaven and the faithful on earth help the souls in purgatory.

340.  Q. Does the first Commandment forbid us to honor relics?  A. The first Commandment does not forbid us to honor relics, because relics are the bodies of the saints, or objects directly connected with them or with our Lord.

341.  Q. Does the first Commandment forbid the making of images?  A. The first Commandment does forbid the making of images if they are made to be adored as gods, but it does not forbid the making of them to put us in mind of Jesus Christ, His Blessed Mother, and the saints.

342.  Q. Is it right to show respect to the pictures and images of Christ and His saints?  A. It is right to show respect to the pictures and images of Christ and His saints, because they are the representations and memorials of them.

343.  Q. Is it allowed to pray to the crucifix or to the images and relics of the saints?  A. It is not allowed to pray to the crucifix or images and relics of the saints, for they have no life, nor power to help us, nor sense to hear us.

344.  Q. Why do we pray before the crucifix and the images and relics of the saints?  A. We pray before the crucifix and images and relics of the saints because they enliven our devotion by exciting pious affections and desires, and by reminding us of Christ and of the saints, that we may imitate their virtues.

LESSON THIRTY-SECOND FROM THE SECOND TO THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT

345.  Q. What is the second Commandment?  A. The second Commandment is:  Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.

346.  Q. What are we commanded by the second Commandment?  A. We are commanded by the second Commandment to speak with reverence of God and of the saints, and of all holy things, and to keep our lawful oaths and vows.