Roman Catholic and Orthodox View
In Catholic terminology, the communion of saints is thus said to comprise the church militant (those alive on earth), the church penitent (those undergoing purification in purgatory in preparation for heaven), and the church triumphant (those already in heaven). The damned are not a part of the communion of saints. The Roman Catholic Church, the Old Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Oriental Orthodox Church, the Church of the East and some elements in the Anglican Communion point to this doctrine in support of their practice of asking the intercession of saints in heaven, whose prayers (cf. Revelation 5:8) are seen as helping their fellow Christians on earth. These same churches refer to this doctrine in support of the practice of praying for the dead (as seen in 2 Timothy 1:16-18).
Read more about this topic: Communion Of Saints
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