33.  THE QUESTION WAS: The Catholic Church has always been comprised of three parts. What are they?

 

 

ANSWER

1.  The Church Triumphant (souls in heaven)

2. The Church Suffering (souls in purgatory)
3. The Church Militant (faithful on Earth)

 

 

Of course, starting on the last day of Earth, there will only be one place for the faithful: heaven.

 

But for now, we are taught that the Christian church on earth, “ is supposed to be engaged in a constant warfare against its enemies.” (Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1998))

 “As Catholics, our lives should not be seen as "business as usual" but warfare — "constant warfare". We are not regular citizens or noncombatants, but soldiers in the war against Satan; a war which has both spiritual and physical dimensions.” (Source: Peter Miller: article in the Seattle Catholic, 2/26/02)

All soldiers are called to a particular cause, traditionally the glory of a king, emperor or state. As Catholics soldiers, we are called to fight for the glory of Christ the King and the triumph of His will.” (ibid)

(Full article at http://www.seattlecatholic.com/article_20011123_True_Soldiers_in_the_Church_Militant.html)