LEARNING FOCUS 1: The Communion of : showing people what God is like. We have just heard about Eric and the kindness he shows to his family. He is part of the worldwide community we all belong to.

Christians, whether they are living on earth or in heaven, belong to what is called the Communion of Saints. Communion means to belong together and saints are those who follow God’s way. They show us something about God. They may be kind, generous, loving, faithful, forgiving and caring.

In the first letter of St John, where he is encouraging his readers to follow God’s way, he offers some ideas about how we can all become a bit more like God, a : See what great love the Father has for us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! Dear friends, we are already children of God, we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in Christ, will try to be loving and kind and keep away from anything that is wrong. 1 John 3:1−3

God’s Story 3, page 149. We are all called to be saints and there are some people who are given a special title of saint because of the life they have led. These saints may have a special feast day during the year like St Andrew, St David, St Francis or St Margaret. On 1 November every year the Church celebrates the Feast of All Saints, that is all the holy women and men who have followed God’s way.

SOME KEY QUESTIONS • What do you think ‘Communion of Saints’ means? • What saints do you know about: is your school or parish church dedicated to a particular saint? Do you have saint’s name? • What advice does St John have for us? • What advice would you have for someone who wants to follow God’s way? ACTIVITY

In your groups, research a given saint. Share the findings with the class at the end. Can you find out about their life and why they are a saint? • St. Aelfheah • St. Hilda of • St. Hugh of Lincoln • St. Aelred of Rievaulx • St. Gilbert of Sempringham • St. Aidan • St. John of • St. Alban • St. • St. Anselm of • St. Laurentius of Canterbury • St. • St. Mayne • St. Thomas Becket • St. of Canterbury • St. the Venerable • St. Thomas More • St. • St. Osmund of Salisbury • • St. Boniface St. Oswald of • St. Oswald of York • St. Edmund Campion • St. Patrick • St. Thomas de Cantelupe • St. Paulinus • St. Chad • St. Richard of Chichester • St. Margaret Clitherow • St. Stephen Harding • St. Cuthbert • St. Swithin • St. of Canterbury • St. Theodore of Canterbury • St. Edmund of Abington • St. • St. • St. Willibrord • St.