The cloud of winesses

[CyrilSebastian]

In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Paragraph 1161 mentions that sacred images of the holy Mother of God and the saints:

make manifest the “cloud of witnesses” who continue to participate in the selection of the world and to whom we are united, above all in sacramental celebrations.

Please explain the cloud of witnesses.

 

[GEddie]

In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Paragraph 1161 mentions that sacred images of the holy Mother of God and the saints:

make manifest the “cloud of witnesses” who continue to participate in the selection of the world and to whom we are united, above all in sacramental celebrations.

Please explain the cloud of witnesses.

This refers to those in Heaven, whether human or angelic in being, who intercede for those still living the earthly life.

ICXC NIKA.

 

[Todd977]

The phrase “cloud of witnesses” appears in Hebrews 12:1. There it is a reference to the Old Testament people mentioned in Hebrews 11, who walked by faith, from Abel to the Prophets. This seems to be the same as “the spirits of just men made perfect” in “the heavenly Jerusalem,” mentioned a little later in Hebrews 12:22-23. Now, as the *Catechism *suggests, it also includes Christian saints.

The *Catechism *actually says (emphasis added), “They make manifest the ‘cloud of witnesses’ who continue to participate in the salvation of the world and to whom we are united, above all in sacramental celebrations.”