sanctify them and prepare them for eternal happiness. Thus it is the
Holy Ghost who sanctifies us, who makes us holy, as our Father in
heaven is holy; who leads us to perfection, as our Father in heaven is
perfect.

"I believe in the Holy Catholic Church," is the next article of our
Creed. The Holy Ghost lives and operates in the Church. This Church is
a "Communion of Saints," a communion of faithful, part of whom have
already entered eternal life of bliss, and is called the Church
Triumphant; another part is being cleansed from the remnants of sin in
the place of purification, and is called the Suffering Church; a third
part is still struggling on the battlefield of the world for the crown
of eternal life, and is called the Church Militant. All are true
members of this great community of saints and children of God, allied
through the bond of love. This doctrine is very consoling to us. It
opens to us, as it were, even during our earthly life, the portals of
eternity. We may enter these in spirit, and seek and find help and
consolation amongst our glorified brethren, and also carry help and
consolation to our suffering brethren. One thing alone bars us from
this glorious communion and shuts heaven against us, and that is sin.
But in the Church there is provided for repentant sinners the
Absolution from Sins, the remission of sin and its penalty. When we
finally die in the grace of God our soul shall enjoy eternal life, and
our glorified body shall be joined to it on the great day of
resurrection.

This, then, is what we are taught to believe in the Apostles' Creed.
When we say this Creed with devotion and perfect faith, we honor and
glorify first of all the Blessed Trinity. But we refresh also the
teaching of the Gospel in our minds, and thus strengthen our faith. It