CHURCH CATHOLIC, THE

Church Catholic, The: translation

   The kingdom of Christ, partly visible here on earth, partly invisible behind the veil. The Church Catholic embraces three great divisions:

   I. THE CHURCH MILITANT, here on earth, struggling, fighting (which militant means) against sin to overcome it.

   II. THE CHURCH EXPECTANT where the soul abides after death in a state of expectancy of the final Resurrection; called, also, the Intermediate State (which see).

   III. THE CHURCH TRIUMPHANT in Heaven where the soul reunited to the body has its perfect consummation and bliss in God's eternal and everlasting glory.