Ecclesiastical States

The ecclesiastical states are the three states of the Catholic Church: Each state is the Church itself, is in communion with the other states, and is able to affect the other states. The states include the Church Militant - the saints on Earth, the Church Suffering - the saints in Purgatory, and the Church Triumphant - the saints in Heaven. Because the Church is the communion of saints, it is called the Church of Heaven and Earth.