--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Just as in a physical body the operation…" description: "\"Just as in a physical body the operation of one member contributes to the good of the whole body, so it is in a spiritual body such as the Church. And ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3a/thomas-aquinas-837_apostles_just-as-in-a-physical-body-the-operation_681904.jpg" --- # Just as in a physical body the operation of one member… ![“Just as in a physical body the operation of one member contributes to the good of the whole body, so it is in a spiritual body such as the Church. And since all the faithful are one body, the good of one member is communicated to another; everyone members, as the Apostle says, of one another [Eph…” quote by Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3a/thomas-aquinas-837_apostles_just-as-in-a-physical-body-the-operation_681904.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3a/thomas-aquinas-837_apostles_just-as-in-a-physical-body-the-operation_681904.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3a/thomas-aquinas-837_apostles_just-as-in-a-physical-body-the-operation_681904.jpg) > “Just as in a physical body the operation of one member contributes to the good of the whole body, so it is in a spiritual body such as the Church. And since all the faithful are one body, the good of one member is communicated to another; everyone members, as the Apostle says, of one another \[Eph 4:25\]. For that reason, among the points of faith handed down by the Apostles, is that there is a community of goods in the Church, and this is expressed in the words Communion of Saints.” [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Spiritual unity means each member’s well‑being benefits the whole community, encouraging mutual support. **In simple terms:** Helping others helps the whole group. Key Takeaway Foster supportive community relationships. Themes spirituality community mutual aid Mood inspirational thoughtful Type theological motivational When to use this quote - church fellowship - team projects - volunteer work Key Concepts theology social cohesion Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance personal needs with community care? - What practices strengthen communal bonds? A Different Perspective Individualism can hinder collective responsibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apostles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apostles/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Communion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communion/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Faithful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faithful/) [Physical body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physical-body/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Saint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saint/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) ## Related quotes > [Everybody has a spiritual body. Everybody has a physical body, and so your spiritual body is the stuff that holds all of your emotions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/india-arie/everybody-has-a-spiritual-body-everybody-has-a-physical-body-and-so/) [India Arie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/india-arie/) > [“There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-roland/there-are-also-celestial-bodies-and-bodies-terrestrial-but-the-glory/) [Paul Roland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-roland/) > [Far more indispensable then food for the physical body is spiritual nourishment for the soul. One can do without food for a considerable time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/far-more-indispensable-then-food-for-the-physical-body-is-spiritual/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“Strive to engage in activities that require constant self-development. Nurture and develop the physical body, but also our spiritual nature. We exist for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-m-tavakoli/strive-to-engage-in-activities-that-require-constant-self-development/) [Janet M. Tavakoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-m-tavakoli/) > [What Is Meditation? It is not musing, not daydreaming; but as ye find you bodies made up of the physical, mental and spiritual, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-cayce/what-is-meditation-it-is-not-musing-not-daydreaming-but-as-ye-find/) [Edgar Cayce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-cayce/) > [“The pastoral task with words is not communication but communion - the healing and restoration and creation of love relationships between God and his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/the-pastoral-task-with-words-is-not-communication-but-communion-the/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [I experienced the reality of the spiritual body and learned that it has every faculty of the physical body, though with greater sensitivity and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/i-experienced-the-reality-of-the-spiritual-body-and-learned-that-it/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) > [“He knew perfectly well (even if he wasn’t inclined to admit it) that the material body had a spiritual aspect. He knew that “spirit,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-luckman/he-knew-perfectly-well-even-if-he-wasn-t-inclined-to-admit-it-that/) [Sol Luckman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-luckman/) > [Just as food and sleep are necessary for the body, spiritual understanding is needed for a healthy mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/just-as-food-and-sleep-are-necessary-for-the-body-spiritual/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [The apostles and their successors are God's vicars in governing the Church which is built on faith and the sacraments of faith. Wherefore, just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/the-apostles-and-their-successors-are-god-s-vicars-in-governing-the/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [Spiritual relationship is far more precious than physical. Physical relationship divorced from spiritual is body without soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/spiritual-relationship-is-far-more-precious-than-physical-physical/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Moreover, no one is judged from the natural man, thus not so long as he lives in the natural world, for man is then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-swedenborg/moreover-no-one-is-judged-from-the-natural-man-thus-not-so-long-as-he/) [Emanuel Swedenborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-swedenborg/) > [The resurrection state is the culmination of glorified humanity; is the change of the earthly for the heavenly; is the putting off of flesh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randolph-sinks-foster/the-resurrection-state-is-the-culmination-of-glorified-humanity-is/) [Randolph Sinks Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randolph-sinks-foster/) > [That man has a spiritual body is evidenced by the account . . . given in the writings of Moses that man was created…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-reuben-clark/that-man-has-a-spiritual-body-is-evidenced-by-the-account-given-in/) [J. Reuben Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-reuben-clark/) > [“First came bright Spirits, not the Spirits of men, who danced and scattered flowers. Then, on the left and right, at each side of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/first-came-bright-spirits-not-the-spirits-of-men-who-danced-and/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) ## More by Thomas Aquinas > [Grace does not destroy nature, it perfects it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/grace-does-not-destroy-nature-it-perfects-it/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [Justice is in subjects as well as in rulers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/justice-is-in-subjects-as-well-as-in-rulers/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [“A capacity as such is directed to an act. Wherefore we seek to know the nature of a capacity from the act to which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/a-capacity-as-such-is-directed-to-an-act-wherefore-we-seek-to-know/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [“Yet no-one can say that God has not a Word, for it would follow that God is most foolish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/yet-no-one-can-say-that-god-has-not-a-word-for-it-would-follow-that/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [Unbelief is the greatest of sins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/unbelief-is-the-greatest-of-sins/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [If forgers and malefactors are put to death by the secular power, there is much more reason for excommunicating and even putting to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/if-forgers-and-malefactors-are-put-to-death-by-the-secular-power/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [When fear is excessive it can make many a man despair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/when-fear-is-excessive-it-can-make-many-a-man-despair/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [Now, nothing can be brought from potentiality to actual existence except through something actually existing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/now-nothing-can-be-brought-from-potentiality-to-actual-existence/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [To convert somebody go and take them by the hand and guide them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/to-convert-somebody-go-and-take-them-by-the-hand-and-guide-them/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [ By the divine providence \[animals\] are intended for man's use... Hence it is not wrong for man to make use of them, either by… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/by-the-divine-providence-animals-are-intended-for-man-s-use-hence-it/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [“What causes love, since it is a passion, is its object; and since it is a sort of affinity or agreement with the object,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/what-causes-love-since-it-is-a-passion-is-its-object-and-since-it-is/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [The image of God always abides in the soul, whether this image be obsolete and clouded over as to amount to almost nothing; or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/the-image-of-god-always-abides-in-the-soul-whether-this-image-be/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [Charity, by which God and neighbor are loved, is the most perfect friendship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/charity-by-which-god-and-neighbor-are-loved-is-the-most-perfect/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [Beauty adds to goodness a relation to the cognitive faculty: so that "good" means that which simply pleases the appetite; while the "beautiful" is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/beauty-adds-to-goodness-a-relation-to-the-cognitive-faculty-so-that/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [“God is not, like creatures, made up of parts. God is spirit, without bodily dimensions. Firstly, no body can cause change without itself being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/god-is-not-like-creatures-made-up-of-parts-god-is-spirit-without/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) [Explore all 357 Thomas Aquinas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) ## More Apostles quotes > [The writings of latter-day prophets clearly teach that the sorrows and sufferings endured by Adam and Eve upon their leaving the Garden of Eden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-k-judd/the-writings-of-latter-day-prophets-clearly-teach-that-the-sorrows/) Daniel K Judd > [As a Fundamentalist I had discovered while I was in college that it is possible to dismiss the entire Church as having gone off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-howard-3rd-duke-of-norfolk/as-a-fundamentalist-i-had-discovered-while-i-was-in-college-that-it/) Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk > [Amidst the flood of dangerous reading, I plead for my Master's book; I call upon you not to forget the book of the soul.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/amidst-the-flood-of-dangerous-reading-i-plead-for-my-master-s-book-i/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [When we look at the love of Christ, we make a wonderful discovery. Love is more a decision than an emotion! Christ-like love applauds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/when-we-look-at-the-love-of-christ-we-make-a-wonderful-discovery-love/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“I argue that the Jesus of the Gospels is essentially a myth. The Gospels are largely fiction. They were created around the turn of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvar-elleg-rd/i-argue-that-the-jesus-of-the-gospels-is-essentially-a-myth-the/) Alvar Ellegård > [the Republicans love to say that the Democratic Party is ruled by 'special interests.' But when pressed to name these 'special interests,' the usual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/the-republicans-love-to-say-that-the-democratic-party-is-ruled-by/) [Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/) > [The Apostle John said, " Beloved, now we are the sons of God." He didn't say by and by we are going to become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-holmes/the-apostle-john-said-beloved-now-we-are-the-sons-of-god-he-didn-t/) [Ernest Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-holmes/) > [The first duty of a Christian, of a disciple and follower of Jesus Christ, is to deny himself. To deny oneself means to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/innocent-of-alaska/the-first-duty-of-a-christian-of-a-disciple-and-follower-of-jesus/) Innocent of Alaska > [The gifts that Yeshua left in the earth realm to enforce His authority were apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, and evangelists. The gift that gets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-pierce/the-gifts-that-yeshua-left-in-the-earth-realm-to-enforce-his/) [Chuck Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-pierce/) > [... faithfully and strenuously you should resist the heretics in defense of the only true and life-giving faith, which the Church has received -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-clement-i/faithfully-and-strenuously-you-should-resist-the-heretics-in-defense/) [Pope Clement I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-clement-i/) > [ Listen to these words of \[apostle\] Paul: "We war not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, and the rulers of the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-farrakhan/listen-to-these-words-of-apostle-paul-we-war-not-against-flesh-and/) [Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-farrakhan/) > [Our Lord Jesus Christ, a little before his departure, commissioned his apostles to Go, and teach all nations; or, as another evangelist expresses it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-carey/our-lord-jesus-christ-a-little-before-his-departure-commissioned-his/) [William Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-carey/) > [What cursed spirit of falsehood moveth priests to close themselves within stone walls for all their life, since Christ commanded all his apostles and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wycliffe/what-cursed-spirit-of-falsehood-moveth-priests-to-close-themselves/) [John Wycliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wycliffe/) > [...it is proper that the duty of helping the poor and unfortunate should especially stir Catholics, since they are members of the Mystical Body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-xxii/it-is-proper-that-the-duty-of-helping-the-poor-and-unfortunate-should/) [Pope John XXII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-xxii/) > [“The Ancient Church Fathers, including disciples of the twelve apostles, were firmly premillennial, pretribulational, and very pro-Israel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-johnson/the-ancient-church-fathers-including-disciples-of-the-twelve-apostles/) Ken Johnson [Browse all 366 Apostles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apostles/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Just as in a physical body the operation of one member contributes to the good of the whole body, so it is in a spiritual body such as the Church. And since all the faithful are one body, the good of one member is communicated to another; everyone members, as the Apostle says, of one another [Eph 4:25]. For that reason, among the points of faith handed down by the Apostles, is that there is a community of goods in the Church, and this is expressed in the words Communion of Saints.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Aquinas" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/just-as-in-a-physical-body-the-operation-of-one-member-contributes-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Apostles" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/just-as-in-a-physical-body-the-operation-of-one-member-contributes-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3a/thomas-aquinas-837_apostles_just-as-in-a-physical-body-the-operation_681904.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3a/thomas-aquinas-837_apostles_just-as-in-a-physical-body-the-operation_681904.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3a/thomas-aquinas-837_apostles_just-as-in-a-physical-body-the-operation_681904.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Just as in a physical body the operation of one member contributes to the good of the whole body, so it is…” — Thomas Aquinas", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Thomas Aquinas", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Just as in a physical body...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/just-as-in-a-physical-body-the-operation-of-one-member-contributes-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/just-as-in-a-physical-body-the-operation-of-one-member-contributes-to/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```