"They devoted themselves to the teaching of the Apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers (Acts 2,42). "The community of believers was of one heart and mind" (Acts 4,32). These words express the content of koinonia, or ecclesial communion.

To achieve this unity a particularly important element was prayer, the soul of communion.

"Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes. They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart" (Acts 2,46). Though at the time their place of prayer was still the temple in Jerusalem, they also celebrated the Eucharist "in their homes", joining it to a joyful meal in common.

This sense of communion was so intense that it spurred them to use each one's material possessions to serve the needs of all, "No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common". This does not mean that they made a principle of rejecting personal (private) property; it merely indicates a great fraternal sensitivity to the needs of others.

The clear conclusion we can draw is that the early Church was a community which led its members to share with each other the goods they had available, especially for the benefit of the poorest.

This was even more the case with the treasury of truth they received and possessed. Here it is a question of spiritual goods which are to be shared, i.e., communicated, spread, preached: "It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard" (Acts 4,20).

The Apostle John will express this goal and endeavor of the Apostles by declaring in his first letter, "What we have seen and heard we proclaim now to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; for our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ" (1 Jn 1,3).

At the center of this communion and the communion which it opens up, one finds Christ. John highlights the communion with Christ in the truth. Paul emphasizes "sharing in his sufferings".

In the early Church - and in every age - communion in Christ's Passover becomes a source of reciprocal communion, "If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it" (1 Cor 12,26).

This gives rise to a tendency toward reciprocal giving, including the giving of temporal goods, which Paul urges to be done for the poor: "Your surplus at the present time should supply their needs, so that their surplus may also supply your needs" (2 Cor 8,14).

According to the Apostle those who give receive at the same time. And this process does not only promote a leveling of society (cf. 2 Cor 8,14-15), but also the building up of the community.

To achieve "communion", to nourish the community gathered in Christ, the Holy Spirit continues to intervene so that in the Church there is a "participation in the Spirit" (koinonia pneumatos), as St. Paul says (cf. Phil 2,1).

Precisely through this "participation in the Spirit", the giving of temporal possessions also enters the realm of mystery and promotes the institution of the Church, increases communion, and results in "growing in every way into him who is the Head, Christ" (cf. Eph 4,15).

By him, through him, and in him - Christ - in virtue of the life-giving Spirit, the Church is realized as a Body "joined and held together by every supporting ligament, with the proper functioning of each part" (Eph 4,16).