Imagine a community where each member is not merely present, but serves as a living symbol of wholeness, united by an unseen force.

Unity Without Boundaries: Embracing Eternal Wholeness

Imagine a community where each member is not merely present, but serves as a living symbol of wholeness, united by an unseen force. At the heart of this idea is the feeling of an unbreakable connection, ensuring that no member is ever abandoned or isolated – unity is constantly experienced in its fullest sense. This constancy is reflected not only in traditional rituals but also in everyday life, where every encounter should mirror the depth of collective presence, creating a sensation of an eternal cycle of union.

On one hand, the ideal of “always and all together” alludes to the unconditional unity that characterizes the Church and many communities. Here, every individual is seen as an integral part of a living organism, where temporal restrictions and fragmentation have no place. This drive for complete and continuous unity imparts reliability and the assurance that every moment of life is intertwined with history, traditions, and a pervasive spiritual power.

On the other hand, modern practice often shows a tendency towards individualism, where even sacred moments become mosaic images devoid of deep collective energy. When people act separately, there is a palpable loss of true harmony – instead of complete and holistic union, one experiences a sense of disconnection and temporary impermanence. This contrast between the ideal and reality serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of returning to the principles of genuine connection, thereby fostering conditions for true shared experience.

Thus, the pursuit of the ideal “always and all together” is not merely a spiritual assignment, but a life necessity that can restore in each person a sense of fullness and eternity. It is a call to avoid dividing oneself into fragments, and instead to live in unity with those who share our aspirations and dreams, filling ourselves with the energy of eternal unity and genuine presence.

How can the concept of “always and all together” be interpreted in the context of a sense of constancy versus a feeling of limitation?

The concept of “always and all together” can be understood as an expression of complete, continuous unity that provides a sense of eternal presence and wholeness, as opposed to fragmentation or limitation. In other words, this principle indicates that true unity lies in every member being an essential part of the whole, acting not separately but collectively and consistently—thus ensuring a feeling of true continuity and completeness.

On one hand, when we speak of constancy, it means that the Church or community is ever-present in its entirety, unmarred by temporal or partial limitations. As noted in one of the sources:
"The basic principle of church life is that all members of the Church are always, all together, always together. ... Christ is one, His body is one, God's people are one, and the Church is one, manifesting everywhere, always – yesterday, today, and forever – in the fullness of its unity…" (source: link txt)

On the other hand, feelings of limitation arise when only a part of this unity is manifested in practice – when people meet incompletely, act individually, and even in the sacramental experience, such as in Eucharistic life, the rule of “always, all together” is not realized. As stated:
"Our current church consciousness is highly individualistic. We almost no longer witness the embodiment in Eucharistic life of the ancient rule: ‘always, all together.’ It has been replaced by another: ‘not always, all together, and not always together.’ We now almost never meet all together; each for oneself and for oneself." (source: link txt)

Thus, in terms of a sense of constancy, the principle of “always and all together” stands as an ideal in which the complete, unreserved inclusion of each member into the whole offers a feeling of fullness, trust, and eternity. Conversely, when a community becomes divided or only partial interaction takes place, it is perceived as a limitation, robbing one of the sense of total, holistic unity – meaning that instead of experiencing unlimited presence, one feels fragmentation, restriction, and impermanence.

Supporting citation(s):
"The basic principle of church life is that all members of the Church are always, all together, always together. This principle stems from the very nature of the Church. The Church of God in Christ is a people gathered by God in the Body of Christ…" (source: link txt)

"Our current church consciousness is highly individualistic. We almost do not see in the Eucharistic life the embodiment of the ancient rule: 'always, all together.' It has been replaced by another: 'not always, all together, and not always together.' We now almost never meet all together; each for oneself and for oneself." (source: link txt)