Spouse of Christ
The Catholic Church
Part Two
Excerpt taken from “Fruits of Contemplation” by Victorino Osende, O.P.As the spouse of Christ, the Church continues His work for the redemption and salvation of the world. Her mission is to spread the gospel, to preach it to every creature, and to make Christ known, loved, and adored by all men. In this way the Church, as a true spouse, manifests her burning love for Christ.
How greatly she suffers and labors for the extension of His kingdom and the glory of His holy Name!
With what care an
d solicitude she guards the treasures He has confided to her: His words, His example, the memories of His holy life! Never does she tire of singing His praises, of proclaiming His goodness, of celebrating the episodes and mysteries of His most holy life! Who would remember Christ or His life if the Church did not continually bring Him before us by her preaching and the celebration of her rites and solemnities? Who would teach us to weep and to suffer, to rejoice and to be glad when Christ weeps and suffers or when He rejoices and triumphs? Who would teach us to elevate and offer our hearts to Him as a holocaust to His infinite love? Doubtless, if it were not for the Church, scarcely any remembrance of Christ would remain among men, and certainly the divine fire He brought to earth would have been totally extinguished centuries ago.
The Church alone, being the Bride of Christ and having all things in common with her Divine Spouse, is the depository of the truth.
Pope St. Pius X
The Church is a virgin, the bride of one Spouse, Who is Christ, and this Church does not allow herself to be violated by any error; so that, throughout the whole world there may be for us one uncorruptedness of a single chaste communion.
Pope St. Leo the Great
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