From
the beginning, Jesus associated his disciples with his own life, revealed the
mystery of the Kingdom to them, and gave them a share in his mission, joy, and
sufferings. Jesus spoke of a still more intimate communion between him and
those who would follow him: "Abide in me, and I in you. . . . I am the
vine, you are the branches." And he proclaimed a mysterious and real
communion between his own body and ours: "He who eats my flesh and drinks
my blood abides in me, and I in him."
When his visible presence was taken
from them, Jesus did not leave his disciples orphans. He promised to remain
with them until the end of time; he sent them his Spirit. As a result communion with Jesus has become,
in a way, more intense: "By communicating his Spirit, Christ mystically
constitutes as his body those brothers of his who are called together from every
nation."
The
comparison of the Church with the body casts light on the intimate bond between
Christ and his Church. Not only is she gathered around him; she is united in
him, in his body. Three aspects of the Church as the Body of Christ are to be
more specifically noted: the unity of all her members with each other as a
result of their union with Christ; Christ as head of the Body; and the Church
as bride of Christ. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 787-789)
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