The Church–Mystery
According to the Fathers, ontologically, the Church-mystery, the Church that is one and unique, precedes creation, and gives birth to the particular Churches as her daughters. She expresses herself in them; she is the mother and not the product of the particular Churches. Furthermore, the Church is manifested, temporally, on the day of Pentecost in the community of the one hundred and twenty gathered around Mary and the twelve Apostles, the representatives of the one unique Church and the founders-to-be of the local Churches, who have a mission directed to the world: from the first the Church speaks all languages.
From the Church, which in its origins and its first manifestation is universal, have arisen the different local Churches, as particular expressions of the one unique Church of Jesus Christ. Arising within and out of the universal Church, they have their ecclesiality in it and from it. Hence the formula of the Second Vatican Council: The Church in and formed out of the Churches (Ecclesia in et ex Ecclesiis), is inseparable from this other formula: The Churches in and formed out of the Church (Ecclesia in et ex Ecclesiis). Clearly the relationship between the universal Church and the particular Churches is a mystery, and cannot be compared to that which exists between the whole and the parts in a purely human group or society.
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
Letter to the Bishops of the Church on Some Aspects of the Church Understood as Communion
28th may 1992
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In the movie, “The Passion of the Christ”, as Our Lady was walking the Via Crucis, the Devil walks opposite of Her and tries to overwhelm Her with the despair of what is happening to Jesus before Her very eyes. He does this by trying to make Our Blessed Mother look at him and receive from that evil gaze, the apparent triumph of evil. Our Lady decidedly breaks Her gaze from viewing the evil one, and focuses Her entire body and soul only on Jesus, dismissing in an instant the false, goading appearance of the triumph of evil. Imitating Her strength during the entire Passion is the call of the day. It was a small band that stood with Our Lady in the howling masses of the crucifixion, their authentic passion engulfed within His Passion. It is always a small band. “Fear not little flock, it has pleased the Father to give you the kingdom.” Now as then. Thank you Father Prior for the profound, loving encouragement of this work, and all the others. Sometimes it’s hard to hold the line in the big chaotic world. One feels small. Your words always fortify for today’s battle.Today, I try again. Small is good.
In the Arms of Our Mother,
Susan Joy