The Church has always had a special place in my heart from my earliest years - even as things changed and I
had all those questions and doubts when I was growing up. One of the Lord's gifts to me after my Baptism in
the Holy Spirit was the removal of all my doubts concerning the Church.
It was shortly after this that the Lord gave me this picture: A bride in a gown and veil is ready to walk
down the aisle, but was unaware that her dress and veil were no longer white but dirty, stained, and wrinkled.
She thought she was beautiful until she realized how she looked and began to cry. She approached Jesus.
He embraced her with love. As she let herself receive His embrace, her attire became white and pure,
shining and spotless, covered by His mercy. I was led to Ephesians 5:25-27, "....Christ loved the church
and sacrificed himself for her to make her holy. He made her clean by washing her in water with a form of
words so that when he took her to himself she would be glorious, with no speck or wrinkle or anything like
that, but holy and faultless." (Jerusalem Bible)
Both the word and picture have stayed with me
through the years because of my love of the Church and Eucharist. I believe this picture is both of me and
the Church.
From the New Catechism of the Catholic Church:
(#777) "The Church (which means convocation) designates the assembly of those whom God's Word
'convokes,' i.e., gathers together to form the People of God (you and me), and who themselves, nourished with
the Body of Christ become the Body of Christ."
(#808) "The church is the Bride of Christ: he loved her and handed himself over for her. He has
purified her by his blood and made her the fruitful mother of all God's children."
(#866) "The Church is one ....acknowledges one Lord, confesses one faith, ....one baptism, forms only
one Body, is given life by the one Spirit, for the sake of one hope, at whose fulfillment all divisions will
be overcome."
(#867) "The Church is holy ....God is her author, Christ, her bridegroom ....'the sinless one made up
of sinners.'"
(#868) "The Church is catholic ....proclaims the fullness of the faith ....encompasses all
times."
(#869) "The Church is apostolic ....built on a lasting foundation: 'the twelve apostles of the Lamb'
....is indestructible ....upheld infallibly in the truth."
What I know is this: the Church is not perfect. I am not perfect. In spite of everything, my failings,
spots and wrinkles, Jesus is washing me, cleansing me, forgiving me, healing me, delivering me, never
forsaking me, calling me to new life, always embracing me in my weakness, forming me with the whole Church to
be that bride of Christ - holy, faultless, without spot or wrinkle. In turn I am called to do the same as
Jesus to all because I am His. This is both a mystery and a grace.!
Aren't we blessed to be part of His Church? Aren't we blessed to be able to intercede with all the saints
for His Church? Aren't we blessed to receive Him daily in Eucharist so that you and I are never alone. Let us
continue to pray for the Church and each other remembering, "...Christ loved the church and sacrificed
himself for her to make her holy ....by washing her in water ....so that when he took her to himself she would
be glorious, with no speck or wrinkle, ....but holy and faultless."
