YOUCAT Question n. 124 - Part III. Why is the Church more than an institution?
(Youcat
answer - repeated) The Church is more than an institution because she is a
mystery that is simultaneously human and divine.
A deepening through CCC
(CCC 771 b)
The Church is essentially both human and divine, visible but endowed with
invisible realities, zealous in action and dedicated to contemplation, present
in the world, but as a pilgrim, so constituted that in her the human is
directed toward and subordinated to the divine, the visible to the invisible,
action to contemplation, and this present world to that city yet to come, the
object of our quest (SC 2, Cf. Heb 13:14). O humility! O sublimity! Both
tabernacle of cedar and sanctuary of God; earthly dwelling and celestial
palace; house of clay and royal hall; body of death and temple of light; and at
last both object of scorn to the proud and bride of Christ! She is black but
beautiful, O daughters of Jerusalem, for even if the labor and pain of her long
exile may have discolored her, yet heaven's beauty has adorned her (St. Bernard
of Clairvaux, In Cant. Sermo 27:14 PL
183:920D).
Reflecting and meditating
(Youcat comment)
True love does not
blind a person but rather makes him see. With regard to the Church, this is
precisely the case: Viewed from outside, the Church is only a historical
institution with historical achievements, but also mistakes and even crimes—a Church of sinners. But that
is not looking deep enough. After all, Christ became so involved with us
sinners that he never abandons his Church, even if we were to betray him daily.
This inseparable union of the human and the divine, of sin and grace, is the
mystery of the Church. Seen with the eyes of faith, the Church is therefore indestructibly
holy.
(CCC Comment)
(CCC 779)
The Church is both visible and spiritual, a hierarchical society and the
Mystical Body of Christ. She is one, yet formed of two components, human and
divine. That is her mystery, which only faith can accept.
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