The Holy Church, my mother, my teacher, that has my love through all.

Contemplating my mother's humiliated face, I will love her only twice as much. Without trading polemic for polemic, I will take pains to show her my love even in her guise of slave. While others allow themselves to be hypnotized by the wrinkles that are only natural to the features of the old, how much more truly will love show me her hidden strength, her silent dynamism ---- in a word, her perpetual youth ---- "the mighty forces issuing from her heart, finally ravishing all men's hearts."

Henri de Lubac, sj, The Church: Paradox and Mystery (via Gerard,with thanks)
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