in a special sense of Mary, in a particular sense of
The Son of God is the first-born of many brothers. Although by nature he
is the only-begotten, by grace he has joined many to himself and made them one
with him. For to those who receive him he has given the power to become the
sons of God.
He became the Son of man and made many men sons of God, uniting them to
himself by his love and power, so that they became as one. In themselves they
are many by reason of their human descent, but in him they are one by divine
rebirth.
The whole Christ and the unique Christ—the body and the head—are one: one
because born of the same God in heaven, and of the same mother on earth. They
are many sons, yet one son. Head and members are one son, yet many sons; in the
same way, Mary and the Church are one mother, yet more than one mother; one
virgin, yet more than one virgin.
Both are mothers, both are virgins. Each conceives by the same Spirit,
without concupiscence. Each gives birth to a child of God the Father, without
sin. Without any sin, Mary gave birth to Christ the head for the sake of his
body. By the forgiveness of every sin, the Church gave birth to the body, for
the sake of its head. Each is Christ’s mother, but neither gives birth to the
whole Christ without the cooperation of the other.
In the inspired Scriptures, what is said in a universal sense of the
virgin mother, the Church, is understood in an individual sense of the Virgin
Mary, and what is said in a particular sense of the virgin mother Mary is
rightly understood in a general sense of the virgin mother, the Church. When
either is spoken of, the meaning can be understood of both, almost without
qualification.
In a way, every Christian is also believed to be a bride of God’s Word, a
mother of Christ, his daughter and sister, at once virginal and fruitful. These
words are used in a universal sense of the Church, in a special sense of Mary,
in a particular sense of the individual Christian. They are used by God’s
Wisdom in person, the Word of the Father.
This is why Scripture says: I will dwell in the inheritance of the Lord.
The Lord’s inheritance is, in a general sense, the Church; in a special sense,
Mary; in an individual sense, the Christian.
Christ dwelt for nine months in the tabernacle of Mary’s womb. He dwells
until the end of the ages in the tabernacle of the Church’s faith. He will
dwell for ever in the knowledge and love of each faithful soul.
From Sermons of Blessed Isaac of Stella,