Beautiful Bride

Christ is the Head;

His Church is the bride.

As Christ is Glorious 

and full of Splendor,

So also His Church

will be Glorious,

a spotless bride.

He washes us with the Holy Waters of Baptism.

He nourishes us with His own Body and Blood,

Broken and spilled out in passionate love for His bride.

He ordains leaders: Bishops, Priests, and Deacons

to guide and be His representatives on earth.

He absolves our sins, wiping them clean, as we repent 

of our failures to do God's Holy Will. 

He confirms our faith by the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts.

He blesses our marriage bonds of faithful love.

He ministers to us with compassion

when we are sick or dying.

Thank You, Lord, for Thy Passionate Love

demonstrated in the Incarnation of the Son of God made Son of Man.

Thank You, Lord, for Thy abundant, generous Grace

available to all who humbly accept our marred humanity,

and embrace Thy Divine Touch.

Thank You, Lord, for establishing and building 

Thy Holy Church -

Thy Beloved Bride.

by Julie Dunlap   10-2-2012

Note: Today is All Saints Day, a day to remember the glorious cloud of witnesses that have proceeded us to the heavenly realms.  I wrote down these thoughts after reading several sections from The King's Highway by George D. Carleton.  Christ's enduring and endearing love for His bride, His Holy Church, is hard to fathom, and it is with grateful hearts that we acknowledge this love.  He takes us as unworthy sinners, and by this ardent love  makes His own to be of worth.