Theanalogy borne by anysociety ofmen to an organism is sufficiently manifest. In everysociety the constituentindividuals are united, as are also the members of a body, to effect a common end; while the parts they severally play correspond to the functions of the bodily organs. They form a moral unity. This, of course, istrue of theChurch, but theChurch has also a unity of a higher order; it is not merely amoral but amystical body. Thistruth, that theChurch is the mystical body ofChrist, all its members being guided and directed byChrist the head, is set forth bySt. Paul in various passages, more especially inEphesians 4:4-13 (cf.John 15:5-8). Thedoctrine may be summarized as follows:
APA citation.Joyce, G.(1911).Mystical Body of the Church. InThe Catholic Encyclopedia.New York: Robert Appleton Company.http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10663a.htm
MLA citation.Joyce, George."Mystical Body of the Church."The Catholic Encyclopedia.Vol. 10.New York: Robert Appleton Company,1911.<http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10663a.htm>.
Transcription.This article was transcribed for New Advent by Elizabeth T. Knuth.Dedicated to Bro. Odo Nanyanje, O.S.B.
Ecclesiastical approbation.Nihil Obstat. October 1, 1911. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor.Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York.
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