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Church as the Bride Mother of the Church as

" At the same time the Church - like Mary - remains the virgin faithful to her spouse: "And he is a virgin, who keeps whole and pure the fidelity to her Spouse" 125 Church is the Bride of Christ, as the word is found in the Pauline Letters (cf. Eph 5: 21-33 and 2 Corinthians 11, 2), and in the Johannine expression "bride of the Lamb" (Rev. 21, 9). When the Church as the Bride, "a fidelity to Christ," then this faithfulness - even though the Apostle became the image of marriage (cf. Eph 5, 1923-1933) - also has value as a model of total dedication in celibacy "for the kingdom of heaven," virginity consecrated to God (cf. Mt 19, 11-12, 2 Corinthians 11, 2). "

Encyclical Redemptoris Mater