The Motherhood of the Church / Henri de Lubac

Priests are called "Father" and the Church is called "Mother". Our "Holy Mother the Church" is a traditional way of speaking among Catholics. But are these outdated, sentimental expressions? Or do they express a deep insight into the nature of the Church as a whole and of ordained ministry in relation to the Church? Is there a genuine theological meaning to the traditional reference to the Church as "she"?

Henri de Lubac addresses such questions with his usual profound erudition. He deeply mines the Christian tradition in examining the Motherhood of the Church. Focusing on the Church's Motherhood allows this great theologian to unite two profound truths: the Church is the Bride of Christ and the Church is Christ's Mystical Body. As de Lubac shows, the Church cannot be rightly considered apart from Christ and his saving work, both of which should be understood in light of the mystery of the Church's maternity.

Henri de Lubac, S.J., was a French Jesuit and one of the leading twentieth century theologians.  He is the author of numerous seminal works of theology, among them his masterpiece Catholicism.  Referring to Henri de Lubac and de Lubac’s colleague and friend, Hans Urs von Balthasar, Pope Benedict XVI stated, “I cannot even begin to say how much I owe to my encounter with them”.  Father de Lubac was named a Cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 1983.   De Lubac’s other works include The Splendor of the Church, The Drama of Atheist Humanism, and A Brief Catechesis on Nature and Grace.