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Choose a topic from Part 3a:

• The Incarnation
  • 1. Fitness of the Incarnation
  • 2. The Union of the Word and the Flesh
  • 3. The Person Assuming Human Nature
  • 4. The Nature Assumed
  • 5. Elements of the Nature Assumed
  • 6. Order of the Elements Assumed
  • 7. The Grace of Christ as a Man
  • 8. The Grace of Christ as Head of the Church
  • 9. Knowledge in Christ
  • 10. The Beatific Knowledge in Christ
  • 11. Christ's Infused Knowledge
  • 12. Christ's Acquired Knowledge
  • 14. Deficiencies in the Body of Christ
  • 15. Limitations or Deficiencies in Christ's Human Soul
  • 16. Consequences of the Hypostatic Union
  • 17. The Oneness of the Being of Christ
  • 18. The Unity of Will in Christ
  • 19. The Unity of Operation in Christ
  • 20. The Subjection of Christ to God the Father
  • 21. The Prayer of Christ
  • 22. The Priesthood of Christ
  • 23. The Adoption of Sons
  • 24. The Predestination of Christ
  • 25. The Adoration of Christ
  • 26. Christ as Mediator
• Our Blessed Lady
• Our Lord Jesus Christ
• The Sacraments in General
• Baptism
• Confirmation
• The Holy Eucharist
• Penance

8. The Grace of Christ as Head of the Church

1. In the human body, the head holds the first place ofdignity, perfection, and control. So, in the body of the Church,Christ as man, by reason of the union with God, holds the highestplace, and is rightly called "The Head of theChurch."

2. The whole humanity of Christ, body and soul, influencesother human beings in body and soul. Therefore, Christ is the Headof men, not merely the Head of souls.

3. Christ is the Head of all mankind. St. Paul says (ITim. 4:10) that Christ "is the Savior of all men." And weread (I John 2:2) that Christ is "the propitiation for oursins, and not for ours only, but also for those of the wholeworld." Christ is the Head of all men, and principally of allwho are united to him by grace or glory.

4. Christ as man is Head of the angels. Men and angels aremade for the one purpose: the glory of God, and the enjoyment ofheaven. Hence, figuratively speaking, men and angels form one body;for the mystical body which is the Church consists not only of menbut of angels. And of this body Christ is the Head.

5. The grace of Christ as Head of the Church, calledcapital grace, is in reality the same sanctifying orhabitual grace which is in him as a human individual (that is,personal grace), and which constitutes that fullness ofgrace of which "we have all received."

6. Christ alone is the Head of the Church. On earth, thepope is his vicar, and the bishops as heads of their respectivedioceses are, as St. Paul says (II Cor. 5:20), "ambassadorsfor Christ."

7. As prince or prelate is head of the group thatconstitutes his realm or charge, so the devil is the head of allthe wicked. In Job (41:25) we read that the devil "is kingover all the children of pride."

8. Antichrist too is the head of the wicked, but not inthe same way as the devil is their head. The devil precedesAntichrist in time, and also exceeds him in the power ofinfluencing men to evil. Antichrist is head of the wicked in thesense that he is the worst of all who are influenced by thedevil.

"As the flesh is nourished by food, so is man supported by prayers"
St Augustine

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"It is well to choose some one good devotion, and to stick to it, and never to abandon it."
St Philip Neri

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"It is better to be burdened and in company with the strong than to be unburdened and with the weak. When you are burdened you are close to God, your strength, who abides with the afflicted. When you are relieved of the burden you are close to yourself, your own weakness; for virtue and strength of soul grow and are confirmed in the trials of patience."
St John of the Cross, OCD - Doctor of the Church

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