Chapter 2 of Fulton Sheen’s “The Mystical Body of Christ”
Sheen begins the chapter by defining the Mystical Body as “the whole company of the redeemed, united to Christ their Head by the ties of faith, hope, and charity.” He then goes on to discuss the four essential elements of the Mystical Body:
- The Head: Christ is the Head of the Mystical Body. He is the one who unites us to each other and to God. Christ is the source of our life and our salvation. He is the one who gives us the grace we need to live as his followers.
- The Members: The members of the Mystical Body are all those who have been redeemed by Christ. We are united to Christ by the bonds of faith, hope, and charity. Faith is the belief that Christ is the Son of God and that he died for our sins. Hope is the confident expectation that we will one day be with Christ in heaven. Charity is the love of God and neighbor. It is the love that binds us together as one body.
- The Spirit: The Holy Spirit is the soul of the Mystical Body. He dwells in the members of the Body and unites us to Christ. The Holy Spirit is the one who gives us the gifts of the Spirit, such as wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. These gifts help us to live as members of the Mystical Body.
- The Unity: The Mystical Body is one because it is united to Christ. We are all one in Christ, regardless of our differences. We are one in faith, hope, and charity. We are one in the sacraments, especially the Eucharist. We are one in mission, as we are called to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to the world.
Sheen concludes the chapter by arguing that the Mystical Body is a mystery that we cannot fully understand. However, he also argues that the Mystical Body is a reality that we can experience in our lives. We can experience the Mystical Body through the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, and through our love for one another.
Here are some additional details from the chapter:
Sheen argues that the Mystical Body is a continuation of the Incarnation. Just as Christ took on our human nature, so too he has taken us into his Mystical Body.
He also argues that the Mystical Body is a communion of saints. We are all united to Christ and to each other, even those who have died.
Sheen emphasizes the importance of the Eucharist for the Mystical Body. The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Mystical Body. It is through the Eucharist that we are united to Christ and to each other.
He also emphasizes the importance of love for one another for the Mystical Body. Love is the bond that unites us as one body.