Objective truth series – Reflection #24
We, baptized Catholics, are each called to be a Bride of Christ. Our souls are meant to have a Mystical Union with the Bridegroom.
In this reflection series we have been considering the journey of the individual soul and how God, being the Divine Sculptor, leads the soul to Him through humility and charity. Below we give a bullet point list of the purpose for each of the reflections and how there has been a step-by-step progression which has led up to this point of considering what it means to be truly a bride of Christ. Spiritual Nuptials is the spiritual gift of God which He uses to ultimately prepare a soul for life eternal. This intimate union between Christ and the soul is a state of soul that God intends for every soul that is in sanctifying grace. It is something we should aspire to. We need to beg God to help us understand it so we can aspire to cooperate with God in striving for it!
Here is a brief recap of the Objective Truth Series:
· Reflection 1 discusses how God sculptures our souls.
· Reflection 2 describes how God inspires us to find examples of humility.
· Reflection 3 ponders our nothingness.
· Reflection 4 shows how submitting to God’s Will helps us unite with and trust God.
· Reflection 5 shows how we must have a healthy mistrust of ourselves.
· Reflection 6 shows how to be on guard against proud self-complacency and how to sincerely compassionate our neighbor.
· Reflection 7 shows the importance of taking corrections well.
· Reflection 8 shows how we need to guard against pride.
· Reflection 9 speaks of how to avoid frustration and discouragement which are forms of pride.
· Reflection 10 shows the importance of making frequent acts of humility.
· Reflection 11 shows how God draws the soul to new levels of understanding.
· Reflection 12 shows how gratitude brings humility.
· Reflection 13 shows how God fosters humility in us by having us seek His guidance.
· Reflection 14 shows how we must shun false human respect and lovingly pursue truth.
· Reflection 15 shows how wonderful it is to possess the truth.
· Reflection 16 shows how God simplifies the truth to give us a delight in it.
· Reflection 17 ponders the amazing fact that God uses us as His instruments.
· Reflection 18 shows how we need to live life keeping eternity always in mind.
· Reflection 19 shows how tears of compunction are a good thing to ask for.
· Reflection 20 shows how by thinking on death helps us die to ourselves.
· Reflection 21 shows how we should have a great desire for heaven.
· Reflection 22 shows how, when we forget ourselves, we become consumed in the love of God.
· Reflection 23 shows how God wants us to focus on Him abiding in us.
Thus, in our last reflection we pondered upon the Holy Trinity and what it means to have the Trinity dwelling in a soul which is in the state of grace. When one understands how this dwelling of the Trinity in the soul is the reality, this helps the soul to understand the Church’s mystical teaching about the spiritual marriage that occurs between Jesus Christ and the soul.
Catholics are taught their Catechism from their youth, but unfortunately, they are rarely taught mystical terminology or concepts. Yet, we are all called to a mystical union with the Lord. This union is a mystical marriage between the Bridegroom, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and the soul.
When considering marriage in the natural order, it is easy to see why husband and wife are supposed to be best friends. They would be content to be alone on an abandoned island. Their happiness would be complete because of their bond of friendship.[1] And so it is in the spiritual realm. Our Lord Jesus Christ wants each Catholic in the state of grace to be His bride.
Mary is our model of such a mystical Bride because she was immaculately conceived and was never marred by any sin or imperfection. She is God’s masterpiece, the Virgin of virgins, the humble Handmaid of the Lord, His Mother and the Spouse of the Holy Ghost.
The Canticle of Canticles, written by King Solomon, refers to the mystical marriage between Christ and the soul. The soul loves Christ by obeying His commandments, becoming selfless, and being consumed with the love and service of God. In this way, God so sculptures the soul to become more God-like and to become the bride of the Divine Son.
So, this amazing marriage with Christ is not just something we read about in the lives of the saints, for example, St. Catherine of Sienna or St. Theresa of Avila, but something that our souls should truly desire for ourselves.
In these times of apostasy, when Christ wants us to trust in Him completely, He surely wants to console us by such a remarkable union with Him. Likewise, we should want to console Him Who is so blasphemed and hated in these evil times. These are special times we live in, where to stand up for being normal and moral is considered a heroically virtuous act. So let us fly to Christ and cling to Him, begging Him to make us worthy to be His spouse. Let us throw ourselves at His Feet and adore Him Who does not change, – and Who is Truth Itself. Oh, that we could fall eternally in love with Truth – Objective Truth – and be willing to seek the truth always, abide in truth, defend truth, and suffer and die for truth!
The Apocalypse refers to more, and more glorious, martyrs in the end times—may we, God Willing, want to suffer something for Christ—really suffer all things for Christ, our Spouse! With overwhelmed hearts and burning zeal for Christ perhaps we would pledge our love in the following betrothals:
Dear Spouse of souls, in Thee we trust,
We want so much Thy spouse to be,
Yet unworthy, we are but dust,
We wholly give our hearts to Thee.
This union is a mystic one,
Understood by the saints of old,
United to the Begotten Son,
‘Tis more precious than pearls and gold.
Mary, our Queen and our Mother,
The model bride we should admire,
Her virtues are like no other,
What love of God she doth inspire!
Of the Lord, she was a Handmaid,
And Spouse too of the Holy Ghost,
Mother of God, a virgin stayed,
Of all creatures she loves God most.
She merited being Christ’s bride,
Like Our Queen, we would like to soar,
To be forever at Christ’s Side,
And have the Groom forever more.
Of such a Groom, who is worthy?
Yet He’s meant for each soul in grace,
Mary, please help us prepared be,
So that this marriage may take place.
With burning hearts we yearn for this,
Nuptial bond with Our Divine King,
So, in time we enjoy such bliss,
And have a divine wedding ring.
Catholic Candle note: For a further treatment of this spiritual marriage to which Christ calls our souls, read this article: https://catholiccandle.org/2019/06/20/our-souls-should-be-docile-brides-of-christ/