MYSTICI CORPORIS CHRISTI
ENCYCLICAL OF POPE PIUS XII
ON THE MISTICAL BODY OF CHRIST
12. [] As He hung upon the Cross, Christ Jesus not only appeased the justice of the Eternal Father which had been violated, but He also won for us, His brethren, an ineffable flow of graces. It was possible for Him of Himself to impart these graces to mankind directly; but He willed to do so only through a visible Church made up of men, so that through her all might cooperate with Him in dispensing the graces of Redemption. As the Word of God willed to make use of our nature, when in excruciating agony He would redeem mankind, so in the same way throughout the centuries He makes use of the Church that the work begun might endure. [11]
11. Cf. Vat. Council, Const. de Eccl., prol.
The italics for emphasis are mine, the first to remind us why religious indifferentism is such a mistake, and the second; well, it points out to us something which we are so loath to embrace in this day; why suffering? He could have done it otherwise, He chose to do so, and us to follow in His way.
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