Christians are members of the Church, and the Church is the Body of Christ, with the Head being Christ Himself, together with the Enlightener, the Holy Spirit. "Christ also loved the Church, and gave Himself for It. . . that He might present It to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that It should be holy and without blemish" (Eph. 5:21-27). You are the holy and chosen flock, you are members of the holy catholic and apostolic Church. What indeed is demanded of you! What holiness, what truth! What attention to yourselves! What spiritual contemplation and activity in secret! What morals, virtues, what faith, what hope, what love! What abstinence, compassion, care for one another, what urging of one another to virtue!
St. John of Kronstadt
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