A Prayer

"You alone are the Bridegroom of the Church, born from your wounded side,
make us reveal to the world the love of Bridegroom and Bride."

This prayer is beautiful. It captures a parallel I had never thought about before--the Church comes from Christ's wounded side--it is formed by communion, by the body and blood of Christ, the blood which flowed out of His sword-pierced side. This is similar to God creating Eve out of Adam's rib, from his side. God took Adam's rib when he was asleep, which is also similar to Christ's passion--the soldier pierced His side with a spear after He had died. Here we see Christ as the new Adam and the Church as the new Eve. All of which, of course, reminds me of my favorite icon.