I seriously enjoyed reading Augustine's Confessions, as the prayers resonated deeply with my own thoughts and faith. There was a small area that caught my attention that I loved and is a beautiful analogy for Christ and His Church. As Augustine recounts his baptism as a young boy, he speaks on his mother's steady faithfulness.
"You saw, my God, because you were already my guardian, with what fervor of mind and with what faith I then begged for the baptism of your Christ, my God and Lord, urging it on the devotion of my mother and of the mother of us all, your Church." (pp.13)
Though this is a small point, the choice words Augustine uses in this passage presents a picture of the church being like a mother; tender, caring, and loving, yet stern and disciplinary when needed. It donned on me that the church, the collective body of Christ, the bride of our Lord, is indeed also the mother and encourager in our faith. Because of this point, there is much to be said about the role that the church should play in our lives and the growth of our faith.
The church does have a strong feeling of a spiritual mother. The church is there to nurture and guide you down the right path, that path being the path to God's kingdom. The church is also there to teach you that the world is a dangerous place and that the Father will always love you and welcome you into His home, like your earthly father is expected to do. The church cares for us, just as a mother does, and through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the church can never lead you astray or in the wrong direction.
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