Mary and the Church

Christ has three brides, namely: a universal bride, who is the Church of all the elect, whom He began to wed at the beginning of the world by faith and charity; a particular bride, who is the holy soul, whom He weds daily by converting individuals to Himself by grace; a singular bride, who is the most blessed Virgin, whom He wed in the womb of His Mother. But these last two brides are contained in the first, as the part is contained in the whole.