The Church

[Guest nocauseforaname]

Why is the Church always referred to as "she" "her" "Our Holy Mother Church"? Not that I disagree, but why?

thanks.

[Pio Nono]

JMJ
11/2 - All Souls' Day

nocauseforaname,

The word for "church" in Greek is [i]ekklesia[/i]. It's a feminine noun (all Romance languages have masculine and feminine nouns - English has managed to bury the gender, but Greek never did). Since it's referred to as a feminine noun, it takes a feminine pronoun.

On a more spiritual level, the Church acts like a Mother - she births us into new life in baptism, sustains us in the Eucharist, and gives us spiritual vigor through the sacraments. Because she acts as a mother, she is referred to in the feminine. Hope this helps.

Yours,
Pio Nono