"This book establishes three aspects of the mystery of the Church: that the Church is (1) the people of God, chosen for the salvation of the world in Christ; (2) the virginal Bride who becomes one Body and one Spirit by Christ; and (3) the Mother through the Holy Spirit of all believers. The author first traces the history of relevant teachings from the Old Testament up to the present, and then provides a systematic ecclesiology"-- Provided by publisher.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

The beginnings of the Church -- Church in the New Testament -- The Church in the theology of the Fathers -- The medieval synthesis and great thinkers -- The ecclesiology of the Reformation and Counter-Reformation -- Ecclesiology before and after Vatican I -- The ecclesiology of Vatican II -- Ecclesiology after the Council : crisis and renewal -- Unity of the Church -- The holiness of the Church -- The catholicity of the Church -- The apostolicity of the Church -- The people of God shares in the priestly, prophetic, and kingly role of Christ -- Comprehensive notions of the Church -- Renewal and reformation in the Church -- The eschatological consummation of the Church -- The unity of the Church in the theology of Irenaeus -- A Catholic perspective on the mission of Israel -- Bride" and "mother" in the super Cantica of St. Bernard : an ecclesiology for our time? -- A Catholic response to W. Pannenberg, "Evangelische �Uberlegungen zum Petrusdienst des r�omischen Bischofs" -- The infallibility of the Church and the mystery of Mary.