“Just as in the case of children, the baby which is born immediately from the first sight recognizes its parents without being able to speak, so also the hearts of the bride and bridegroom are entwined together at the first sight without anyone to introduce them, to advise them, or to counsel them.

“Then seeing that this happened also above all with Christ and the Church, Paul was astonished and amazed. How did this happen with Christ and the Church? As the bridegroom leaves his father and comes to his bride, so Christ left His Father’s throne and came to His bride. He did not summon us on high, but Himself came to us. For this reason when Paul said, ‘This a great mystery,’ he added, ‘I understand it in relation to Christ and the Church.'”

– St John Chrysostom