The Mass is the nuptial celebration between Christ and His bride the Church.

 As with all marital love, there is first intimacy of words before intimacy of bodies. Christ tells His bride how much He loves her in the liturgy of the word. She then gives herself to Him in the offertory; and He enters her body in Holy Communion, impregnating her with the life of His grace.

This marital-like relationship between Christ and His bride begins here, crystalized in the Mass, and continues into eternity without end.