Strengthened with freshness...

   And he who sat upon the throne said, 

"Behold, I make all things new."

Also he said, "Write this, for these words

are trustworthy and true." - Revelation 21:5,6 

"The Church, continuously straining to leave 

the mark of her examples, offers her dowry - 

clearly the body and blood of the Word of God - 

with the deepest devotion, to the Creator of all things. 

She offers her dowry for all to look at with living 

and burning lights - clearly the celestial cities.  

And she does this in humble obedience.  

What does this mean?

As the body of the Only-Begotten of God 

sprang up in purity in the womb of the Virgin Mary 

and then was handed over for the salvation of men, 
so even now this body has grown in the 

uncorrupted purity of the Church and is given 

for the sanctification of the faithful.  

... As a result, the Church is strengthened 

with the happiest freshness."

St Hildegard of Bingen (+1179)

Doctor of the Church

Source: Scivias by Hildegard of Bingen

Painting:  L'Elevation - Jean Beraud (1849-1935)