THE MYSTICAL BODY OF CHRIST it will now be seen that we have found the answer to the first as well — how can Christ’s atonement be shared in by us? It is easy enough to see how we are involved in Adam’s loss: for Adam is the representative man, the ancestor of all men. In him, by nature all men were incorporated. But men may be incorporated in Christ too, not by nature but by super-nature, not by birth but by baptism, the first of the sacraments (treated more fully in Chapter XI). That is the immense importance of baptism,* repeated again and again by St. Paul: “Being baptized in Christ we have put on Christ.” Incorporated with Adam by birth, which makes us men, we share in his loss: incorporated with Christ by baptism, which makes us Christians, we share in His act of redemption. Both Adam and Christ are representative men: Adam because he is the first man, Christ because He is the perfect man. Adam .was the head of the human race : Christ is the head of redeemed humanity. We come from Adam: we come to Christ. In this view of the Church we see how all our needs are met. Incorporated, built into the mystical body of Christ, we share in the benefits of His atonement, we are reconciled with God, and to us, as members of redeemed humanity. Heaven is once more open. From that Church, which is thus • This book is concerned with GkKl’s plan for mankind in what may be called its normal working. There is no discussion here of the position of those who are not baptized or of baptized nonCatljolics. 63