Yet another post on the Franciscan thesis of the absolute primacy of Jesus Christ.
St. Francis de Sales held that the primary motive for the Incarnation was not the redemption of fallen man from sin, but that God willed the Incarnation first and foremost in order to "communicate Himself" to a creature in a most perfect way: "in such sort that the creature might be engrafted and implanted in the divinity, and become one single person with It". To this created nature, namely the Sacred Humanity of Christ, God "destined that incomparable honor of personal union with His Divine Majesty, to the end that for all eternity it might enjoy by excellence the treasures of His infinite glory."
He then predestined angels and men to grace and glory before the foundations of the world in Christ Jesus (cf. Eph 1:4). How good God is and how loving and generous to us, His handiwork! To choose us in Christ to be "holy and without blemish in His sight in charity". (Eph 1:4).
Praised be Jesus Christ!
To learn more about the two schools on the Incarnation watch this 8 minute video, The Cornerstone, which summarizes both schools, quoting the passage of St. Francis de Sales above.
