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the limestone cave is an altar with the inscription “Verbum caro hic
factum est” – “Here the Word was made ?esh”.

The incarnation of the eternal Word in Jesus of Nazareth marked
a new beginning for the human race. Human nature is dei?ed in Christ
by its union with the Divine in one person. But all human nature is
called to become one with Christ by grace. This is the meaning of bap-
tism – we are joined with Christ in his death and resurrection. As St
Paul says in Romans, “as in Adam all die, even so in Christ will all be
made alive”2. In the incarnation, death and resurrection of Christ we are
able to say something new about human nature. This is the birth of a
Christian anthropology. Human nature is redeemed and made new in
Christ the new Adam; humanity is being transformed into the image of
Christ. And human nature includes bodies. In Christ, human bodies are
destined for glory.

Saint Paul returns to this theme many times, for example:

“God raised the Lord and will also raise us by his power. Do
you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?”3

“He will transform the body of our humiliation so that it
may be conformed to the body of his glory.”4
“All of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord
as though re?ected in a mirror, are being transformed into
the same image from one degree of glory to another.”5

“Those whom God foreknew he also predestined to be con-
formed to the image of his Son.”6

This transformation into the image of Christ is shown in the
scriptures in the lives of believers, and in particular in those who su?er
for Christ. The martyrdom of St Stephen, as described in the Acts of

2 1 Corinthians 15:22
3 1 Corinthians 6:14-15
4 Philippians 3:21
5 2 Corinthians 3:18
6 Romans 8:29

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