I said that water and blood symbolized baptism and the holy eucharist. From these two sacraments the Church is born: from baptism, “the cleansing water that gives rebirth and renewal through the Holy Spirit,” and from the holy eucharist. Since the symbols of baptism and the eucharist flowed from [Christ’s] side, it was from his side that Christ fashioned the Church, as he had fashioned Eve from the side of Adam. As God took a rib from Adam’s side to fashion a woman, so Christ has given us blood and water from his side to fashion the Church. God took the rib when Adam was in a deep sleep, and in the same way Christ gave us the blood and the water after his own death. Do you understand , then, how Christ has united his bride to himself and what food he gives us all to eat?

—John Chrysostom, Catechesis 3