While Jesus is the Thought of God, divine Wisdom, why is he also said to be the Word of God?

Hello Father Angelo,

I am writing to once again benefit from your valuable service in the faith (I had already asked for your help in the past) to pose two further questions.

My first question is this: I know that Jesus is eternal Wisdom (as also described in Proverbs), or also the thought of God, in addition to being, of course, the only-begotten Son. But why is He also called the Word?

In the prologue of John, the meaning of Logos is translated as Word. This is also the case in the notes of the CEI Bible, and very often Jesus is referred to precisely as the Word.

I wonder why the term Word is used in reference to Jesus. Wouldn’t it be more correct to refer to the Logos (or Verbum) with the term Thought/Wisdom?

That is, to rephrase the question, why in the beginning was the Word and not in the beginning was the Thought of God/Wisdom?

What is the relationship between Word and thought/Wisdom?

My second question is this: when I was a child, I received my First Communion and have received the Eucharist many times since then, but a doubt has arisen because I was never Confirmed. Sometimes I wonder if it’s legitimate to receive Communion without the sacrament of Confirmation. Can I continue to do so? I know I should remedy this (I’m 34), but I truly hope I’ve never offended the Lord by receiving Communion. I don’t know why, but this doubt has arisen. In the meantime, I would continue to receive Communion as I always have.

I thank you in advance and wish you a peaceful Christmas season. May Our Lady bless you for the precious work you do.

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The Priest’s answer 

Dear, 

1. The Word (Verbum, in Latin) indicates both thought and word.

In fact, we speak of Verbum mentis (which means thought) and Verbum oris (which means word).

2. Therefore, they are the same reality.

When it is in the mind, it is thought.

When it is on the lips, it is word.

3. The second person of the Holy Trinity is the Word.

At this level, He is Thought.

When He communicates Himself to men, He becomes Word.

4. Jesus is divine Wisdom who becomes Word.

By becoming Word, He makes Himself known and communicates Himself to men.

5. Therefore, this is the relationship between Thought and Word.

When we say that Jesus is the Verbum, we mean His Divine Person.

When we say that Jesus is the Word, we mean the Divine Person Who takes on flesh, makes Himself seen and heard, and communicates with men.

6. Regarding the relationship between Confirmation and the Eucharist: Confirmation itself should precede the Eucharist.

For pastoral reasons, that is in order to not delay First Communion too long, at a certain moment the Eucharist began to be administered first, followed by Confirmation.

This led to Confirmation being postponed in many places even before marriage.

7. You are now 34 years old. It is only right that you prepare to receive the sacrament of Confirmation, which gives you a special strength to be a witness to Christ within the Church and before the world.

Why not benefit from this grace that the Lord wants to give you?

It is a grace and at the same time a source of merit.

Therefore, continue to receive Holy Communion, but with the commitment made before your confessor to prepare yourself to receive the sacrament that gives you strength as soon as possible.

Wishing for you a happy continuation of the Christmas holidays, I bless you.

Father Angelo

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