...[A] supernatural generation is made known to us by faith. Christ receives power from the Father analogously to the way the human child receives power from his genitor and is made heir of all paternal riches. Christ calls human beings to be his companions as hereditary, adoptive sons. Hence, the origin of visible and invisible ecclesial society. Divine power was communicated to Christ in a natural way that is, relative to the two natures through the generation of the Word and the Word's union with Christ's humanity. The communication of Christ's authority to other human beings is not made by a bond of nature but an act of his will called forth by the likeness of nature.
The great difference between ecclesial and civil society is seen especially in the unique, totally special mode by which ecclesial society receives its form, namely, 1. in generation of the child by the father, and 2. in adoption; in other words, in the union of the two modes natural and willed through which one person's power is communicated to another.
[Antonio Rosmini, Rights in Civil Society, The Philosophy of Right, Volume 6, Clear & Watson, trs., Durham House (Durham: 1996) p. 124.]
