Why was Eve formed from Adam's Rib?

In a new feature, messages from the Holy Father will be featured on a regular basis. These words of wisdom will include quotes from addresses by the Holy Father along with a link to learn more about the full text and context of the address.

This installment is from the Holy Father's Wednesday Audience on December 30, 2009. His address focused on Peter Lombard and the impact that this Twelfth Century theologian had and continues to have especially through his seminal work known as The Sentences. In this quote, Benedict XVI illustrates the reason that here is still interest today in Peter Lombard's work.

"Inspired by St Augustine's Commentary on the Book of Genesis, Peter wonders why woman was created from man's rib and not from his head or his feet. And Peter explains: 'She was formed neither as a dominator nor a slave of man but rather as his companion' (Sentences 3, 18, 3). Then, still on the basis of the Patristic teaching he adds: 'The mystery of Christ and of the Church is represented in this act. Just as, in fact, woman was formed from Adam's rib while he slept, so the Church was born from the sacraments that began to flow from the side of Christ, asleep on the Cross, that is, from the blood and water with which we are redeemed from sin and cleansed of guilt' (Sentences 3, 18, 4). These are profound reflections that still apply today when the theology and spirituality of Christian marriage have considerably deepened the analogy with the spousal relationship of Christ and his Church."

-- Wednesday Audience, December 30, 2009.

From Zenit.