Analogies for "subsists"

[TommyWommy]

From:

vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decree_19641121_unitatis-redintegratio_en.html

“We believe that this unity subsists in the Catholic Church as something she can never lose, and we hope that it will continue to increase until the end of time.”

I’m looking for analogies to illustrate the concept of “subsists.” The non-Catholic Christians (i,e, ecclesial communities) are part of the One True Church which subsists within the Catholic Church.

sub·sist   /səbˈsɪst/ Show Spelled[suhb-sist] Show IPA
–verb (used without object)

1. to exist; continue in existence.
2. to remain alive; live, as on food, resources, etc.
3. to have existence in, or by reason of, something.
4. to reside, lie, or consist (usually fol. by in ).
5. Philosophy .
   a. to have timeless or abstract existence, as a number, relation, etc.
   b. to have existence, esp. independent existence.
   –verb (used with object)
6. to provide sustenance or support for; maintain

One analogy I have heard is that the Catholic Church is like the trunk of the tree, while the eccclesial communities are like branches. The branches are alive by reason of the trunk. Although this seems an imperfect analogy since the trunk also receives life by reason of the branches’ leaves absorbing sunlight and carbon dioxide.

What others can you think of?

 

[DCNBILL]

abides (to abide in) To stand within

 

[TommyWommy]

abides (to abide in) To stand within

Ok. I think “abides” is more of a synonym than an analogy. Can you think of examples of things in life/nature that subsist or stand within something else? Things that are alive by reason of something else?

 

[DCNBILL]

The clown fish abides within the sea anemone in a symbiotic relationship.