From whom does Christ derive his human nature?

In Mary, we contemplate a true maternity that transports us into a divine and superhuman sphere. Mary conceives Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit, and she gives birth to him in a miraculous way. These marvels take nothing away from her motherhood: she is the true mother of the true Son of God.

She is even more than an ordinary mother—while all children derive their origin from a father and a mother—Jesus owes his human nature to his mother alone. And while all children bear the mixed resemblance of their father and mother, Jesus’ features appeared as a pure reproduction of Mary’s features, with a stamp of virility and divine splendor.

Jesus, who because he is God is of the same substance as the Father, not only chose to take Mary’s features, but also her character.

Mary was the Beloved woman of the Song of Songs, and Jesus the Beloved man. Mary’s soul was an embalmed paradise, in which Jesus rested from the ingratitude of men.

Excerpt from a talk given by Dom Louis-Marie Spick

In Chaque jour avec Marie dans la sainte Espérance (Living in Holy Hope Every Day with Mary), December 29, p. 94

Hermitage of Saint–Evroul Notre-Dame-du-Bois, France