I. How small and insignificant was the Church in its origin! Twelve poor fishermen and a handful of disciples, how should they convert the world? But protected and strengthened by their divine Master, the Christian community continually increased, in spite of the bloody persecutions, in the course of which the all-powerful rulers of the mighty Roman Empire caused hundreds and thousands of the Church's children to be slain. After the lapse of a few brief centuries the Roman Empire was shattered to pieces, but the Church had conquered the world.
Fresh enemies arose; heresiarchs appeared and strove to rob the Church of the true faith, or at least to falsify it. They were often most learned and talented men, protected by princes, kings, and emperors. At first they counted a great number of adherents, they endeavored to found churches of their own; but the protection and blessing of the Saviour was not with them but with His own Church; hence their work came to nothing.
Thus has it ever been, down to the present day, and thus will it continue to be until time shall be no more; all who repudiate or attack the faith of the Church, cast themselves headlong into the raging billows of a stormy ocean, and cause their own destruction upon the rock of the Church. Yes, verily, the Church is a rock in mid-ocean, and this rock is indestructible. because the Catholic Church is the sole possessor of the true faith, and is infallible in proclaiming it.
II. For the infallibility of the Church as a teacher the word of Christ Himself is pledged. He has made to her a threefold promise.
In the first place, He promised that He would remain with the Church "even to the consummation of the world." Shortly before His ascension, He said to the apostles: "Going, therefore, teach all nations . . . and behold, I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world." These words are not addressed to the apostles as private individuals, for otherwise they would be meaningless, since before the close of the first century all the apostles had died, not excepting John. If, therefore, Christ promised to remain with His apostles even to the consummation of the world, it follows that the college of the apostles, that is the Church in her office as teacher, must continue to exist through all centuries. And if Christ, who is eternal truth, remains with the Church, her teaching must necessarily be infallible. For He does not remain with her in order to teach her error. Rather does He intend to signify, by making use of the words we have quoted above, that He will protect her from all error.
III. Christ promised, in the second place, that the Spirit of truth should ever abide with the Church. "I will ask the Father, and He shall give you another Paraclete, that He may abide with you forever, the Spirit of truth. . . . He will teach you all things."
In these words Jesus promises that the Holy Ghost should so assist the apostles and their successors in their office as teachers that they should only proclaim the true doctrines of Christ. How can those be right who assert that the Church can err, and has already erred; for in that case the Spirit of truth would have departed from her, the promise of Christ would not be fulfilled, and His divinity would be at an end! Let him who can overthrow this argument!
IV. In the third place, Jesus promised: "The gates (the power) of hell shall not prevail against it (the Church)." This power of hell, namely, the devil, would certainly overcome, i.e., prevail against the Church, if she would act in accordance with his will and desire. Before all else, however, he wills and desires that the Church should lose the true doctrines of Christ, whereby men are to be saved, and should teach what is false. As soon as he could succeed in bringing this about, he would prevail against the Church. But he can not conquer her, because of the promise of the Saviour; hence it follows that the Church can never err in matters of faith and morals; she must necessarily be infallible.
V. But as far as you, my dear young friend, are concerned, what follows from the fact of the Church's infallibility? This especially: make it your constant endeavor to became better acquainted with the true doctrine of the Catholic Church. How much mischief has resulted in the case of individuals, as well as in that of whole families, communities, and states, from the fact that they were in ignorance, either willful or otherwise, of the true doctrine of the Church. Seek, therefore, a thorough explanation, a clear understanding of all that is taught by the infallible Church. This is more especially necessary in the days in which our lot is cast.
Come, Holy Ghost, Creator, come,
From Thy bright, heavenly throne;
Come, take possession of our souls,
And make them all Thy own.
O! quite our minds with Thy blest light,
With love our hearts inflame;
And with Thy strength, which ne'er decays,
Confirm our mortal frame.
Far from us drive our hellish foe,
True peace unto us bring;
And through all perils lead us safe,
Beneath Thy sacred wing."
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