122. Q. Which are the attributes of the Church?A. The attributes of the Church are three: authorityinfallibility, and indefectibility. 123. Q. What do you mean by the authorityof the Church?A. By the authority of the Church I mean the right and powerwhich the Pope and the bishops, as the successors of the Apostles, have to teach and to govern the faithful. 124. Q. What do you mean by the infallibility of theChurch?A. By the infallibility of the Church I mean that the Churchcannot err when it teaches a doctrine of faith or morals. 125. Q. When does the Church teach infallibly?A. The Church teaches infallibly when it speaks throughthe Pope and the bishops, united in general council, or through the Pope alone when he proclaims to all the faithful a doctrine of faith or morals. 126. Q. What o you mean by the indefectibility ofthe Church?A. By the indefectibility of the Church I mean that theChurch, as Christ founded it, will last till the end of time. 127. Q. In whom are these attributes found in theirfullness?A. These attributes are found in their fullness in the Pope,the visible Head of the Church, whose infallible authority to teach bishops, priests, and people in matters of faith or morals will last till the end of the world. 128. Q. Has the Church any marks by which itmay be known?A. The Church has four marks by which it may be known:it is One; it is Holy; it is Catholic; it is Apostolic. 129. Q. How is the Church One?A. The Church is One because all its members agree inone faith, are all in one communion, and are all under one Head. 130. Q. How is the Church Holy?A. The Church is Holy because its founder, Jesus Christ, isholy; because it teaches a holy doctrine; invites all to a holy life; and because of the eminent holiness of so many thousands of its children. 131. Q. How is the Church Catholic or universal?A. The Church is Catholic or universal because it subsistsin all ages, teaches all nations, and maintains all truth. 132. Q. How is the Church Apostolic?A. The Church is Apostolic because it was founded byChrist on His Apostles, and is governed by their lawful successors, and because it has never ceased, and never will cease, to teach their doctrine. 133. Q. In which Church are these attributesand marks found?A. These attributes and marks are found in theHoly Roman Catholic Church alone. 134. Q. From whom does the Church derive its undyinglife and infallible authority?A. The Church derives its undying life and infallible authorityfrom the Holy Ghost, the spirit of truth, who abides with it forever. 135. Q. By whom is the Church made and kept One, Holy, andCatholic?A. The Church is made and kept One, Holy, and Catholic by theHoly Ghost, the spirit of love and holiness, who unites and sanctifies its members throughout the world. |
The Official blog of the Office of the Latin Mass Society Regional Representative for the Catholic Diocese of East Anglia
Tuesday 14 February 2012
ON THE ATTRIBUTES AND MARKS OF THE CHURCH
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