Page:TheYoungMansGuide.djvu/63

 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.

2. 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.

3. Christ  promised,  in  the  second  place,  that the Spirit  of  truth  should  ever  abide  with  the Church. He said  to  the  apostles  and  their  successors: "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."