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 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!

4. 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.

5. 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  become  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  wilful or otherwise,  of  the  true  doctrine  of  the  Church. Seek, therefore,  a  thorough  explanation,  a  clear