LESSON TWELFTH: On the Attributes and Marks of the Church

Q. 517. What is an attribute?
A. An attribute is any characteristic or quality that a person or thing may be said to have. All perfections or imperfections are attributes

Q. 518. What is a mark?
A. A mark is a given and known sign by which a thing can be distinguished from all others of its kind. Thus a trademark is used to distinguish the article bearing it from all imitations of the same article.

Q. 519. How do we know that the Church must have the four marks and three attributes usually ascribed or given to it?
A. We know that the Church must have the four marks and three attributes usually ascribed or given to it from the words of Christ given in the Holy Scripture and in the teaching of the Church from its beginning.

Q. 520. Can the Church have the four marks without the three attributes?
A. The Church cannot have the four marks without the three attributes, because the three attributes necessarily come with the marks and without them the marks could not exist.

Q. 521. Why are both marks and attributes necessary in the Church?
A. Both marks and attributes are necessary in the Church, for the marks teach us its external or visible qualities, while the attributes teach us its internal or invisible qualities. It is easier to discover the marks than the attributes; for it is easier to see that the Church is one than that it is infallible.

Q. 522. Which are the attributes of the Church?
A. The attributes of the Church are three:
1.authority, infallibility, and indefectibility.

Q. 523. What is authority?
A. Authority is the power which one person has over another so as to be able to justly exact obedience. Rulers have authority over their subjects, parents over their children, and teachers over their scholars.

Q. 524. From whom must all persons derive whatever lawful authority they possess?
A. All persons must derive whatever lawful authority they possess from God Himself, from whom they receive it directly or indirectly. Therefore, to disobey our lawful superiors is to disobey God Himself, and hence such disobedience is always sinful.

Q. 525. What do you mean by the authority of the Church?
A. By the authority of the Church I mean the right and power which the Patriarchs and the Bishops, as the successors of the Apostles, have to teach and to govern the faithful.

Q. 526. What do you mean by the infallibility of the Church?
A. By the infallibility of the Church I mean that the Church can not err when it teaches a doctrine of faith or morals.

Q. 527. What do we mean by a "doctrine of faith or morals"?
A. By a doctrine of faith or morals we mean the revealed teaching that refers to whatever we must believe and do in order to be saved.

Q. 528. How do you know that the Church can not err?
A. I know that the Church can not err because Christ promised that the Holy Ghost would remain with it forever and save it from error. If, therefore, the Church has erred, the Holy Ghost must have abandoned it and Christ has failed to keep His promise, which is a thing impossible.

Q. 529. Since the Church can not err, could it ever be reformed in its teaching of faith or morals?
A. Since the Church can not err, it could never be reformed in its teaching of faith or morals. Those who say the Church needed reformation in faith or morals accuse Our Lord of falsehood and deception.

Q. 530. When does the Church teach infallibly?
A. The Church teaches infallibly when it speaks through the Patriarchs and Bishops united in a general council of the entire Church.

Q. 531. What is necessary that the Church may speak infallibly or ex-cathedra?
A. That the Church may speak infallibly, or ex-cathedra:
1. It must speak on a subject of faith or morals;
2. It must speak as the the Body of Christ, His Kingdom on Earth, and to the whole Church;
3. It must indicate by certain words, such as, we define, we proclaim, etc., that it intends to speak infallibly.

Q. 532. Are the Patriarchs and Bishops infallible in everything they say and do?
A. The Patriarchs and Bishops are not infallible in everything they say and do, because the Holy Ghost was not promised to make them infallible in everything, but only in matters of faith and morals for the whole Church when they meet in Council of the whole Church. Nevertheless, the Patriarchs' and Bishops' opinions on any subject deserve our greatest respect on account of their learning, experience and dignity.

Q. 533. Can Patriarchs and Bishops commit sin?
A. Patriarchs and Bishops can commit sin and they must seek forgiveness in the Sacrament of Penance as others do. Infallibility as members of a Council of the Church does not prevent them from sinning, but from teaching falsehood when they speaks in the voice of one in Council.

Q. 534. What does ex-cathedra mean?
A. "Cathedra" means a seat, and "ex" means out of. Therefore, ex-cathedra means speaking from the seat or official place held by the Apostles and their successors as princes of the Church.
Roman Catholics mean something different when they use the term ex-cathedra: they mean that the Roman Pope speaks from the Chair of St. Peter as head of the whole Church, but they are wrong for St. Peter's Chair and the Church he founded is at Antioch. This mistake by Roman Catholics stems from the Great Schism of 1054 AD.

Q. 535. Why is the chief Church in a diocese called a Cathedral?
A. The chief Church in a diocese is called a Cathedral because the bishop's cathedra, that is, his seat or throne, is erected in it, and because he celebrates all important feasts and performs all his special duties in it.

Q. 536. Has the Church always had Bishops?
A. The Church has always had Bishops, which means "elder" and "leader". The Apostles were the first Bishops. As the Church spread from Jerusalem, more Bishops were consecrated. As more people became Christians in each area, and the Bishops needed assistance but more Bishops were not needed, men were ordained Priests and Deacons, having some but not all of the authority of a Bishop.

Q. 537. Have there ever been Bishops who were evil?
A. Unfortunately, there have been Bishops who were evil. These are men who have been validly consecrated Bishop, but who do and teach what they want rather than what Jesus Christ teaches and does.

Q. 538. Why must the Bishops sometimes warn us on political and other matters?
A. The Bishops must sometimes warn us on political and other matters, because whatever nations or men do is either good or bad, just or unjust, and wherever a Bishop discovers falsehood, wickedness or injustice he must speak against it and defend the truths of faith and morals. He must protect also the temporal rights and property of the Church committed to his care.

Q. 539. What do we mean by the "temporal power" of a Bishop?
A. By the temporal power of a Bishop we mean the right which a Bishop has as a temporal or ordinary ruler or owner to govern the states and manage the properties that have rightfully come into the possession of the Church, but to do so on behalf of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the true Ruler and Owner.

Q. 540. How do Bishops acquire and how are they deprived of the temporal power?
A. A Bishop can only rightfully aqcuire temporal power in a just manner by the consent of those who had a right to bestow it. He can be deprived of it in an unjust manner by political changes, or by his own mismanagement, but is never allowed to voluntarily abrogate or diminish such power.

Q. 541. How is the temporal power useful to the Church?
A. The temporal power is useful to the Church:
1. Because it gave Bishops the complete independence necessary for the government of the Church and for the defense of truth and virtue.
2. It enables them to do much for the spread of the true religion by giving alms for the establishment and support of Churches and schools in poor or pagan countries.

Q. 542. How does the Church survive financially?
A. The Church survives financially bu the donations made by every member of the Church, and very often by the Bishops, Priests, Deacons and other Clergy working just like everyone else in their community and supporting the Church with their personal income, just as St. Paul supported the Church with the income he earned workeing as a weaver and tent maker.

Q. 543. What do you mean by the indefectibility of the Church?
A. By the indefectibility of the Church I mean that the Church, as Christ founded it, will last till the end of time.

Q. 544. What is the difference between the infallibility and indefectibility of the Church?
A. When we say the Church is infallible we mean that it can never teach error while it lasts; but when we say the Church is indefectible, we mean that it will last forever and be infallible forever; that it will always remain as Our Lord founded it and never change the doctrines He taught.

Q. 545. Did Our Lord Himself make all the laws of the Church?
A. Our Lord Himself did not make all the laws of the Church. He gave the Church also power to make laws to suit the needs of the times, places or persons as it judged necessary.

Q. 546. Can the Church change its laws?
A. The Church can, when necessary, change the laws it has itself made, but it cannot change the laws that Christ has made. Neither can the Church change any doctrine of faith or morals.

Q. 547. In whom are these attributes found in their fullness?
A. These attributes are found in their fullness in the General and Ecumenical Councils of the entire Church, and expressed through and in the Bishops, who are the visible Heads of the Church, who have authority to teach the suffragen bishops and priests under them, and people, in matters of faith or morals, and this authority will last to the end of the world.

Q. 548. Has the Church any marks by which it may 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.

Q. 549. How is the Church One?
A. The Church is One because all its members agree in one faith, are all in one communion, and are all under one head, Jesus Christ.
However, after the political problems involved in the Schism of 1054 AD, many bishops refused to allow the Sacraments to be given to persons of the opposing side, and refused to allow their laity to receive the Sacraments from the opposing side. This is wrong, for it wounds and separates the Body of Christ on earth; and our Lord will judge very harshly those who foster this separation.

Q. 550. How is it evident that the Church is one in government?
A. It is evident that the Church is one in government, for the faithful in a parish are subject to their pastors, the pastors are subject to the bishops of their dioceses, the bishops subject to their Synods, and the Synods are subject to God the Son.

Q. 551. What is meant by the Hierarchy of the Church?
A. By the Hierarchy of the Church is meant the sacred body of clerical rules who govern the Church.

Q. 552. How is it evident that the Church is one in worship?
A. It is evident that the Church is one in worship because all its members make use of the same sacrifice and receive the same Sacraments.

Q. 553. How is it evident that the Church is one in faith?
A. It is evident the Church is one in faith because all members of the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, both Orthodox Catholic and Roman Catholic, throughout the world, believe each and every article of faith proposed by the Church.

Q. 554. Could a person who denies only one article of our faith be a member of the Church?
A. A person who denies even one article of our faith could not be a member of the Church; for truth is one and we must accept it whole and entire or not at all.

Q. 555. Are there any pious beliefs and practices in the Church that are not articles of faith?
A. There are many pious beliefs and practices in the Church that are not articles of faith; that is, we are not bound under pain of sin to believe in them; yet we will often find them useful aids to holiness, and hence they are recommended by our pastors.

Q. 556. Of what sin are persons guilty who put firm belief in religious or other practices that are either forbidden or useless?
A. Persons who put a firm belief in religious or other practices that are forbidden or useless are guilty of the sin of superstition.

Q. 557. Where does the Church find the revealed truths it is bound to teach?
A. The Church finds the revealed truths it is bound to teach in the Holy Scripture and revealed traditions.

Q. 558. What is the Holy Scripture or Bible?
A. The Holy Scripture or Bible is the collection of sacred, inspired writings through which God has made known to us many revealed truths. Some call them letters from Heaven to earth, that is, from God to man.

Q. 559. What is meant by the Canon of the Sacred Scriptures?
A. The Canon of Sacred Scriptures means the list the Church has prepared to teach us what sacred writings are Holy Scripture and contain the inspired word of God.

Q. 560. Where does the Church find the revealed traditions?
A. The Church finds the revealed traditions in the decrees of its councils; in its books of worship; in its icons, paintings and inscriptions on tombs and monuments; in the lives of its Saints; the writings of its Fathers, and in its own history.

Q. 561. Must we ourselves seek in the Scriptures and traditions for what we are to believe?
A. We ourselves need not seek in the Scriptures and traditions for what we are to believe, but we should seek them in the Scriptures. God has appointed the Church to be our guide to salvation and we must accept its teaching us our infallible rule of faith. Therefore, we can learn from what the Church teaches, and if we study the Scriptures as well, we should do so under the guidance of the Church so-as-to avoid error. If we do not study the Scriptures under the guidance of the Church, then each individual may make an error in understanding, and each individual will therefore believe differently, but everyone can not have different beliefs and have each different belief be true.

Q. 562. How do we show that the Holy Scriptures alone could not be our guide to salvation and infallible rule of faith?
A. We show that the Holy Scripture alone could not be our guide to salvation and infallible rule of faith:
1. Because all men cannot examine or understand the Holy Scripture; but all can listen to the teaching of the Church;
2. Because the New Testament or Christian part of the Scripture was not written at the beginning of the Church's existence, and, therefore, could not have been used as the rule of faith by the first Christians;
3. Because there are many things in the Holy Scripture that cannot be understood without the explanation given by tradition, and hence those who take the Scripture alone for their rule of faith are constantly disputing about its meaning and what they are to believe.

Q. 563. How is the Church Holy?
A. The Church is Holy because its founder, Jesus Christ, is holy; 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.

Q. 564. How is the Church Catholic or universal?
A. The Church is Catholic or universal because it subsists in all ages, teaches all nations, and maintains all truth.

Q. 565. How do you show that the Church is universal in time, in place, and in doctrine?
A. 1. The Church is universal in time, for from the time of the Apostles to the present it has existed, taught and labored in every age;
2. It is universal in place, for it has taught throughout the whole world;
3. It is universal in doctrine, for it teaches the same everywhere, and its doctrines are suited to all classes of persons. It has converted all the pagan nations that have ever been converted.

Q. 566. Why does the Church use the national language of its children instead of one language such as the Latin language?
A. The Church uses the national language of its children because the Holy Spirit, at Pentecost, had each person hear the Apostles in their own language even though the Apostles spoke in Hebrew. This is do each individual would understand what was being said and taught.

Q. 567. How is the Church Apostolic?
A. The Church is Apostolic because it was founded by Christ on His Apostles, and is governed by their lawful successors, and because it has never ceased, and never will cease, to teach their doctrine.

Q. 568. Does the Church, by defining certain truths, thereby make new doctrines?
A. The Church, by defining, that is, by proclaiming certain truths, articles of faith, does not make new doctrines, but simply teaches more clearly and with greater effort truths that have always been believed and held by the Church.

Q. 569. What, then, is the use of defining or declaring a truth an article of faith if it has always been believed?
A. The use of defining or declaring a truth an article of faith, even when it has always been believed, is:
1.(1) To clearly contradict those who deny it and show their teaching false;
2.(2) To remove all doubt about the exact teaching of the Church, and to put an end to all discussion about the truth defined.

Q. 570. In which Church are these attributes and marks found?
A. These attributes and marks are found in the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church alone. As stated above, the Church has been severed into Orthodox and Romanl but this would must be healed by the Bishops otherwise Jesus Christ will heal it Himself and He will then "rake it over the heads of those who stand in HIs way."

Q. 571. How do you show that Protestant Churches have not the marks of the true Church?
A. Protestant Churches have not the marks of the true Church, because:
1. They are not one either in government or faith; for they have no chief head or governing coulcil which propounds unchanging doctrine, and they profess different beliefs. They often change their dogma so-as-to approve the sinful desires of the people, such as approving abortions or approving people of the same sex living together as though they were husband and wife;
2. They are not holy, because their doctrines are founded on error and lead to evil consequences;
3. They are not catholic or universal in time, place or doctrine. They have not existed in all ages nor in all places, and their doctrines do not suit all classes;
4. They are not apostolic, for they were not established until hundreds of years or even more than a thousand years after the Apostles, and they do not teach the doctrines of the Apostles.

Q. 572. From whom does the Church derive its undying life and infallible authority?
A. The Church derives its undying life and infallible authority from the Holy Ghost, the spirit of truth, who abides with it forever.

Q. 573. By whom is the Church made and kept One, Holy, and Catholic?
A. The Church is made and kept One, Holy, and Catholic by the Holy Ghost, the spirit of love and holiness, who unites and sanctifies its members throughout the world.

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