The real marks of the true Church, which are visible and essential, number
four. They are: one, holy, catholic and apostolic. These marks are found in
Scripture, are based on reason and can be defended by it.
One
“I will build my Church” (St. Matt. 16:18). The true Church is founded and
built by Christ. Christ founded one Church, not many. Protestantism is not
one united body in doctrine and discipline, but a series of disparate
organizations antagonistic not only to Catholicism but also often to each
other.
“one flock, one shepherd” (St. John 10:16). The central authority of the
Pope of Rome has kept the Catholic Church united in doctrine and
discipline since the days of the Roman Empire. Protestantism continues to
splinter with the advent of each new self-appointed “prophet” or minister
who claims to hold the true meaning of Scripture.
Holy
“And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in
truth” (St. John 17:19).
The true Church will be holy in her founder, teachings and worship. There
is no guarantee that all its members will practise what she preaches as is
gathered from Our Lord’s images of the sower of the seed (St. Matt. 13:18-
23), the net enclosing the fish (St. Matt. 13:47-52), and the sheep and the
goats (St. Matt. 25:31-46). The survival of the Catholic Church—despite
the examples of half a dozen bad Popes (out of 264), and other scandals—
only reinforces the fact that the holiness of the Church derives from Christ
and Him alone. In any case, Protestantism is far from free when it comes to
scandal, and none of its founders can claim to match the holiness of any
Catholic saint, let alone Christ Himself.
Catholic
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