A. 9 - The Holy Catholic Church

We see that in a man there is one soul and one body, and of his body there are many members. (Parallel texts: ST II-II.81.8; III.8.1 and following; ST Supplement 83.3, ad 2.) So also the Catholic Church is one body and has different members. The soul which animates this body is the Holy Spirit. (Parallel texts: ST II-II.1.9, s.c.; ST Supplement, q. 25, a. 1, s.c. 2.) Hence, after confessing our faith in the Holy Spirit, we are bid to believe in the Holy Catholic Church. Thus, in the Creed it is said: the Holy Catholic Church.

It must be known that Church is the same as assembly. So, the holy Church is the same as the assembly of the faithful, and every Christian is a member of this Church, of which it is written: draw near to me, you unlearned, and gather yourselves together into the house of discipline (Sir 51:31).

The holy Church has four essential conditions: she is one, she is holy, she is Catholic, that is, universal, and she is strong and firm.

Of the first, it must be known that although various heretics have founded various sects, they do not belong to the Church, since they are divided into parts: but the Church is one: one is my dove, my perfect one (Song 6:8). (Parallel texts: ST II-II.39.1; 2, ad 2.) The unity of the Church arises from three sources.

The first is the unity of faith. (Parallel texts: ST III.35.7, ad 3; 49.1; 64.1, ad 2; 64.2, ad 3; 66.10, s.c.; 72.12, s.c.; 73.3; ST Supplement, q. 25, a. 1, s.c. 2; q. 29, a. 3, s.c. 2; q. 40, a. 61; q. 65, a. 1; q. 66, a. 3; a. 5, ad 2; q. 77, a. 2; q. 95, a. 3, ad 1; SCG IV.76, 83.) All Christians who are of the body of the Church believe the same doctrine. I beseech you that you all speak the same thing and that there be no schisms among you (1 Cor 1:10); and: one Lord, one faith, one baptism (Eph 4:5).

The second is the unity of hope. All are strengthened in one hope of arriving at eternal life. Hence, the Apostle says: one body and one Spirit, as you are called in one hope of your calling (Eph 4:4).

The third is the unity of charity. All are joined together in the love of God and of each other in mutual love: and the glory which you hast given me, I have given them; that they may be one, as we also are one (John 17:22). It is clear that this is a true love when the members are solicitous for one another and sympathetic towards each other: we should in every way grow up in him who is the head, Christ, from whom the whole body, being joined and fit together, by every joint with which it is supplied, when each part is working properly, makes bodily growth and builds itself up in charity (Eph 4:15–16). This is because each one ought to make use of the grace God grants him, and be of service to his neighbor. No one ought to be indifferent to the Church, or allow himself to be cut off and expelled from it; for there is but one Church in which men are saved, just as outside of the ark of Noah no one could be saved.

Concerning the second mark, holiness, it must be known that there is indeed another assembly, but it consists of the wicked: I hate the assembly of the wicked (Ps 26 [25]:5). But such a one is evil. The Church of Christ, however, is holy: for the temple of God is holy, which you are (1 Cor 3:17). Hence, it is said: the holy Church.

The faithful of this Church are made holy because of three things. (Thus reads the Latin text, although four things are listed below.)

The first is because, just as a church is cleansed materially when it is consecrated, so also the faithful are washed in the blood of Christ: who hath loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood (Rev 1:5); that he might sanctify the people by his blood, he suffered outside the gate (Heb 13:12).

The second is from anointing, because just as there is the anointing of the church, so also the faithful are anointed with a spiritual unction in order to be sanctified. Otherwise, they would not be Christians, for Christ is the same as the Anointed One. This anointing is the grace of the Holy Spirit: he who confirms us with you in Christ and who has anointed us, is God (2 Cor 1:21); and: you are sanctified in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor 6:11).

The third is from the indwelling of the Trinity, for wherever God dwells, that place is holy: the place where you stand is holy (Gen 28:16); and: holiness befits your house, O Lord (Ps 93 [92]:5).

The fourth is due to the invocation of God: but you, Lord, are among us, and your name is called upon by us; forsake us not (Jer 14:9). Let us, therefore, beware, seeing that we are thus sanctified, lest by sin we defile our soul which is the temple of God: But if any man violates the temple of God, him shall God destroy (1 Cor 3:16–17).

Concerning the third mark, it should be known that the Church is Catholic, that is, universal.

First, it is universal in place, because it is worldwide. This is contrary to the error of the Donatists. Your faith is spoken of in the whole world (Rom 1:8); go into the whole world and preach the Gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15). Long ago, indeed, God was known only in Judea (see Ps 76 [75]:2). Now, however, he is known throughout the entire world. The Church has three parts: one is on earth, one is in heaven, and one is in purgatory.

Second, the Church is universal in regard to all the conditions of mankind. For no exceptions are made, neither master nor servant, neither man nor woman: neither male nor female (Gal 3:28).

Third, it is universal in time. Some have said that the Church will exist only up to a certain time. But this is false, for the Church began to exist in the time of Abel and will endure up to the end of the world: behold, I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world (Matt 28:20). Moreover, even after the end of the world, it will continue to exist in heaven.

Concerning the fourth mark, it should be known that the Church is firm. A house is said to be firm first, if it has a solid foundation. The principal foundation of the Church is Christ: for other foundation no men can lay but that which is laid, which is Christ Jesus (1 Cor 3:11). The secondary foundation, however, is the apostles and their teaching. Therefore, the Church is firm. Hence, it is said that the city has twelve foundations, and therein were written the names of the twelve apostles (Rev 21:14). From this, the Church is called apostolic. Likewise, to indicate this firmness of the Church, St. Peter is called the crowning head.

Second, the firmness of a house is evident if, when it is violently struck, it does not fall. The Church similarly can never be destroyed, neither by persecution nor by error. Indeed, the Church grew during the persecutions, and those who persecuted her, as well as those whom she threatened, completely failed: and whoever falls upon this stone, shall be broken; but on whomever it falls, it shall grind him to powder (Matt 21:44). As regards errors, indeed, the more errors arise, the more surely truth is made to appear: men corrupt in mind, reprobate in faith; but they shall proceed no further (2 Tim 3:8); nor will the Church be destroyed by the temptations of the demons. For she is like a tower towards which all flee who war against the devil: the name of the Lord is a strong tower (Prov 18:10). The devil, therefore, is chiefly intent on destroying the Church, but he will not succeed, for the Lord has said: the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Matt 16:18); as if he said: “they will make war against you, but they will not overcome you.” And thus it is that only the Church of Peter (to whom it was given to evangelize Italy when the disciples were sent to preach) was always firm in faith. On the contrary, in other parts of the world there is either no faith at all or faith mixed with many errors. The Church of Peter flourishes in faith and is free from error. This, however, is not to be wondered at, for the Lord has said to Peter: but I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not (Luke 22:32).