St. Philip Neri, Confessor

Baltimore track

Baltimore Catechism No. 3

Lesson 12 — On the Attributes and Marks of the Church

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. God has appointed the Church to be our guide to salvation and we must accept its teaching us our infallible rule of faith.

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.