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has chosen the passage from our Lord s discourse after
the Last Supper in which He pronounces these myster
"
ious words : A little while, and now you shall not see
me : and again a little while, and you
shall see me.
These words were not understood by His hearers. Ac
cording to commentators they may be understood in
two ways : 1st. they predict the approaching death of
Jesus and His Resurrection which was to follow after
three days ; 2nd. they also predict the Ascension of our
Lord and His departure from this earth, and then His
second coming at the end of time. The interval which
separates these two events being but a brief moment
when compared with eternity.
In the Collect we pray that all those who have gone
astray in the paths of error may obtain the grace to re
turn to the truth. The end and aim of the Church
which our Lord has established for the interval between
His first and second Coming is to facilitate this return
of the wanderers. Hence our Lord has endowed His
Church with FOUR SPECIAL MARKS by
which she is
easily recognised. These are : Unity in her Founder, her
visible head, her doctrine, and her end. 2nd, The
holiness of the efficacious means which she uses to
sanctify men and to raise them to the highest perfection.
3rd, Catholicity because she has the power of extend
ing throughout all places and all ages. 4th, Apostolicity
or the legitimate succession of her pastors which
descends uninterruptedly from the first apostles chosen
by our Lord. The Church of Rome alone unites in her
self these four marks : she is one in her creed and her
visible head who is invested with power to teach and to
govern without fear of error. She is holy
in her
Sacraments and in their effects in souls ; she unceas
ingly peoples heaven with new saints- She is Catholic