Defending the Catholic Faith these days can sometimes be a real challenge, especially in the secular society we live in today. Often we are confronted by others who challenge us - and our faith. Nowadays, we often come unprepared and without an answer to defend ourselves. Through this series I will explain some of the toughest questions - which we are often unprepared for - and how to answer them according to the Catholic Faith and its teachings.

As Catholics this is one of the questions we are most often asked. With so many different religions and denominations out there how are we to convince others that we are the true Church of Christ? More than often we are asked this by our protestant neighbors, who are often very familiar with the Bible. Using the Bible will be one of the key points in defending this particular area of the faith.

The short answer would be “Because we alone have the four marks Holy Scripture says His Church must bear” but that just will not do it. You will need to go into further detail, and explain these four marks and their meanings. To start off we should know what these four marks are; they are One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic. What does that mean though?

To start off with, the Catholic Church is one. This is because every member of the Church - the laity and the clergy - has the same sacrifice and sacraments, and we are all united under one and the same visible head, the Pope. Christ has only and always intended for there to be only one Church. As He said in John 10:16, “And other sheep I have that are not of this fold. Them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd.”

Holiness is the second of the four marks of the Holy Church. The fact that our Church was founded by Jesus Christ Himself makes this self-evident. Christ has told us that He will never allow for His Church to fall or to enter into error. This means that every doctrine the Church teaches is true and holy. Further proof of the Church’s holiness lies in the fact it is the only religion to have miracles. God would obviously not work miracles for false religions and denominations. Miracles such as those worked inside the Holy Catholic Church obviously prove to one that we are a holy Church.

Third, we are a Catholic Church. Well what does that mean? Catholic is another word for universal; the Church, destined to exist for all of time, is universal as it continues to follow Christ’s command to “Go into the whole world and preach the gospel to every creature.” Even to this day the Church continues to preach the Word to people of all races in all nations, no matter how remote the location.

That the Church is Apostolic, is the fourth, and final mark of the Church. Of Jesus’ twelve Apostles, Peter was chosen to be the Pope, or head, of the Holy Catholic Church. The other ten (Judas is not included) were the first bishops of the Church. Since then, each has handed down their authority - in an unbroken line - to another disciple who did the same when his time came and so on. One could trace any of the current bishops, or the Pope, back to the original disciples and St. Peter himself. No other Church or denomination has this same marking; all other Christian denominations have been founded by regular individuals who had no authority to renounce the doctrines taught, let alone start his own Church!