those to whom they preach
to listen and obey. "Whosoever will not receive you, nor hear your words,
going forth from that house or city, shake the dust from your feet. Amen,
I say to you, it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and
Gomorrha in the day of judgment than for that city."(121) "If he will not
hear the Church, let him be to thee as the heathen and the publican."(122)
"He that believeth shall be saved; he that believeth not shall be
condemned."(123) "He that heareth you heareth Me; he that despiseth you
despiseth Me; and he that despiseth Me despiseth Him that sent Me."(124)

From these passages we see, on the one hand, that the Apostles and their
successors have received full powers to announce the Gospel; and on the
other, that their hearers are obliged to listen with docility and to obey
not merely by an external compliance, but also by an internal assent of
the intellect. If, therefore, the Catholic Church could preach error,
would not God Himself be responsible for the error? And could not the
faithful soul say to God with all reverence and truth: Thou hast commanded
me, O Lord, to hear Thy Church; if I am deceived by obeying her, Thou art
the cause of my error?

But we may rest assured that an all-wise Providence who commands His
Church to speak in His name will so guide her in the path of truth that
she shall never lead into error those that follow her teachings.

But as this privilege of Infallibility was a very extraordinary favor, our
Savior confers it on the rulers of His Church in language which removes
all doubt from the sincere inquirer, and under circumstances which add to
the majesty of His word. Shortly before His death Jesus consoles His
disciples by this promise: "I will ask the Father, and He shall give you
another Paraclete, _that He may abide with you forever_.... But when He,
the Spirit of truth, shall come, _He will teach you all truth_."(125)

The following text of the same import forms the concluding words recorded
of our Savior in St. Matthew's Gospel: "All power is given to Me in heaven
and on earth. Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, ... teaching them
to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And behold I am
with you all days, even to the consummation of the world."(126)

He begins by asserting His own Divine authority and mission. "All power is
given," etc. That power He then delegates to His Apostles and to their
successors: "Go ye, therefore, and