Consider what this means. A good earthly husband does not marry his bride and then disappear, leaving her to find her own way through every danger. He protects her. He watches over her when the night is dark. He remains faithful when circumstances are difficult. When the beauty of youth disappears and fades, when the smooth skin is replaced by the wrinkles of stress and time, does a husband forsake his wife? No! And if even imperfect human love can do such things, how much more shall Christ, whose love is perfect?

Our Lord calls the Church His Bride. He did not purchase her with silver or gold, but with His own Blood. It would be strange indeed to imagine that He would then abandon her to the storms of history. The Catholic believes that the same Christ who died for His Bride continues to care for her, just as honorable, virtuous man would, yet infinitely more . He guards her through His grace, teaches her through His truth, and guides her through the shepherds He has appointed.

This does not mean that every Pope will be a saint, or that every decision made by a Churchman will be wise. The apostles themselves were imperfect men. Peter denied his Lord before becoming the rock upon which the Church was built. The wonder is precisely that Christ can preserve His Bride through imperfect servants. The security of the Church rests ultimately not upon the holiness of popes, bishops, or laymen, but upon the faithfulness of Christ.

History may batter the Church, but it cannot become her master. Kings may rise and fall. Philosophies may become fashionable and then vanish. Nations may rage against her, and even her own children may wound her through sin and scandal. Yet the Bridegroom remains.

Jesus is the perfect husband. When Christ promised, “The gates of hell shall not prevail against it,” He was not making a poetic suggestion. He was giving His Bride a promise. So now here we are, 2000 years later since the founding of this Church – still standing strong.