The Catholic Church cannot be overthrown. When, at the time of the conflict between the Catholic Church and the civil authorities in Germany, the Church was grievously persecuted, a Protestant, meeting a Catholic priest remarked triumphantly: “The Catholic Church is in sore straits; it will soon be at its last gasp. The priest quickly replied: “You are quite right, sir. So it always has been, and so it always will be.” The Protestant, astonished at this unexpected answer, begged the priest to explain himself. The clergyman answered: “In the end of St. Matthew’s gospel, the last verse says; ‘Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the world.’ These words from Our Lord’s lips are the solace and trust of Catholics.”
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