A modern dictionary of Catholic terms, both common and obscure.
Find accurate definitions of words and phrases. Imperishable
duration of the Church and her immutability until the end of
time. The First Vatican Council declared that the Church
possesses "an unconquered stability" and that, "built on a rock,
she will continue to stand until the end of time" (Denzinger
3013, 3056). The Church's indefectibility, therefore, means that
she now is and will always remain the institution of salvation,
founded by Christ. This affirms that the Church is essentially
unchangeable in her teaching, her constitution, and her liturgy.
It does not exclude modifications that do not affect her
substance, nor does it exclude the decay of individual local
churches or even whole dioceses. All items in this dictionary
are from Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal
Life. Used with permission.