How can the Church, which is visible, be an object of faith, if faith is “the evidence of things not seen?”

Although the Church has a visible manifestation, the Eucharistic assembly presided over by the bishop, extended to the parishes by the delegation of his presbyters, the grace of God which dwells in her, and in those who are sanctified in her, is not visible; and this unseen reality is properly the object of faith. As St John writes: “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that when he appears, we will be like him; for we will see him just as he is” (1Jo 3:2; see Q383, Q469).

Secondly, though visible in her earthly manifestation, the Church has an invisible dimension inasmuch as she is heavenly and transcendent, containing as a single Body the fullness of all who are in Christ through all ages.

Finally, those who constitute the visible Church on earth in every place remember those who have gone to their rest, who are members of the same mystical Body: “you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem… to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven… and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect” (Heb 12:22–23; see Q055, Q100).