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The devotion to the Infant of Prague originates in the mid-1500s.
In 1728 when Margaret of Cortona was canonized, she was held up as a model for penitent sinners. Today she is more likely to be invoked by mothers who, for whatever reason, are raising their children alone. But St. Margaret also teaches us that in most cases saints are not born, but are made. And it was more difficult for some to become saintly than for others.
The Gospel of Matthew mentions the Magi who came from the East to worship the newborn Christ child (cf. Matthew 2:1-12). Exactly who the magi were though remains somewhat of a mystery.
With the introduction of a contraceptive means (artificial or not) to the marital act, the procreative dimension is purposefully suppressed and ignored. The unitive dimension, therefore, is separated from the procreative.
Recently, when I was in the hospital, a lady came to give me the Anointing of the Sick. She said she was sanctioned by the "Healing Ministry" of my parish to do this. When a priest came to anoint me, I told him that I had been anointed by a lady from my parish. He said that lay people cannot anoint, so I did not receive the Sacrament. If my first anointing was not a sacrament, why does my parish have "healing ministers," and why can?t they anoint? ? A reader in Falls Church.
Recently, I visited some relatives in New Jersey. At their parish, they do not have regular private confessions, but a service where everyone prays and then the priests gives absolution. I thought this was strange, but they said "general absolution" was allowed. I am not really sure what general absolution is. Is this right? ? A reader in Arlington.
I have a tape with the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary on it that I use as a prayer aid daily. In the litany are some phrases I don?t get, like Tower of David, House of God, Ark of the Covenant, Tower of Ivory, Mystical Rose, Morning Star and Star of the Sea. In this month of May, could you please explain them? ? A reader in Alexandria
