CATHOLIC WORD BOOK - Knights of Columbus, Supreme Council

death enjoyed by the just of pre Christian
times until they were admitted to heaven
following the Ascension of Christ.
Litany: A prayer in the form of responsive
petition; e.g., St. Joseph, pray for us, etc.
Examples are the litanies of Loreto (Litany
of the Blessed Mother), the Holy Name,
All Saints, the Sacred Heart, the Precious
Blood, St. Joseph, Litany for the Dying.
Logos: A Greek term for “word, speech, or
reason.” It is most commonly identified
with the title given to Jesus in John’s
Gospel, though not exclusive to that
Gospel; In the N.T., however, the term
reflects more the influence of Hellenistic
philosophy: St. Paul uses logos as
interchangeable with sophia, wisdom (1
Cor 1:24). The Logos is the Wisdom of God
made manifest in the Son. As a name for
the Second Person of the Trinity, the
Incarnate Word, the term receives new
meaning in the light of the life, death, and
resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Loreto, House of: A Marian shrine in
Loreto, Italy, consisting of the home of the
Holy Family which, according to an old
tradition, was transported in a miraculous
manner from Nazareth to Dalmatia and
finally to Loreto between 1291 and 1294.
Investigations conducted shortly after the
appearance of the structure in Loreto
revealed that its dimensions matched those
of the house of the Holy Family missing
from its place of enshrinement in a basilica
at Nazareth. Among the many popes who
regarded it with high honor was John
XXIII, who went there on pilgrimage Oct.
4, 1962. The house of the Holy Family is
enshrined in the Basilica of Our Lady.
Love: A devotion to a person or object that
has been categorized by Greek philosophy
into four types: storge (one loves persons
and things close to him); philia (the love of
friends); eros (sexual love and that of a
spiritual nature); agape (a self-giving to one
in need). Christian charity is love, but not
all love is true charity.
Lust: A disorderly desire for sexual
pleasure; one of the seven capital sins.
M
Magi: In the Infancy Narrative of St.
Matthew’s Gospel (2:1 12), three wise men
from the East whose visit and homage to
the Child Jesus at Bethlehem indicated
Christ’s manifestation of himself to non
Jewish people. The narrative teaches the
universality of salvation. The traditional
names of the Magi are Caspar, Melchior
and Balthasar.
Magisterium: The Church’s teaching
authority, instituted by Christ and guided
by the Holy Spirit, which seeks to
safeguard and explain the truths of the
faith. The Magisterium is exercised in two
ways. The extraordinary Magisterium is
exercised when the pope and ecumenical
councils infallibly define a truth of faith or
morals that is necessary for one’s salvation
and that has been constantly taught and
held by the Church. Ordinary
Magisterium is exercised when the Church
infallibly defines truths of the Faith as
taught universally and without dissent;
which must be taught or the Magisterium
would be failing in its duty; is connected
with a grave matter of faith or morals; and
which is taught authoritatively. Not
everything taught by the Magisterium is
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