Before I address the use of votive candles in particular, we have to appreciate the symbolism of light and the general usage of candles in religious practice.
What is the Church's teaching regarding suicide? I always thought suicide was a mortal sin, so how is it that a person can be buried in the Church?
Recall that in two previous issues, we have examined our belief concerning the sacrament of marriage and the beautiful expression of marital love, which is both unitive and procreative. Both dimensions are intrinsically good and inherent to the act of marriage. Consequently, in marital love, one cannot separate the unitive from the procreative dimension.
My friend and I were having a discussion over whether a person who cannot have children can get married in the Catholic Church. What does the Church teach on this?
In the reports of the pope's recent visit to Austria, I read comments about the use of lay people in various ministries and how the Vatican issued a statement concerning them. As an elderly Catholic, I have always questioned the use of lay people helping with Holy Communion. What is the proper use of the laity as Eucharistic Ministers?
Incense is an aromatic substance which is the resin from certain trees.
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 m. Is this right?
Why is the Precious Blood almost never distributed at Mass? By not distributing the Precious Blood, the priest would seem to be disregarding the command that our Lord gave us when He initiated the Eucharist at the Last Supper: "Take and eat: this is my Body. Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them saying, Drink from it all of you, for this is my Blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins."
I have a friend who belongs to the Seventh Day Adventists, and they have their worship service on Saturday. She and I had a discussion over what was proper Saturday or Sunday. I said that Sunday was the proper day of worship because Jesus rose from the dead on Sunday. What else could I say?
Recently, a friend invited me to join the Masons. What are the Masons? Are Catholics allowed to belong to this organization?
