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Labarum
A military symbol adopted by the Roman Emperor Constantine c.312 A.D. It includes the first two Greek letters of the word 'Christ' viz. chi and rho.
Laity
The laity consists of all those members of a church who are not in an ordained ministry, i.e. the clergy.
Lent
The period of forty days leading up to Easter. Traditionally Christians have fasted during this period to varying degrees. For example in the Roman Catholic church, it is customary to abstain from meat on Fridays.
Limbo
In Roman Catholic theology, an intermediate state between Heaven and Hell. Limbo may be divided into two parts:
- The Limbo of the Fathers: A place where those who died before Christ ascended into Heaven await the final judgement before ascenion into Heaven. Unlike Purgatory, it is a place of happiness.
- The Limbo of children: A place of admission for those children or newborns who are unbaptised and die without unremitted mortal sin. The Roman Catholic church has not explicitly ratified this doctrine and many incline toward its rejection.
Luther, Martin
See the entry under the Protestant reformers.
Lutheranism
See the entry under Protestant denominations.
