by Don Harrington

Candles

Lighted candles are among the oldest ornaments of worship. A very common sacramental among Catholics is the use of special lights in the form of burning candles.

Since ancient times, light has reminded people of all religions of Divine Presence, of joy, happiness, goodness, purity, life, and a spirit of celebration.

Darkness, on the other hand, has been symbolic of ignorance, sin, sadness, error, gloom, evil, and death.

In the Jewish tradition, the great festival of Hanukkah is called the Festival of Lights.

In the Christmas season one of the pervading themes is that of Christ as the Light coming into a world of darkness. And it continues today with strings of lights on Christmas trees. Those electric lights were once candles. But they weren't very safe. So maybe we're better off today.

In ancient times candles provided the only light for reading, but today they have only symbolic value.

The symbolic use of candles at Mass was probably influenced by civil practices.

High ranking officials had the privilege of being accompanied in public by a light bearer. Once Christianity had been established, it was only natural that lights, or candles eventually honor the presence of Christ himself, symbolized by the altar.

In their most basic sense they symbolize Christ as the light of the world.

Candles for use in worship should be at least 51% beeswax so that they will burn evenly and slowly.

Candles need to be stored in a cool location. They become harder as they are stored, and thus older candles will burn slower than newer ones.

Candle followers, or caps are placed over the tops of the candle to prevent melted wax from dripping down the sides of the candles. They also prolong the life of a candle. They are also very hard to keep clean. Candle followers can be cleaned by soaking them in very hot water and then wiping with paper towels, but don't pour the waxy water down the drain. For lacquered metals, soften the wax with hot air from a hair dryer, and then wipe with paper towels.

Candle Lighters

Also known as tapers......together with extinguisher are used by altar servers to light and put out the altar candles.

The Sanctuary Lamp

Most churches have a sanctuary Lamp which burns 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Sanctuary lamps follow the ancient Jewish custom of always having a light burning at the altar, and have come to symbolize God's living presence among us. It also signifies the reserved sacrament of Christ in the tabernacle.

Altar Candles

These remind us of Christ's words: "I am the light of the world, no follower of mine shall ever walk in darkness."

The two candles represent the two natures of Jesus Christ, human and divine.

They also tend to focus you attention on the altar.

Three candles refer to the Holy Trinity.

Six candles can signify several things. The six days of Creation, the six hours our Lord spent on the cross, the six attributes of the Creator: wisdom, majesty, power, love, mercy, and Justice.

It used to be that many sets of candles were used for different liturgies. Two for the celebration of Holy Communion. Six on each side for Mass, and three, five, or seven for vespers or evening services. Now in many churches only two are used for most occasions.

Candlemas Day

This day, February 2nd, is now called the Presentation of the Lord, when Joseph and Mary took the baby Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem. The Gospel for this feast proclaims that the infant Jesus will be "a revealing light to the Gentiles."

In the early Church it was celebrated with a candlelight procession. And in the 11th century it became common to bless all the candles used in the church on this day.

The Feast of Saint Blaise

The day after the old feast of Candlemas is the Feast of St. Blaise, February 3rd. This is the day we have our throats blessed.

St. Blaise was a bishop who suffered martyrdom in the 4th century. Legends say that he was a Physician before becoming a Bishop. While in prison he miraculously cured a young boy who was choking on a fish bone stuck in his throat.

He became one of the most popular saints during the Middle Ages and was always invoked as a helper in times of sickness of the throat.

The tradition of blessing the throats of parishioners with two crossed candles has been popular for centuries and the ritual prayer is:

"Through the intercession of St. Blaise, bishop and Martyr, may the Lord free you from evils of the throat, and any other evil".

The Paschal Candle

This is the resurrection symbol.

A large candle symbolic of the risen Christ. It has been used in worship since the 5th century. Some huge Paschal candles in church history have weighed three hundred pounds, and stood fifteen feet tall, because people felt that it was so important to symbolize Christ's Easter victory over sin

It is blessed and lighted at the Easter Vigil and carried into the darkened church. In some ceremonies the assisting minister sings, "The light of Christ," and the congregation replies, "Thanks be to God."  The cnadle is placed at the side of the altar until the end of the 50-day Easter season.

Traditionally it is ornamented with 5 large wax nails of incense, representing the five wounds of Christ, inserted in the form of a cross.

At the top and bottom of the shaft of the cross, the Greek letters Alpha and Omega are inscribed, symbolizing: Christ the beginning and end of all things.

Also, the figures of the current year of Salvation are inscribed in the quadrants formed be the cross.

After Pentecost the candle is brought to the Baptismal font where it is used to light the candles of newly Baptized persons.

It is also used as a symbol of resurrection in funeral liturgies.

Baptismal Candles

A small white candle is lighted from the Paschal candle during the Baptismal liturgy and presented to the baptized person ( or the parent or sponsor).

It should be lighted on each anniversary of their baptism. Just as we honor physical birth by lighting candles on birthday cakes. Baptismal candles can help us honor our spiritual rebirth. Lighting the baptismal candle from the Paschal candle helps us reinforce the important connection between Baptism and Easter.

The Advent Wreath

The Advent wreath, originated among Lutherans after the reformation. It came to America with the German immigrants.

It's a wreath on which 4 candles are placed, representing the four weeks of waiting during Advent. In our church it is suspended from the ceiling but it can also be placed on a table. Many families have Advent wreaths in their homes, and the candles are lighted for the evening meal.

There are three purple candles (representing the season of penance), and one rose candle, which is lighted on the third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday) which signals the coming joy of the birth of Christ. The first purple candle is lit on the first Sunday of Advent, and a 2nd, 3rd, and 4th is lit on following Sundays. The light from the wreath just gets brighter and brighter as Christmas draws nearer.

The wreath itself can be of any size, and it's made of evergreens. Wreaths were an ancient symbol of victory. But it also represents the long time in which people lived in darkness, waiting for the coming of the messiah, the light of the world.

Each Advent people wait once again in darkness for the coming of the Lord.

Window lights and Luminaries

Other forms of Christmas lights are also popular during this festive season. The custom of putting a candle in the window comes from 19th century Irish immigrants. It represents a beacon to light the way for Mary and Joseph and the coming of the Christ child.

In the southwest there is a custom among Hispanics to place luminaries on the sidewalks in front of their homes. Luminaries are burning candles in paper sacks filled with sand.

Votive and Vigil lights

Two kinds of burning lights which are common in many Catholic churches.

Votive lights (from the Latin "votum", "vow")..... and vigil lights (from the Latin "vigilia", "waiting", or "watching"). These are symbolic of two different purposes of prayer.

Votive lights are associated with seeking some favor from the Lord, or Mary, or a particular saint in return, usually, for some promise or vow.

Vigil lights accompany prayers of attention or waiting.