Candle lighting question

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AngelRose81

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For those of you who’s parishes have votive candles that parishoners can light for prayer, how much do you drop in the change collection for each candle you light?

Also, do you light one candle or more than one?

Just curious b/c I usually light more than one (if I’m saying a prayer for more than one person/intention) and I want to make sure that’s ok and if I’m putting enough money in for them to replace those candles I lit. I usually put in roughly 10-20 cents per candle. It really depends on how much change I’m carrying that day because if I don’t have any change I don’t light one because I feel bad because I know that money goes to replace the candles so I always think, “what if others don’t drop any money in, then there won’t be money in there to purchase more candles”. Stupid sounding I know!
 
It depends on the size of the candle. Also, most shrines and churches, post what a candle cost. At the National Shrine of Divie Mercy, in Stockbridge, MA, its $1.50 per candle. They’re the large candles, about 10" high.

Feel free to ask your pastor what the norm is.

Jim
 
Our parish has a “suggested donation” sign of I think $1 or $2 or something, but they’re big candles.

I think it’s nice that you want to help pay to replace the candles, but don’t drive yourself :whacky: over this. Just give what you can, when you can, and God will understand. :hug1:
 
ours are just small votives and tea light candles and when I see people light them before or after mass they usually drop some change in (they are metal coin collectors and its a big open area so its kinda loud:) ) so I’m assuming the norm for my parish is probably around $0.25 per candle because I usually only hear one big coin drop in so I guess what I’ve been doing is ok if I do a quarter or so per candle. Thanks for your quick replies!!
 
Hi,
On part of the question about lighting candles. Do you know what our local Fire Chief said to my Pastor? He said that we couldn’t have live burning candles left unattended in the church. Because it was a fire hazard. I know that’s a legitimate concern, but this year is our 60th Jubilee of our founding of our parish. And to the best of my knowledge, I’ve never heard of any problems with
the church having a fire or near fire. ( My Mom & I have lived in our
parish for over 40 years.)
So, unforunately, Father has to comply. However, He and the Parish Council are looking into the possibility of electric candles or some other form of acceptable solution. Because of this recent
decision we have boxes of 7" high candles in glass containers that
will not used. To combat the financial loss to the parish for buying
the candles, they are being sold for $2.00 ea. That way at least the people can have them for their own private and home use.
Is it sad that once again a government agency has to stick it’s
big brothereseque nose into a church’s affairs. Anyway, I thought I
share that with you.

Later people, I’m outta here.👋 :tiphat:

Peace. Pax. Pace. Paz.
 
My Church has suggested amounts…2.50 for big candle and .25 for votives…I sometimes just keep up with how many I light over the course of a month and put a 10 or 20 in there occasionally… you know, if I were to write a check I could tax deduct it, huh? don’t you think??? .
 
Hi Im from the uk and we have small candles tea light candles actually, there is a notice next to them saying candles are 10 pence each to light, my children light about three each the youngest would light more if he could hes always thinking of new things or new people to light them for, ive had to start saying well those people we will pray special for or i would have no money left and father would have no candles left:D
x
 
AngelRose81 said:
For those of you who’s parishes have votive candles that parishoners can light for prayer, how much do you drop in the change collection for each candle you light?

Also, do you light one candle or more than one?

Just curious b/c I usually light more than one (if I’m saying a prayer for more than one person/intention) and I want to make sure that’s ok and if I’m putting enough money in for them to replace those candles I lit. I usually put in roughly 10-20 cents per candle. It really depends on how much change I’m carrying that day because if I don’t have any change I don’t light one because I feel bad because I know that money goes to replace the candles so I always think, “what if others don’t drop any money in, then there won’t be money in there to purchase more candles”. Stupid sounding I know!
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At the Church we attend for the TLM they have large and small candles and ask for $0.25 for small (1day) votives, and $2.00 for the large (about a week) candles.
At our local parish church they only have large candles and ask for $3.00 per candle.
So I guess it depends on the church.

Peace
James
 
At my home parish, the recommended donation is .50 for votive candles; they don’t have the big ones. It was recently raised from .25, because they were noticing that only half the people using them actually put any money in.
 
One of the churches I go to have a price on the candles. Another one doesn’t. I suspect the one that doesn’t gets more in donations as people, if they see a price, tend to pay that specific amount, whereas I think if it’s left to people to donate freely, they’d donate more.

Ultimately I think it’s whatever you feel you can give - another problem with putting an exact costing per candle, because if you donate less, you might be made to feel you’re doing something wrong.
 
jmcrae said:
At my home parish, the recommended donation is .50 for votive candles; they don’t have the big ones. It was recently raised from .25, because they were noticing that only half the people using them actually put any money in.
Click to expand...
That’s I guess why I’m worried about it. I want to make sure that there ends up being enough money to buy more.
 
AngelRose81 said:
That’s I guess why I’m worried about it. I want to make sure that there ends up being enough money to buy more.
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Don’t worry - all the money goes into one big pot and they write checks for supplies like candles. They don’t limit their purchase to the amount for which they have donations.

It’s nice of you to want to make sure it’s covered though.

Betsy
 
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