Candles in the Catholic Church

  • Thread starter Thread starter TikiTokiguy
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
T

TikiTokiguy

Guest
Sunday night I went to Mass with my sister. I usually sit near the back but this time since I was with my sister I figured we could sit near the front. We did and for the first time I coudl smell the candles burning.

What is the importance of candles in the church and at Mass? Are Catholics supposed to have candles in their homes? If I want to get more in the Catholic feeling, what kind of candles can I buy? Any? Must they be of a certain color?

Thanks
 
My mom always has tons of candles in stock, and she lights it up everytime she prays. I don’t think its a requirement, but its a good practice to have candles for when you pray.

Some also have their candles blessed during Candelaria (whats the English name for it?).
 
The candle represents the light of Christ in a dark world. It is our offering to God and a symbol of our prayer intentions and memorial of loved ones.

In the Roman Catholic Church a liturgical candle must be made of at least 51% beeswax, the remainder may be paraffin or some other substance.

Every Catholic home should have two blessed candles in addition to a crucifix should there be a sick call made to that household.
 
I bought three candles at Wal-mart - one red, one white, and one blue. Can I get those blessed? Also I have a crucifix. How do I get those blessed?
 
TikiTokiguy said:
I bought three candles at Wal-mart - one red, one white, and one blue. Can I get those blessed? Also I have a crucifix. How do I get those blessed?
Click to expand...
To get it blessed, bring it to a priest and he will bless it using the formula found in the Book of Blessings. He may also use holy water to bless the crucifix and candles.

[P] Our help is in the name of the Lord.
[C] Who hath made heaven and earth.
[P] The Lord be with you.
[C] And with thy spirit.

[P] Let us pray.
We pray Thee, holy Lord, Father almighty, eternal God: that Thou wouldst deign to † bless this symbol of the Cross, that it may be a salutary remedy to humankind; serve to bolster faith, bring forth good works and the redemption of souls; may be a means of consolation and protection, and a protection against cruel weapons of evil. Through Christ, our Lord.
[C] Amen.

[P] Let us pray.
[P] Bless, † O Lord Jesus Christ, this Cross, for through Thine holy Cross Thou didst deliver the world from the power of the demon who rejoiced in the transgression of the first man eating of the forbidden tree.

The priest sprinkles the cross with holy water, saying:

[P] May this symbol of the Cross be sanctified in the name of the Father, † and of the Son, † and of the Holy † Ghost; that those who pray before this Cross may find health of body and soul, through the same Christ our Lord.
[C] Amen.

The priest and all present genuflect before the crucifix, adore it, and kiss it devoutly.

For the Candles

[P] Our help + is in the name of the Lord.
[C] Who hath made heaven and earth.
[P] The Lord be with you.
[C] And with thy spirit.
[P] Let us pray.

O Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, bless + these candles at our request. By the power of the holy Cross + bestow a heavenly blessing on them, O Lord, who didst give them to mankind to dispel the gloom. Compelled by the power of Thine holy Cross, + let the spirits of darkness depart trembling and fly in fear from all places where their light shines, and never more disturb nor molest those who serve Thee, the almighty God, who livest and reignest for ever and ever, world without end.

[C] Amen.
 
tbtcom1213 said:
Every Catholic home should have two blessed candles in addition to a crucifix should there be a sick call made to that household.
Click to expand...
D’OH!! :doh2: How come I never thought of that? Since I joined the Church, I’ve had just about everything blessed that I can carry or drag in, but I never thought of the candles.

I buy the glass pillar candles with pictures of saints or Blessed Mary (generally found in Mexican stores, but I’m starting to see them everywhere). They’re inexpensive, generally no more than $1.50 US.

I also have a crucifix my late fiancé gave me that I never thought to have blessed either. Thanks for the reminder! 🙂

Miz
 
Miserys_Fence said:
D’OH!! :doh2: How come I never thought of that? Since I joined the Church, I’ve had just about everything blessed that I can carry or drag in, but I never thought of the candles.

I buy the glass pillar candles with pictures of saints or Blessed Mary (generally found in Mexican stores, but I’m starting to see them everywhere). They’re inexpensive, generally no more than $1.50 US.

I also have a crucifix my late fiancé gave me that I never thought to have blessed either. Thanks for the reminder! 🙂

Miz
Click to expand...
$1.50 that sucks for me cause i cant find them for less than $2
 
Perhaps I go a bit “overboard” but I have six 51% beeswax candles on my home shrine. During Advent I have a wreath with the 4 candles (3 violet and one rose). I like to keep candles for most of the year. I, also, have two votive candle lamps that I light during my evening Rosary.
 
For mystical reasons the Church prescribes that the candles used at Mass and at other liturgical functions be made of beeswax (luminaria cerea. — Missale Rom., De Defectibus, X, I; Cong. Sac. Rites, 4 September, 1875). The pure wax extracted by bees from flowers symbolizes the pure flesh of Christ received from His Virgin Mother, the wick signifies the soul of Christ, and the flame represents His divinity.

See here for more: newadvent.org/cathen/01347a.htm

:crossrc:
 
tee_eff_em said:
That is no longer true (at least in the US).

tee
Click to expand...
USCCB Home Topics News Readings Movies Bible Catechism Bishops Dioceses Departments Publications

Committee on Divine Worship
Composition of Candles

May oil candles be used during the liturgy? In my parish only wax candles are used.

The Bishops’ Committee on the Liturgy Newsletter addressed this concern in the November 1984 issue. The following is an excerpt from that issue.

The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) states the following with regard to the use of candles: “The candles, which are required at every liturgical service out of reverence and on account of the festiveness of the celebration (cf.no.117), are to be appropriately placed either on or around the altar in a way suited to the design of the altar and the sanctuary so that the whole may be well balanced and not interfere with the faithful’s clear view of what takes place on the altar or what is placed on it” In an interpretation of the previous GIRM 269, the Congregation for Divine Worship stated the following in 1974: The GIRM prescribes candles for Mass ‘as a sign of reverence and festiveness’. But is makes no further determination regarding the material of their composition, except in the case of the sanctuary lamp, the fuel for which must be oil or wax (see Holy Communion and Worship Outside Mass, Introduction, no. 11). The faculty that the conferences of bishops possess to choose suitable materials for sacred furnishings applies, therefore, to the candles for Mass. That faculty is that they are appropriate for sacred use. Candles intended only for liturgical use should be made of material that can provide a living flame without being smoky or noxious and that does not stain the altar cloths and coverings. Electrical bulbs are banned in the interest of safeguarding authenticity and the full symbolism of light" (Notitiae 10 [1974] 80, no. 4; see Liturgy Documentary Series 2: General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 112-113).

Since the National Conference of Catholic Bishops has never employed the above-noted faculty to permit the use of materials other than wax in the production of candles, the use of such other material either in substitutes for or in imitations of candles is not permitted in the liturgy. Therefore, oil lamps may be used only “in the case of the sanctuary lamp,” as indicated above. Candles made of wax are to be used in the celebration of the Mass and other liturgical rites. Furthermore, because of their very nature, imitations of candles should not be used in the liturgy as, for example, “permanent” paschal candles, etc. Nor should electrical bulbs be used in liturgical celebration. In the interests of authenticity and symbolism, it is likewise most unfitting that so-called vigil lights be used for devotional purposes.
Email us at bcl@usccb.org
Secretariat for Divine Worship | 3211 4th Street, N.E., Washington DC 20017-1194 | (202) 541-3060 © USCCB. All rights reserved.
 
The cool Catholic homes not only have candles, but incense too. It is not uncommon for a family to have an altar or shrine in their home.
 
Yes, Jesus is the Light of the World. When the Easter candle is lit, He is present on the altar.
There is a secondary historical reason for candles in Catholic churches. During childhood catechism classes, I was taught that candles remind us of the time when the persecuted Church dwelt in the catacombs. Candlelight was all that was available.
 
tbtcom1213 said:
Every Catholic home should have two blessed candles in addition to a crucifix should there be a sick call made to that household.
Click to expand...
Couldn’t the priest just bless the candles during the sick call, if need be?
 
tbtcom1213 said:
Yes the priest could bless them at that time as well.
Click to expand...
Thanks.

I use candles when I recite the Divine Office. Following the custom of my abbey, I used two liturgical candles for Lauds and Vespers but none at the other Offices. At Compline, for the chanting of the Marian antiphon, I have in my small oratory a statue of the BVM on a shelf and a small candle beside the statue. I turn off all lights and light the candle beside the statue. I’m fortunate in that I can chant all the Marian antiphons except Sub tuum, by heart (and the solemn forms for the Salve Regina and the Alma Redemptoris).



 
You can get candles with Holy images on them. You can also use tealight candles and or other simple candles that are nice, appropriate and place it close to Holy pictures. I always light candles when I pray. Very beautiful. I think of the light of Christ, and His Peace : )
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top