Disposing of Prayer Candles

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Victor_Antonio

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Hi All,

Not long ago I began enjoying burning the tall candles with a picture of one of the saints or Mary, etc. on them. When they are done, I don’t really know how to dispose of them. It feels disrespectful to just throw them away. I saw one suggestion that said to bury them, but I don’t have a place where I can legally do that. Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Victor
 
Bring them to your local parish church. They dispose of unserviceable sacred items all the time and thus will have the means to attend to your spent candles.
 
bardegaulois said:
Bring them to your local parish church. They dispose of unserviceable sacred items all the time and thus will have the means to attend to your spent candles.
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Really? I sure hope people don’t bring all of their used up items to the church.
We don’t do anything more than place them in a bin. What makes you think their disposal is different at a church?
With all due respect people tend to dump anything and everything at the church. The notion being “Oh the church probably knows someone who can use this.”
NO we do not. Most of the time NO. If you consider it trash, it’s just trash.
If you can’t use a broken chair, then neither can anyone else. Parishes are where wheelchairs and umbrellas go to die. We don’t have the space, nor a pickup truck to take these things to the dump. We have to then impose on other parishioners to dispose of items.
A candle with a picture is just a candle. When the candle is gone, so is the blessing, IF indeed it was blessed, and not purchased at the grocer. Your prayers went to heaven. The remaining glass has no devotional value. Toss it.
 
pianistclare said:
Really? I sure hope people don’t bring all of their used up items to the church.
We don’t do anything more than place them in a bin. What makes you think their disposal is different at a church?
With all due respect people tend to dump anything and everything at the church. The notion being “Oh the church probably knows someone who can use this.”
NO we do not. Most of the time NO. If you consider it trash, it’s just trash.
If you can’t use a broken chair, then neither can anyone else. Parishes are where wheelchairs and umbrellas go to die. We don’t have the space, nor a pickup truck to take these things to the dump. We have to then impose on other parishioners to dispose of items.
A candle with a picture is just a candle. When the candle is gone, so is the blessing, IF indeed it was blessed, and not purchased at the grocer. Your prayers went to heaven. The remaining glass has no devotional value. Toss it.
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Thanks PianistClare! I think the previous poster meant well, but these are just ordinary candles that I enjoy burning for inspiration while I pray. I get that it’s just a picture on a candle, but man it’s gonna seem weird throwing it in a trash bin! I’m sure after I cowboy up and do it, it won’t seem so sacrilegious as it does at the moment.

Now, you have given me a great idea, though. I would love to get one of the re-usable glass holders from my church and have it blessed. Then, I have a special item and I can just dispose of the remnant wax as needed. 🙂
 
Victor_Antonio said:
Thanks PianistClare! I think the previous poster meant well, but these are just ordinary candles that I enjoy burning for inspiration while I pray. I get that it’s just a picture on a candle, but man it’s gonna seem weird throwing it in a trash bin! I’m sure after I cowboy up and do it, it won’t seem so sacrilegious as it does at the moment.

Now, you have given me a great idea, though. I would love to get one of the re-usable glass holders from my church and have it blessed. Then, I have a special item and I can just dispose of the remnant wax as needed. 🙂
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Well, you can buy those from lots of online sources, and then just order a case of the inserts, which should last you many weeks.
Autom is one cheap source, plus Leaflet Missal co. among others.
do shop around…there are some that are quite a bit more expensive, and also think about shipping. You could also try ebay. At our parish, we don’t sell these things, but yes, your parish may have a gift shop. There are also little devotional electric candles (oxymoron, I know) that are available. They use those a lot in Ireland, not so much in the States. There’s something about a living flame that is lovely, so long as you are careful.
God bless!
pianist
 
pianistclare said:
Well, you can buy those from lots of online sources, and then just order a case of the inserts, which should last you many weeks.
Autom is one cheap source, plus Leaflet Missal co. among others.
do shop around…there are some that are quite a bit more expensive, and also think about shipping. You could also try ebay. At our parish, we don’t sell these things, but yes, your parish may have a gift shop. There are also little devotional electric candles (oxymoron, I know) that are available. They use those a lot in Ireland, not so much in the States. There’s something about a living flame that is lovely, so long as you are careful.
God bless!
pianist
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Thanks again. Yes, we have a HUGE gift shop and they’ll order things for us to, if we want something that’s not in stock.

I like the idea of the electric candles, but there is something about an actual flame that keeps me to it. I bought one and I never use it! I am careful with my candles and never leave the apartment with them burning.
 
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