Lighting candles

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I was wondering what lighting candles mean. Like when someone lights a candle in a church for someone ill or something. And the religious candles with holy pictures on them. Do they have a symbolic meaning?
Thank you
 
I was wondering the same thing myself, just haven’t thought to ask yet. Look forward to some answers.
 
Revelation 8:4. Prayers rising like incense smoke to the throne of the Father. A candle is the sign of prayer rising to the Father. Pictures on the candle? A devotion of the person who lights such a candle. Nothing more than that.
 
So, lighting a candle is just a sign of prayers offered, not a prayer itself, right?
 
RedDuke50 said:
So, lighting a candle is just a sign of prayers offered, not a prayer itself, right?
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You are correct. It is just symbolic. You light a candle to show that you are praying for someone. The pictures on the candles (such as Virgen de Guadalupe) are to show a devotion to the person. I burn them at my home.
 
Pdaniels2 said:
You are correct. It is just symbolic. You light a candle to show that you are praying for someone. The pictures on the candles (such as Virgen de Guadalupe) are to show a devotion to the person. I burn them at my home.
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I’m trying to learn as well. Are you saying devotion and/or intent to the person you are praying for or devotion to the person on the candle. I’m sorry if I’m not wording that correctly.
 
Before electric lights churches were often fairly dark places. Having them lit up with candles facilitated conducting services and candlelight makes churches brighter cheerier places. Having a candle burning in a home reminds up of the prayer intention we want to keep in mind.
 
grandfather said:
Before electric lights churches were often fairly dark places. Having them lit up with candles facilitated conducting services and candlelight makes churches brighter cheerier places. Having a candle burning in a home reminds up of the prayer intention we want to keep in mind.
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Thank you. I still have so much to learn.
 
The Easter Candle is a symbol of the light of the risen Christ giving his light to the world. At the Easter evening services, the people in church hold small candles which are lit from the easter candle meaning we now have the light of Christ in our lives to light our way, and that darkness of evil is dispelled. And the promise that one day we too will rise with him.

The red sanctuary candle light that is always burning in church signifies the real living presence of Jesus in the tabernacle, and is hanging in proximity to the tabernacle where the Sacred Host is placed. This real person presence of Jesus is why the faithful genuflect in church, both before taking a place in the pew, and when leaving the pew. If this red sanctuary light is not lit, then the real presence of Jesus in the host is not in the tabernacle. The presence of Jesus is in church so that anyone may come in and sit in his presence and find peace.

The small candles in the candle stands that are placed before an artificial statue in church, Jesus, Mary, St. Michael, St. Theresa, …, are lit by a person who is praying, to symbolize their continual prayer before that saint in heaven.

The candles on the altar are lit for Mass as a sign of christ, the light of the world, who will be soon present on our altar as the vicim lamb, offered in our behalf and that of the whole world.

Just a thought to see the faith being brought alive.
 
RedDuke50 said:
So, lighting a candle is just a sign of prayers offered, not a prayer itself, right?
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Correct. The candles lit at church are symbolically keeping vigil for the person who said the prayer and lit the candle. Similarly candles lit and burning at home. In churches, vigil candles are usually plain white and put in front of a statue or painting of the Saint (or Christ or Mary) whose intercession is being asked. At home, since people might not have statues of a particular Saint, the candles have the image on it.

The Catholic church is very physically oriented, in order to engage all of our senses in worship.
 
fred_conty said:
The Easter Candle is a symbol of the light of the risen Christ giving his light to the world. At the Easter evening services, the people in church hold small candles which are lit from the easter candle meaning we now have the light of Christ in our lives to light our way, and that darkness of evil is dispelled. And the promise that one day we too will rise with him.

The red sanctuary candle light that is always burning in church signifies the real living presence of Jesus in the tabernacle, and is hanging in proximity to the tabernacle where the Sacred Host is placed. This real person presence of Jesus is why the faithful genuflect in church, both before taking a place in the pew, and when leaving the pew. If this red sanctuary light is not lit, then the real presence of Jesus in the host is not in the tabernacle. The presence of Jesus is in church so that anyone may come in and sit in his presence and find peace.

The small candles in the candle stands that are placed before an artificial statue in church, Jesus, Mary, St. Michael, St. Theresa, …, are lit by a person who is praying, to symbolize their continual prayer before that saint in heaven.

The candles on the altar are lit for Mass as a sign of christ, the light of the world, who will be soon present on our altar as the vicim lamb, offered in our behalf and that of the whole world.

Just a thought to see the faith being brought alive.
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Fred,

This is a great post. 🙂

Also I connect the light with the prayers, because I like to go in the church when it is dark and empty, and pray before the statues.

Alan
 
What is the ‘protocol’ for lighting a candle?

My church doesn’t have them, nor does the one closest to my home. However, the one clost to where I work does and I’ve been there several times for noon mass. Last week, I was tempted to light one for someone on my mind, but didn’t and just settled into another Our Father.
 
CatherineOH said:
What is the ‘protocol’ for lighting a candle?

My church doesn’t have them, nor does the one closest to my home. However, the one clost to where I work does and I’ve been there several times for noon mass. Last week, I was tempted to light one for someone on my mind, but didn’t and just settled into another Our Father.
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Most places, you just go up and light them. Usually there will be a sign or box or something where you can place a donation.

Alan
 
Certainly a donation large enough to cover the cost of the candle, and another for someone who cannot that day… ??
Are they left lit till they burn out?

(i’m a recent convert)
 
CatherineOH said:
Certainly a donation large enough to cover the cost of the candle, and another for someone who cannot that day… ??
Are they left lit till they burn out?

(i’m a recent convert)
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Usually it will ask a particular amount on a sign nearby. In our church they are $2.00. I think throwing in extra is a wonderful thought, but it optional.

And yes, they leave them until they are burned out. I think the candles in our church around our statues are either 4-day or 7-day, I don’t remember.

Alan
 
Thanks for all the answers. I always thought candles had a special place in the Church since they are at Mass and things like that.
 
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