Lighting or 'lighting' a votive candle

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Casilda

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Seems this is getting harder and harder to do. In one parish I could not find the votive stand. It’s in a room behind and to the right of the altar. Another had battery/electric candles, even outside by the grotto. I didn’t know what to do with those. At one parish, I left money in the box for the candle, only to find no candles available. No one could help.

I miss those old candle stands with seemingly hundreds of votives by Mary, Joseph or the Infant of Prague.

Thinking of bringing my own votive candle…
 
A lot of churches have electric candles as they pose less of a fire risk.

Sure , electricity is less traditional than a wax candle. But moving away from the “tradition” of church fires has points of positivity as well.
 
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Actually, I see more votive candles than ever before. They were gone from many parishes for years in the 60s and 70s. I was told that my home parish got rid of them for fear a kid (there was a Catholic school attached to the church then) would light his sleeve on fire with them. About four pastors later, they’re back in full force. I think they must be a money maker for the church.

I visited one shrine some months ago that had the main shrine and then a separate cinder block building just for candles. You go in there and there’s hundreds of spots for candles and many of them are already lit. The temperature in that building was about 20 degrees hotter than outside, because so many candles were going. It was a truly impressive number of candles. They were mounted all over the walls.

I also like the candle area at Fatima, except when they have a big feast at that shrine, so many candles get burning that they keel over and start a giant fire that comes out of the enclosure and reminds me of the children’s vision of Hell.
 
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Tis_Bearself said:
I visited one shrine some months ago that had the main shrine and then a separate cinder block building just for candles. You go in there and there’s hundreds of spots for candles and many of them are already lit. The temperature in that building was about 20 degrees hotter than outside, because so many candles were going. It was a truly impressive number of candles.
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Sounds like the St Paul Monastery on the South Side here in Pittsburgh. Its really warm, even in the winter, in the side room where they have votive candles and statues of the Passionist saints.
 
Augustinian said:
Sure , electricity is less traditional than a wax candle. But moving away from the “tradition” of church fires has points of positivity as well.
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Making the Church out of incombustible material has the twofold benefit of limiting fires or their damage, and actually looking beautiful.
 
I would really miss these if my parish removed them, a lot of folk in my life have sad situations and need prayer. They once had to remove them as there were problems with children using them unsupervised and they had to seek some health and safety advice, not sure what the outcome was but they came back after a few weeks. Electric ones just wouldn’t feel the same.
 
We just switched back over to real votive candles from the electric ones. They are small, but in compliance with the local fire codes for Church candles.
 
Casilda said:
Thinking of bringing my own votive candle…
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Before you do, talk to your pastor.

We cannot have votive candles left burning due to insurance concerns and fire codes.
 
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There is a fire code for church candles?
1ke said:
We cannot have votive candles left burning due to insurance concerns and fire codes.
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I’ve heard this mentioned. If this is really a problem the Catholic Church should self insure. Giving up a distinctly Catholic practice because of worries about insurance really bothers me.
 
exnihilo said:
I’ve heard this mentioned. If this is really a problem the Catholic Church should self insure. Giving up a distinctly Catholic practice because of worries about insurance really bothers me.
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Church fires have been a problem for centuries in the Catholic Church. Chartres Cathedral burned in the 11th Century- although I don’t know if it was due to a candle. But the Chartres fire was before the building was electrified.

It isn’t just the insurance premium but the problem with actual fires and the danger of church fires. Pittsburgh had a fatal baptist church fire in the Hill District several years ago, a couple of firefighters were killed.
 
I don’t doubt there have been fires but I’m not sure they are a huge problem. Anytime you have an open flame there is some danger. Removing all danger makes life rather boring.
 
exnihilo said:
I don’t doubt there have been fires but I’m not sure they are a huge problem
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Several years ago, I read many of the short parish histories on the Pittsburgh Diocese website.

A surprising number of churches were burned and rebuilt. I don’t know how big of a risk candles are, or if the problem is lack of proper periodic inspections of electric and gas, volunteers coming in with personal heaters?

Large buildings with complex lighting and utility service, vacant most of the week and worked on by volunteer amateurs? That might have something to do with it too, but candles can be a risk too, especially around flowing altar cloths and other flammable items.
 
The problem at my church was more the danger of the children burning themselves rather than the building.
 
Augustinian said:
A surprising number of churches were burned and rebuilt. I don’t know how big of a risk candles are, or if the problem is lack of proper periodic inspections of electric and gas, volunteers coming in with personal heaters?

Large buildings with complex lighting and utility service, vacant most of the week and worked on by volunteer amateurs? That might have something to do with it too, but candles can be a risk too, especially around flowing altar cloths and other flammable items.
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I think older heating and early electrical were more dangerous. I know the Protestant Church I grew up at was originally (or really when heat was added) heated by fire. Even as a kid I remember hearing about a lot more deadly kerosene fires. I don’t think I hear about that as much anymore.
 
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