Oil Vigil Lamps

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RosyAnne

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I’ve recently incorporated lighting vigil oil lamps (actually votives) on my shrine at home, each honoring a particular icon or statue. I keep them lit while I am at home and then blow them out before bed or when I leave the house. I get the olive oil blessed by my priest and picked up supplies online (wicks, cork floats, old believer style holders, votives, etc.).

My question is, is this practise just something the Orthodox do (I’m Roman Catholic btw), or is this something still continued with Eastern Catholics?

I find it’s especially lovely in the evening during prayers, I keep the lights off in the room (unless I’m have to pray from a book and need to read), and the flames are “passionless” and don’t move, so it’s much less distracting than having beeswax candles lit (and their flickering).

Does anyone know the roots of this method of devotion or have any family traditions involving this practise you’d like to share?
 
My mom always kept a 12hr votive burning on her altar shelf for the Virgin. Those have been harder and harder to find unscented, though I did love a rose scented one from Ikea but they discontinued it. They have also gotten very expensive. I switched to olive oil and a cork and wick. It is a more pleasant light and no smoke no odor. A hanging vigil lamp stays up and out of danger of being toppled or disturbed by littles or pets.
 
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