Reason Behind Vigil Candles?

[Conservative]

I’ve noticed vigil candles referred to in two separate posts - one post whose subject was vigil candles, and another referring to home altars, which showed lit ones. I’d thought noone lit them anymore except in Church or certain ethnic cultures.

We had them in the house when I was a child, and for some reason the custom stopped. Then, my Mom wanted them again, and we lit the 7-hour ones for some years. People visiting would be surprised.

My question is why do we use them? I know we leave one lit in a Church - I think to signify the presence / or reminder of our prayer. And have you heard that white wax is better/preferable? Anyone?

 

[MarieVeronica]

This is the way it was explained to me, long ago… Vigil-votive candles are used because they symbolize the Light of Christ. They also symbolize prayers going to Heaven… and are especially meaningful, when used with prayers for a deceased loved one… or for the Holy Souls in Purgatory.

I guess the practice of home use, sort of fell off… because of the possible danger of lighted candles? I noticed in the recent shrine photo threads that a few of the indoor shrines were using those little battery operated candles… or the electric ones. We use one electric candle, for safety purposes.

However, we do keep a blessed… real wax candle… in the house. We don’t burn it, though.

 

[Conservative]

This is the way it was explained to me, long ago… Vigil-votive candles are used because they symbolize the Light of Christ. They also symbolize prayers going to Heaven… and are especially meaningful, when used with prayers for a deceased loved one… or for the Holy Souls in Purgatory.

I guess the practice of home use, sort of fell off… because of the possible danger of lighted candles?,.

Thanks, MarieVeronica -
That sounds familiar, so I must have heard it once - but not the part about being meaningful when used for deceased souls. I didn’t used to leave them lit when not home but still they can be a danger.