What's the purpose of the candles?

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What is the purpose of the candles in front of the statues of Mary on one side of the church, and the candles in front of Joseph and the Christ child on the other? And why is there a blue light candle in front of Mary? It is similar to the redish color one that’s lit beside the tabernacle when the host is present.

God bless,
Jesse
 
I’m not 100% sure about this but different Churches have different candles. At my Church we have all the same clear and white candles infront of everyone, but the candles we can light are white, in red holders. I think it is just what they have to be honest lol. The colors red, usually has something to do with Jesus’s blood and sacrafice though. The candles burn in rememberance of someone, i.e. Jesus, Mary, your specific intentions… Have you ever lit a candle for an intention in Mass? Ours are located in the chapel. It’s a wonderful feeling! 🙂
Hope this helps.
 
JPayne said:
What is the purpose of the candles in front of the statues of Mary on one side of the church, and the candles in front of Joseph and the Christ child on the other? And why is there a blue light candle in front of Mary? It is similar to the redish color one that’s lit beside the tabernacle when the host is present.

God bless,
Jesse
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The red candle by the Tabernacle is a symbol that Christ is present in the Tabernacle. It’s also used to honor His presence.

The candles in front of the statues are probably votive candles. They’re lit in the name of a certain intention, like for the health of the Holy Father, for instance. It’s a small sacrifice made to request the prayers of the saint (typically Mary) in front of whose statute the offering is made.
 
JPayne said:
What is the purpose of the candles in front of the statues of Mary on one side of the church, and the candles in front of Joseph and the Christ child on the other? And why is there a blue light candle in front of Mary? It is similar to the redish color one that’s lit beside the tabernacle when the host is present.

God bless,
Jesse
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Lighting a candle is a way of asking that your prayer continue after you leave that place.

There is a lovely prayer that I’ve seen in some places about lighting the candle and the prayers that linger, but I can’t find it. Does anyone know the prayer I’m thinking of? :confused:

~Liza
 
The Tabernacle Candle is required when the host is present and can be any color. A lot of churches use red, most probably as a reminder of the blood that was shed for you and I from His body.

Likewise, the candles in front of statues can be any color. Blue is traditionally associated with Our Lady, hence the blue candle in front of her statue.

As to why we do them, I found this:
According to A Handbook of Catholic Sacramentals, by Ann Ball (Our Sunday Visitor Books), the practice of lighting candles in order to obtain some favor probably has its origins in the custom of burning lights at the tombs of the martyrs in the catacombs. The lights burned as a sign of solidarity with Christians still on earth. Because the lights continually burned as a silent vigil, they became known as vigil lights.

Vigil Lights (from the Latin vigilia, which means “waiting” or “watching”) are traditionally accompanied by prayers of attention or waiting. Another common type of candle offering is the votive light. Such an offering is indicative of seeking some favor from the Lord or the saint before which the votive is placed.

Lighting a candle is a way of extending one’s prayer and showing solidarity with the person on whose behalf the prayer is offered.
Source: “St. Anthony Messenger” Septmber 2003, Page 26
Hope that helps, and may God bless you on your journey home.
 
Thank you gus so mch for the explainations.

God bless,
Jesse
 
Technically, the globe in the sanctuary lamp is actually supposed to be white or clear, but custom allows for red.
 
"A day will come when the civilized world will deny its God, when the Church will doubt as Peter doubted. She will be tempted to believe that man has become God. In our churches, Christians will search in vain for the red lamp where God awaits them. Like Mary Magdalene, weeping before the empty tomb, they will ask, “Where have they taken him?” -Pope Pius XII
 
OhMalley said:
Yeah? That’s interesting. Where is that defined?
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Nothing in the new legislation that I’m aware of (as is customary nowadays), but in previous decades, it was declared ideal by the Congregation of Rites and the decree can be found in the Decreta Authentica. The idea of the lamp was to show the Light of Christ and clear glass was suited for this - brilliance of the light shining uninterrupted. However, in Germany and other European countries, where there was a strong Passion element, the lamp colour became red, and this was tolerated and spread, and now is the de facto colour in churches.
 
OhMalley said:
Yeah? That’s interesting. Where is that defined?
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I read it decades ago in a book of ceremonies called, oddly enough THE BOOK OF CEREMONIES.

May I point out that a lot of things need not be defined? Custom is the usual law in matters such as this.
 
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