The symbolism of light has long been used in religious practice, as well as the general usage of candles. In Judaism, a perpetual light was kept burning in the Temple and synagogues to show the presence of God. Candles were also used in Roman pagan culture for religious and military processions, showing the divine favor and presence of the gods.
Christians adapted the use of lit candles for Mass, liturgical processions, evening prayer ceremonies, funeral processions, and to show reverence to the Blessed Sacrament. It is also likely that candles or oil lamps were burned at the tombs of the saints, particularly martyrs.
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With this in mind, we understand why, during the Sacrament of Baptism, the priest presents a candle, which was lit from the Paschal candle, and tells the newly baptized to receive the light of Christ. And at Easter, the Paschal candle is lit as a sign of the risen light of Christ. It cannot be put out, and shines into the world as a symbol of hope and love.
In our churches today, we light candles before a statue or sacred image of our Lord or a saint. The light signifies our prayer, which is offered in faith, entering the light of God. It also shows reverence and our desire to remain present in prayer even as we continue on our day.
Burning votive candles are a common sight in most Catholic churches. These candles are seen as an offering that indicates we are seeking some favor from the Lord or the saint before which the votive is placed. Vigil lights are another type of candles burned, and these are typically accompanied by prayers of attention or waiting.
Lighting a candle for someone is a way to both extend your prayers and show solidarity with the person the prayer is being made on behalf of. The faithful also light candles as a sign of gratitude to God for answered prayers.
Altar candles has been used in Masses since at least the 12th century. These candles remind us of the many persecuted Christians in the first centuries who secretly celebrated Mass at night or in the catacombs by candlelight.
Candlemas, or the Presentation of Christ in the Temple and the Purification of Mary, is especially rich in symbolism as it relates to candles. When Jesus was presented in the Temple by Mary and Joseph, Simeon gave a famous prophecy about Christ being a light to Gentile nations and a sign for the Jewish people.
Our Christian collegues in Bethlehem tell us that this Advent and Christmas the lights that normally adorn the birthplace of Jesus will remain unlit in memory of those who have been killed in this current conflict. This advent, we are asking churches across the United Kingdom to do something out of the ordinary and not light the Advent candle on the second Sunday in Advent, December 10th, and on subsequent Sundays. This unlit candle will serve as a constant reminder that we stand in solidarity with all who suffer in the Holy Land.
Incarnate God, as we prepare ourselves for the birth of the Prince of Peace, we hear that the festive lights that normlly shine bright in Bethlehem will not be lit this year in memory of those who have been killed in recent violence. To stand alongside our sisters and brothers in Christ, and with all who mourn this Christmas, we will leave our second Advent candle unlit during Advent and Christmas. And pray for justice, that peace may flourish in the land that we call Holy. Amen
So anyway, I think you might be able to see the chatecetical disaster of deciding not to light the candles, especially in a time of such pressing and astonishing darkness. At the very least you are saying that the lights of Advent are about us and our capacity to bring peace and then to celebrate it. At the most you are saying that Jesus is not the Light and has no power to conquor the darkness. Even to write such a thing makes me feel sicker than ever.
I repented and spent some time thinking and praying. I was reminded that I have the power to cultivate beauty in my home and that even on days like today I can create an atmosphere that points my children (and myself) to the creator of all things beautiful. When sun streams through the windows and birdsong rides in on the breeze, it comes easily. But perhaps it is days like today, when I must fight for it, when I deliberately light the candle in the darkness, that beauty shines brightest.
I am just beginning to understand how the candles of Candlemas are inextricably tied to the Feast of the Presentation. My dear friend Donna is such a good listener. I think that she is especially blessed with this virtue because she has suffered so in her lifetime. She was widowed very young and has since cared for her aging mother. Whenever I go to her to sort my own trials, she prays with me on the phone. And then, she promises to "light a candle." She almost always has a prayer candle lit, I think.
She did not understand but she did know that she knew the Light, the Lord, was hers in her suffering. When we suffer, we turn to the Lord, who came as light and life to the world. And we can light a candle to remind us of those words of Simeon who coupled forever the suffering with the Light. What beautiful sacramentals candles can be in the domestic church!
I've always loved candles; I am drawn to light and beauty. In candlelight, the hard edges of the world are softened. Now, I feel drawn to them as I'm drawn to prayer. Christ settles over the candlelit room and softens the edges of the harsh world while illuminating my soul with His holy will. We appeal to our senses when we prepare our homes with candles to use throughout the year.
For many years, my family has enjoyed advent candles. My children like to light them, like to snuff them, like to sing about lighting them. Those pink and purple tapers bring the liturgical year to light every night at our dinner table and I'm always sad to put them away. They are replaced right after advent with gold candles for the Christmas feast, but when that season ends, there are no candles on our table.
Then, we made some blue novena candles using beeswax and soy wax with some blue dye in large Mason jars. We'll use these throughout the year on our Marian prayer table. I love the idea of a perpetual candle to remind us to continually come to the Blessed Mother for a good chat. What the children don't know is that my husband will be reminded on all the Marian feasts to bring home flowers for Mary. With fresh flowers and candlelight, this table will always look lovely.
We also have some tapers to bless. These belong with our miniature Mass kit. Katie is particularly fond of lighting candles when she sets the altar. And she is also fond of snuffing when she has finished there.
Finally, I stocked up on beeswax votive candles. These are sweet smelling candles that I will light when I offer my prayers for friends and family. And I ordered an extra box for Donna--I figure I've used at least that many in her house over the years.
Matthew 5:14-16 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Did I mention he was standing in a Church building? Henry owned 67 slaves, and did not at that time see the hypocrisy of his remarks. The Church in America compromised on slavery just as it is doing on abortion today. Our first Presidents owned slaves. Thomas Jefferson owned over 600 slaves, and George Washington 200 slaves. Twelve of our Presidents owned slaves at some time. Thank God for the changes that Civil Rights leaders like Martin Luther King, Jr brought into our America. He died supporting freedom for all. He died letting his light shine.
The lamp is much like our camp lanterns, or the old oil burning lanterns. These lamps burned olive oil, whereas our old lamps burned coal oil or white kerosene. A lamp without oil cannot burn. The oil in the lamp symbolized the Holy Spirit of God Who indwells the believer (1 Corinthians 3:16; 2 Corinthians 6:16). But Jesus did not speak about a lamp in our text today. Why? Not all people owned lamps. The poorest people had no lamps to light their way.
God blessed the first couple, then told them to be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth (Genesis 1:28). God wanted light everywhere. He told His candles to obey Him, work with Him to make more candles, and cover the earth with light.
When a candle burns unlike a lantern it burns consuming itself. There are two candles on this table. Notice one is long, the other not. Both can burn. The one that is burned down lower has been doing what it was designed to do for about 2 hours. The other candle has not. The Bible says:
"Jesus said: "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12). The presence of the light reminds us of Jesus' coming into our world and into our lives. The light is carried into the worship service as a symbol of Jesus' coming into the presence of the worshiping community. Many congregations use two candles on the altar to point out that Jesus was both a human being and God. At the end of the service, the light is carried out into the world to show that Jesus Christ is for all people everywhere; The acolyte leaves the worship service at the pastor's direction, carrying out the lighted candlelighter. This symbolizes the light of Jesus Christ going out into the world where believers are to serve."
"Since ancient times, light and fire have reminded people that God is here with us. When you bring the light (fire) into the place where people are gathering to worship, and when you light the candles, you are reminding the people that God is with us at home, at school, and at work, as well as in the worship service; Lighted candles also remind us that Jesus Christ is the Light of the world. Many persons like to think of the two candles on or beside the Lord's table as reminders that Christ is both human and divine."
To be sure, the symbolic value of candles is something that developed over time. Oil lamps, and later, candles, were initially used simply to provide light in worship spaces that could sometimes be rather dark so that the presider and others leading worship could see the text or music they needed to read, pray, chant or sing. Check out this video from Liturgy Man. e24fc04721
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