From the Immaculata magazine:

The Catholic custom of using candles is rooted in Church teaching that Christ is the light of the world. At Mass on Sundays, candles are often lit at the ambo where the Word of God is proclaimed, always on the altar where the Eucharistic Sacrifice occurs, and next to the tabernacle.

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I'd often wondered at that custom and now I know. :) Thought I'd share, in case someone else wondered, too.

God bless~

-- Jackiea (sorry@dontlikespam.com), January 12, 2003

Answers

Jackiea,

You come up with the most interesting questions! I don't know the history behind lighting of candles and am curious about that. I have no doubt the experts on this forum will give us the answer.

I do know a great saying: "It is better to light one candle than to curse the darknes." But, I am sure that is not why we light them.

I think it is a form of prayer to God. I am not sure, though. I light candles all the time, offer up a prayer and know that as long as that candle is burning, my prayers are being offered up.

MaryLu

-- MaryLu (mlc327@juno.com), January 12, 2003.

Thanks, MaryLu. Like I said, I've often wondered at it and the magazine seemed to give the answer when it said "The Catholic custom of using candles is rooted in Church teaching that Christ is the light of the world".

It's a beautiful sentiment you offered. Knowing that your prayers continue to be offered up. :)

Take care and God bless, dear.

-- Jackiea (sorry@dontlikespam.com), January 12, 2003.

I wonder about incense, too. I heard the answer once but for the life of me, I can't remember now. :)

-- Jackiea (sorry@dontlikespam.com), January 12, 2003.

Candles and incense are sacramentals (items reminding us of and used in the celebration of the sacraments). Sacramentals enhance the practice of our faith. They help to keep us focussed on Jesus Christ. Some other tangible sacramentals are holy water, rosary beads, crucifixes, etc. They can also be gestures such as kneeling, sign of the Cross, prayers (as in liturgy of the hours), etc. Sacramentals can also be actions such as blessings and exorcisms.

Briefly, the Catechism has this to say about sacramentals:

1677 Sacramentals are sacred signs instituted by the Church. They prepare men to receive the fruit of the sacraments and sanctify different circumstances of life.

1678 Among the sacramentals blessings occupy an important place. They include both praise of God for his works and gifts, and the Church's intercession for men that they may be able to use God's gifts according to the spirit of the Gospel.

1679 In addition to the liturgy, Christian life is nourished by various forms of popular piety, rooted in the different cultures. While carefully clarifying them in the light of faith, the Church fosters the forms of popular piety that express an evangelical instinct and a human wisdom and that enrich Christian life.

-- Ed Lauzon (grader@accglobal.net), January 12, 2003.

Dear Ed,

Thank you so much for your articulate reply and sharing your knowledge of the faith with us.

MaryLu

-- MaryLu (mlc327@juno.com), January 12, 2003.

At the endo of the Baptism ceremony we were (our godparents in the case of a little child) given a lighted candle while the priest said a prayer that goes something like this: "Recieve the light of Christ. Take care of this light now that you have been illuminated by Christ, walk always as a son of the light and preserve the faith so that you may come out to meet Christ, with all His saints when He comes at the end of times"

( I made a free translation of the Baptism Ritual as we have it in Spanish. Maybe someone can give the words used in the English Ritual)

So, from the moment of our Baptism we have the light of Christ in our mind and soul. That is why candles are lighted in all the other Sacraments meaning that the grace we recieved at Baptism is still living in us and it should be "relighted" and make it grow through our entire life.

I remember when I was a young man that at the moment of the distribution of Holy Communion the acolyte accompanied de priest with a small tray in one hand and a lighted candle in the other. You don't see that anymore.

Enrique

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), January 12, 2003.

Jackiea, At a Mass I recently attended the priest used incense, explaining that the tradition of incense is that it is a 'visible symbol/sign of our prayers being sent to heaven'. Hope this helps. God bless

-- (caritas.christi@btopenworld.com), January 12, 2003.

I love lighting real candles in a church. I miss that. Some churches still have them, but I do not 'push buttons.' Electric candles just are not the same.

We have a beautiful grotto nearby where you can pick your own candle and light it. It is so beautiful to see all the candles burning.

MaryLu

-- MaryLu (mlc327@juno.com), January 12, 2003.

http://liberalslikechrist.org/politicalmenu.htm

-- John Rylander (jrylander@yahoo.com), January 12, 2003.

Here's something on the idea of incense symbolizing our prayers rising to Heaven..

It's from John's revelation, chapter 8, verses 3 and 4; " Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a gold censor. He was given a great quantity of incense to offer, along with the prayers of all the holy ones, on the gold altar that was before the throne. The smoke of the incense along with the prayers of the holy ones went up before God from the hand of the angel".

-- Theresa Huether (Rodntee4Jesus@aol.com), January 12, 2003.

psalm 141:2 "let my prayer be incense before You; my uplifted hands, an evening sacrifice"..

-- Theresa Huether (RodnTee4Jesus@aol.com), January 12, 2003.

Hi Jackiea welcome back and thanks for that. I have another question about customs hope you dont mind me hijacking this thread. My sister in law is from Belgium she remembers having to cut the throat of an "ice lamb" for her First Holy Communion. Red blood like substance flowed from her "ice lamb".

Has anyone here experienced or heard of such a symbolic sacrifice and what is its significance? What are the origins of this event? Thanks.

-- (csisherwood@hotmail.com), January 12, 2003.

Dear (csisherwood@hotmail.com),

I never heard of such a sacrifice in the Catholic Church, perhaps someone else can answer your question.

MaryLu

-- MaryLu (mlc327@juno.com), January 12, 2003.

whoops thanks ML I forgot my tag

-- Kiwi (csisherwood@hotmail.com), January 12, 2003.

Hi Kiwi,

If I was more 'observant' I would have noticed your tag was missing! (LOL)

One must never enter the forum with their tag missing... :)

ML

-- MaryLu (mlc327@juno.com), January 13, 2003.

Jackiea,

I was looking at a site about the Mother Cabrini Shrine in Colorado and when I saw this statement about candle-lighting at the chapel, I thought of you and your question:

"The lighting of a candle is a devotional act in which we pray and ask for a special grace."

We brought water home from the shrine, and I used it to water my roses (which I never had any luck with) and the most beautiful, sweet- smelling roses bloomed!

In 1912 after forming the heart of stones, everyone walked down the hill to a level spot. The Sisters sat down on the rocks to rest. They told Mother Cabrini about the lack of good drinking water or even water clean enough for washing. Mother Cabrini arose from the red rock on which she had been sitting and tapping a rock with her cane told the Sisters "lift that rock and start to dig, you will find water fresh enough to drink and clean enough to wash." They dug a hole and a sparkling spring started to trickle forth. The spring, which is housed in an 8,000 gallon tank has never stopped running.

The spring has nothing to do with your post about candle-lighting, but I added it as a little bonus :)

MaryLu

-- MaryLu (mlc327@juno.com), January 13, 2003.