Tyler Brooks
The Paschal candle is a large candle used in liturgies in Western Christianity, including the Roman Catholic Church, Lutheran Churches, Anglican Communion, and Methodist Churches. The candle is blessed and lit every year at Easter and is used throughout the Easter season, which lasts 50 days, from Easter until Pentecost. It is then used throughout the year on occasions such as baptisms, funerals, and some other special occasions. The candle is lit during baptisms to signify the Holy Spirit and fire that John the Baptist promised to those who were baptized in Christ. The candle is also lit during funeral Masses as a reminder of the deceased's baptism and as an expression of Christian hope in the resurrection of the dead. The candle is not lit during the Easter season on Ascension Thursday and Good Friday.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| When the Paschal candle is lit | During solemn liturgical celebrations during the Easter season, from Easter until Pentecost Sunday or Ascension Day |
| When the Paschal candle is not lit | Outside of the Easter season, except during baptisms and funerals |
| Where the candle is placed when lit | In a prominent place in the church sanctuary, either by the ambo or by the altar |
| Where the candle is placed when unlit | In the baptistry, near the baptismal font |
| Other uses | The candle is also lit during funeral Masses as a reminder of the deceased's baptism and the resurrection of the dead |
| Composition | The candle is made of beeswax to represent the purity of Christ |
| Symbolism | The candle symbolises Christ, the Light of the World, and the light of Christ dispelling darkness (death) |
| Other symbolism | The wick of the candle represents Christ's humanity, and the flame represents his divine nature |
| History | The candle originated in the earliest days of Christianity, when evening prayer began with the lighting of a candle |
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What You'll Learn
The candle is lit during Easter until Pentecost Sunday
The Paschal candle is a large candle used in liturgies in Western Christianity, including the Roman Catholic Church, the Lutheran Churches, the Anglican Communion, and the Methodist Churches. The candle is blessed and lit every year at Easter, and it is used throughout the Easter season, which lasts for 50 days, from Easter until Pentecost Sunday. The candle is lit during Mass and other liturgical services during this time.
The lighting of the Paschal candle represents the risen Christ, symbolising light (life) dispelling darkness (death). The candle is often raised three times during the procession, accompanied by the chant "The light of Christ", to which the assembly responds, "Thanks be to God". The candle is also closely associated with baptism, as catechumens are traditionally baptised and received into the church at the Easter vigil. The candle is kept in a prominent place in the church sanctuary during the Easter season, and it is moved to the baptistry after Pentecost, where it is used to light the candles of the baptised during baptism ceremonies.
The use of the Paschal candle has varied over the centuries. In the past, the candle was broken up after the Easter Vigil and fragments were given to the faithful. From the 10th century onwards, the candle was kept until the Feast of the Ascension, 40 days after Easter. By the 12th century, it was common to inscribe the candle with the current year, and over time, the candle grew in size.
In some traditions, the Paschal candle is lit until Ascension Day, when it is extinguished after the Gospel. In the Ordinary form of the Roman Rite, the candle is also lit and placed near the coffin during funeral Masses. In Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic churches, there is no direct equivalent to the Western Paschal candle, but during Bright Week, the priest carries a cross and a paschal trikirion, which consists of three lit candles.
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It is not lit during exposition or Benediction
The Paschal Candle is a large, white candle used in liturgies in Western Christianity – that is, the Catholic Church, the Lutheran Churches, the Anglican Communion, and the Methodist Churches, among others. It is lit throughout the Paschal Triduum—from the Mass of the Lord's Supper exclusive, through Easter Sunday—and then at every baptism and at funeral masses throughout the year. The candle symbolizes the light of Christ shining in darkness.
The candle is lit at the Easter Vigil and kept lit for the Paschal Triduum. However, it is not lit during the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament or Benediction. The exposition refers to the display of the Eucharist outside Mass. Benediction, on the other hand, is a devotional ceremony, during which the Eucharist is exposed, usually after the celebration of Mass, and then put back in the tabernacle.
The reason for the candle not being lit during these ceremonies is that the ceremonies themselves are considered to be a display of Christ's presence in the Eucharist. The lighting of the Paschal Candle would be a duplication of this symbolism and, therefore, unnecessary. Instead, other candles are lit during Benediction and the exposition, usually smaller candles placed around the altar or near the tabernacle.
During the Easter Vigil, the Paschal Candle is lit from the new Easter Fire and processed into a completely dark church. The candle is then used to light the smaller candles of the congregation, symbolizing the light of Christ spreading through the world. This ceremony is unique to the Easter Vigil and is not repeated during the other liturgies of the Easter season.
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The candle is placed near the coffin during funeral Masses
The Paschal candle is a large candle used in liturgies in Western Christianity, including the Roman Catholic Church, Lutheran Churches, Anglican Communion, and Methodist Churches. The candle is blessed and lit every year at Easter and is used throughout the Easter season. It is then used throughout the year on occasions such as baptisms, funerals, and other special occasions. The candle is lit during funeral Masses as a reminder of the deceased's baptism and to express Christian hope in the resurrection of the dead.
During funeral Masses, the Paschal candle is placed near the coffin to indicate that the death of a Christian is their own Passover. The candle is not lit nor placed in the sanctuary outside the Easter season. The General Introduction to the Order of Christian Funerals states that only Christian symbols may be on or near the coffin during the funeral liturgy.
The Paschal candle is lit during baptisms to signify the Holy Spirit and the fire that John the Baptist promised to those who were baptised in Christ. The candle is kept in the baptistry after the Easter season so that the candles of the baptised may be lit from it. The candle is also lit during other solemn liturgical celebrations during the Easter season.
The candle is placed near the coffin during the Mass of the repose of the soul or the Requiem. The catafalque is a pall-covered, coffin-shaped structure that was used for Masses for the Dead after burial to simulate the presence of the deceased. It was also used on All Souls' Day and was abolished in the late 1960s. For Funeral Masses with military honours for US military personnel, the casket enters and exits the church draped in the US flag. The flag is removed upon entry so that the casket may be sprinkled with holy water and the pall placed for the Funeral Liturgy.
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The candle is lit during baptisms outside of Easter
The Paschal candle is a large candle used in liturgies in Western Christianity. It is blessed and lit every year at Easter and used throughout the Easter season until Pentecost Sunday. It is placed near the altar and lit during solemn liturgical celebrations during Eastertide.
After Eastertide, the candle is moved to the baptistry and is lit during baptisms outside of Easter. The candles of the newly baptised are lit from the Paschal candle. This is to signify the Holy Spirit and fire that John the Baptist promised to those who were baptised in Christ. The candle is also lit during funeral Masses as a reminder of the deceased's baptism.
The candle is not lit nor placed in the sanctuary outside the Easter season, except during funerals. During the funeral liturgy, the Paschal candle is placed near the coffin to indicate that the death of a Christian is their own Passover.
In non-parish churches where baptisms are rare, the Paschal candle can be kept in the sacristy when not in use.
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The candle is not lit during Masses for the dead
The Paschal candle is a large candle used in liturgies in Western Christianity. It is blessed and lit every year at Easter and is used throughout the Easter season until Pentecost. The candle is also lit during funeral Masses as a reminder of the deceased's baptism and as an expression of Christian hope in the resurrection of the dead.
However, the candle is not lit during Masses for the dead in some traditions. In the Roman Catholic Church, for example, the practice of lighting candles for the dead is not directly addressed in the Bible. Instead, it is associated with the Catholic doctrine of purgatory, which is based on tradition rather than biblical teachings. According to this belief, the prayers of the living can improve the state of souls in purgatory and speed up their journey to heaven.
While lighting candles for the dead may be a symbolic gesture or an expression of grief, it is not considered to have any impact on the afterlife or the effectiveness of prayers. The focus of Christian practice should be on offering compassion and support to the grieving loved ones of the departed, rather than on amplifying prayers through physical actions like lighting candles.
Therefore, while the Paschal candle holds significant meaning during the Easter season and funeral Masses, it is not lit during Masses specifically for the dead in certain Christian traditions, such as the Roman Catholic Church.
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Frequently asked questions
The Paschal candle is not lit during the Easter season from Ascension Day until Pentecost Sunday.
The Paschal candle is a large candle used in liturgies in Western Christianity. It is made of beeswax to represent the purity of Christ.
The candle is lit during Mass and other liturgical services from Easter until Ascension Day.
The candle represents Christ, the Light of the World. The wick symbolises His humanity and the flame, His Divine Nature.
The candle is kept in the baptistry and is lit during baptisms and funeral Masses.
