Chloe Adams
The Paschal candle, a large candle used in liturgies in Western Christianity, is lit during the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night. The candle is blessed and lit every year at Easter and is used throughout the Easter season until Ascension Day. It is also lit during the 50 days of Easter, from Easter through Pentecost, and at baptisms and funerals.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| When is it lit? | At Easter, the Pascal candle is lit from a new fire during the Easter Vigil. It is then lit for liturgical services during the 50 days of the Easter season until Pentecost Sunday or Ascension Day. |
| Who lights it? | The deacon carries the Pascal candle and lights it from the new fire. If there is no deacon, the celebrant carries it. |
| Where is it placed? | During the Easter season, the Pascal candle is placed near the altar. After the Easter season, it is placed near the font and lit during baptisms. It may also be placed near the coffin during funeral services. |
| What is it made of? | The Pascal candle is traditionally made of beeswax, symbolising the pure flesh of Christ. |
| How is it decorated? | The Pascal candle is often decorated with a cross, symbols of the resurrection, the Greek letters Alpha and Omega, and the year. |
| What does it symbolise? | The Pascal candle symbolises the risen Christ, light, and life. It also symbolises the presence of the glorified risen Christ and the Holy Spirit. |
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What You'll Learn
The Paschal candle is lit at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday
The Paschal candle is a powerful Christian symbol of the resurrection of Christ and his status as the Light of the World. The candle is adorned with Christian symbols, including the cross, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet (Alpha and Omega), and symbols of wheat and grapes. The Paschal candle is lit annually at Easter, and its lighting is one of the most solemn moments of the service.
The candle is lit at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday, when a fire is kindled in a metal bowl called a brazier. From this fire, a new and blessed flame is taken to light the Paschal candle. The candle is then carried in procession into the church, raised three times, accompanied by the chant "The light of Christ", to which the assembly responds, "Thanks be to God". The Paschal candle is carried by the deacon, who pauses three times during the procession. After the candle is placed in its stand, the Exsultet is sung or said.
The Paschal candle remains in the sanctuary on its special candle stand for the full 50 days of the Easter season, from Easter to Pentecost. It is lit for liturgical services during this time, symbolising the presence of the risen Christ. After Pentecost, the candle is placed next to the baptismal font and lit during baptisms throughout the year, symbolising the passing of the light of Christ to each person being baptised.
The Paschal candle is also used at funeral services, where it is placed next to the casket during a funeral Mass. It serves as a reminder of the Christian belief in the resurrection of the dead and life with Christ in the world to come.
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It is lit at baptisms and funerals
The Pascal candle is a large candle used in liturgies in Western Christianity. A new Pascal candle is blessed and lit every year at Easter. It is used throughout the Eastertide and then throughout the year on occasions such as baptisms and funerals.
Baptisms
The Pascal 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 lit to pass the light of Christ to each person being baptised. The newly baptised person may be given a small baptismal candle that is lit from the Pascal candle.
Funerals
The Pascal candle is lit during funeral services and placed near the coffin during a funeral Mass. It serves as a reminder that the sacrament of baptism is a death and resurrection in Christ. It symbolises that the death of a Christian is their own Passover.
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The candle is lit during the 50 days of Easter
The Pascal candle is a powerful Christian symbol of Christ's Resurrection and Light of the World. The lighting of the Pascal candle is one of the most solemn moments of the Easter Vigil service. On Maundy Thursday, all candles and lamps in the church are extinguished, symbolising the darkness of a world without Christ.
On Holy Saturday night, a fire is kindled in a metal bowl, known as a brazier. From this fire, a new and blessed flame is used to light the Pascal candle, which is then carried in a procession into the darkened church. The Pascal candle is placed on a special candle stand in the sanctuary, near the altar, where it remains throughout the 50 days of Easter. During this time, it is lit for liturgical services, symbolising the presence of the risen Christ.
The candle is lit each day during Mass throughout the Easter season until Ascension Thursday or Ascension Day, according to some traditions. It is customary for the candle to remain lit during all the more solemn liturgical celebrations of the Easter season until Pentecost Sunday. After the Easter season, the candle is placed near the font and continues to be lit for baptisms throughout the year, symbolising new life in Christ.
The Pascal candle is also lit for funerals, where it is placed near the coffin to indicate that the death of a Christian is their own Passover. Additionally, the candle may be lit during rehearsals or meetings in the sanctuary during the Easter season.
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It is extinguished on Ascension Day
The Paschal candle is a large candle used in liturgies in Western Christianity. It is a symbol of Christ's resurrection and light of the world. The candle is lit at Easter and remains lit throughout the Easter season until Pentecost. However, in some traditions, the candle is extinguished on Ascension Day, which falls on the 40th day of Easter.
The term "Paschal" comes from the Latin word "Pascha," derived from the Hebrew word "Pesach," meaning Passover. The Paschal candle is often decorated with a cross, symbols of the resurrection, the Greek letters Alpha and Omega, and the year. It is typically placed near the altar in the sanctuary of the church.
The lighting of the Paschal candle is a solemn and sacred moment in the Easter Vigil service. During the service, the minister says a prayer and traces symbols on the candle with a stylus. The candle is then carried into the church by the deacon or celebrant, who pauses and raises it three times during the procession while the assembly responds with "Thanks be to God."
When the Paschal candle is extinguished on Ascension Day, it symbolises the end of the Easter season and the return to ordinary time in the liturgical calendar. After Pentecost, the candle is typically placed near the baptismal font and lit during baptisms throughout the year. This represents the new life in Christ shared through baptism.
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The candle symbolises the risen Christ
The Paschal candle is a large candle used in liturgies in Western Christianity. A new candle is blessed and lit every year at Easter and is used throughout the Easter season. The candle is often decorated with a cross, symbols of the resurrection, the Greek letters Alpha and Omega, and the year. The term "Paschal" comes from the Latin word "Pascha", derived from the Hebrew word "Pesach", meaning Passover.
The Paschal candle is also lit during baptisms to signify the Holy Spirit and the fire that John the Baptist promised to those who were baptised in Christ. It is placed near the font after the Easter season and represents new life in Christ through baptism. The newly baptised person may receive a small baptismal candle lit from the Paschal candle.
The candle is also used in funeral processions and is placed near the coffin as a symbol of resurrection life. In some traditions, the Paschal candle is lit during solemn liturgical celebrations until Ascension Day, when it is extinguished just after the Gospel. The candle symbolises the presence of the glorified risen Christ during these services.
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Frequently asked questions
The Pascal candle is lit for the first time on Holy Saturday during the Easter Vigil.
The candle is kept burning for the entirety of the Easter Vigil and throughout the Easter season until Ascension Day.
The Pascal candle is typically placed near the font after the Easter season.
The Pascal candle is lit at baptisms, funerals, and other special occasions such as the ordination of priests.
The Pascal candle represents the risen Christ, symbolising light (life) and dispelling darkness (death).
