Jessie Taylor
The Paschal candle, also known as the Easter candle or Christ 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 Eastertide and then throughout the year on occasions such as baptisms, funerals, and some other special occasions. In the traditional Western rite, the candle is extinguished after the Gospel on Ascension Day. However, in some traditions, the candle remains lit through Pentecost. The candle is put away after Ascension Day and is brought out again at the Pentecost vigil.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What is a Paschal candle | A large candle used in liturgies in Western Christianity |
| When is it used | It is blessed and lit every year at Easter and used throughout the Eastertide and then throughout the year on occasions such as baptisms, funerals and some other special occasions |
| What is it called | Easter candle or Christ candle |
| What does it symbolise | The presence of the glorified risen Christ |
| What does the term Paschal mean | It comes from the Latin word Pascha, which came from the Hebrew word Pesach, meaning Passover |
| What are Paschal candles made of | Beeswax |
| What size do they come in | In the US and Southern Europe, they are 4 inches in diameter and 36 to 48 inches tall; in Northern Europe, they are shorter and wider |
| When is the Paschal candle removed on Ascension Day | It is traditionally extinguished after the Gospel on Ascension Day, but some sources say it should be lit until Pentecost Sunday |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- The Paschal candle is extinguished on Ascension Day
- The candle is lit during solemn liturgical celebrations during the Easter season
- The candle is blessed and lit every year at Easter
- The candle is placed near the coffin during the Mass of the repose of the soul
- The candle symbolises the presence of the risen Christ
The Paschal candle is extinguished on Ascension Day
The Paschal candle is a large candle used in liturgies in Western Christianity, including the Roman Catholic Church, Lutheran Churches, the Anglican Communion, and Methodist Churches. It is sometimes referred to as the "Easter candle" or the "Christ candle". The candle is blessed and lit every year at Easter and is used throughout the Easter season and beyond.
The candle is often adorned with several symbols, including a cross, the Greek letters alpha and omega, the numerals of the current year, and five grains of incense encased in red or golden wax "nails". These symbols represent the presence of the risen Christ, with the cross being the most prominent.
Traditionally, the candle was extinguished after the Gospel on Ascension Day, symbolizing Christ's bodily presence on earth. This Roman practice dates back centuries and is mentioned in the Book of Common Prayer, which states that the candle should burn at all services from Easter Day through Pentecost.
However, some people argue that extinguishing the candle on Ascension Day erroneously signifies the removal of the risen Christ from the world, when in fact, the Ascension represents the idea that the risen Christ is present at all places and times.
Nowadays, there is a preference to keep the Paschal candle lit beyond Ascension Day, through the Great Fifty Days of the Paschal Feast until Pentecost. This expanded use is also practical, as most parishes renew the Easter candle annually.
Restoring a Chandelier: Fixing Candles the Right Way
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The candle is lit during solemn liturgical celebrations during the Easter season
The Paschal candle, also known as the "Easter candle" or "Christ candle", is a large candle used in liturgies in Western Christianity. It is the largest candle in the worship space and is often around 4 inches in diameter and 36 to 48 inches tall in the United States and Southern Europe. In Northern Europe, it tends to be shorter in height and wider in diameter. The candle is made mostly of beeswax, as the Church Fathers saw the bee as a symbol of the Virgin Mary.
The Paschal candle is blessed and lit every year at Easter and is used throughout the Easter season, also known as Eastertide. It is lit during solemn liturgical celebrations during this time, including special occasions such as baptisms, funerals, the ordination of priests, and the Consecration of virgins. The candle is lit during baptisms to signify the Holy Spirit and fire that John the Baptist promised to those who were baptised in Christ. In some traditions, the Paschal candle is also used to light the baptismal candle.
The candle is placed near the altar or pulpit of the church and is lit for all liturgies during the Easter season. It is sometimes used in a procession before the Easter Vigil celebration, after which the Exultet is chanted. The Exultet concludes with the offering of the candle to God. In some communities, nearby churches of different Christian denominations come together to make the new Easter Fire and then process back to their own churches with their Paschal Candles.
After the Easter season, the candle is kept in the baptistry or near the baptismal font so that it can be used to light the candles of the newly baptised. It is also placed near the coffin during funeral rites to indicate that the death of a Christian is their own Passover. In the Ordinary form of the Roman Rite, the Paschal candle is lit and placed near the coffin during the Mass of the repose of the soul or the Requiem.
Creative Ways to Embellish Wrought Iron Candle Sticks
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The candle is blessed and lit every year at Easter
The Paschal candle is a large candle used in liturgies in Western Christianity. A new Paschal candle is blessed and lit every year at Easter. The candle is lit during an Easter Vigil service on Holy Saturday night. This ritual involves kindling a "new" fire in a metal bowl, from which the Paschal candle is lit. The candle is then carried in procession into a darkened church.
The lighting of the candle represents the light of Christ coming into the world, dispelling the darkness, as described in the Gospel of John: "I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life". The candle itself symbolises Christ, and the “new” fire represents the Resurrection. The Paschal candle is placed on a special stand near the altar, where it remains for the full 50 days of the Easter season, until Pentecost.
The Paschal candle is adorned with several symbolic decorations. The most prominent symbol is the cross, which identifies it as the Paschal candle. Five grains of incense are inserted into the candle, encased in red or golden wax "nails". These represent the five Holy Wounds of Christ, recalling the spices used to prepare his body for burial. The Greek letters alpha and omega are also featured, symbolising that God is the beginning and the end.
After the Easter season, the candle is kept in the baptistry, and used to light the candles of those being baptised, symbolising the Holy Spirit and fire promised by John the Baptist. The Paschal candle is also lit during funerals, placed near the coffin to indicate the Christian's own Passover.
Beeswax Candles: Healthy, Natural Light for Your Home
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The candle is placed near the coffin during the Mass of the repose of the soul
The Paschal candle, also known as the "'Easter candle" or "Christ candle", is a large candle used in liturgies in Western Christianity. It is the largest candle in the worship space and is used in the Roman Catholic Church, Lutheran Churches, Anglican Communion, and Methodist Churches, among others. A new Paschal candle is blessed and lit every year at Easter and is used throughout the Easter season.
The candle is placed near the altar and lit during solemn liturgical celebrations until Pentecost Sunday. In some traditions, the candle is kept lit until Ascension Day, when it is extinguished after the Gospel. The candle symbolises the presence of the risen Christ and is therefore extinguished at his Ascension.
After the Easter season, the candle is moved to a place of honour in the baptistry, where it is used to light the candles of the baptised during baptisms. It is also used during funerals, where it is placed near the coffin during the Mass of the repose of the soul or the Requiem. This is to indicate that the death of a Christian is their own Passover, symbolising the Christian's passover from death to life.
The Paschal candle is also used on other special occasions throughout the year, such as the ordination of priests, the taking of vows, and the Consecration of virgins.
Candle-Making: Preservatives in Homemade Candles, Are They Necessary?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$30.38 $31.99
The candle symbolises the presence of the risen Christ
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. A new candle is blessed and lit every year at Easter and is used throughout the Easter season and beyond. The candle is adorned with Christian symbols, including the cross, the Greek letters alpha and omega, the numerals of the current year, and five grains of incense encased in red or golden wax "nails".
The candle is sometimes referred to as the "Easter candle" or the "Christ candle". It is the first candle to be lit with a flame from the sacred fire, representing the light of Christ coming into the world and dispelling the darkness of death. The candle symbolises the presence of the risen Christ, a symbol of light and life. This is evident in the words said before the candle is lit: "May the light of Christ, rising in glory, dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds."
The Paschal candle is typically 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 also used during funerals, placed near the coffin to indicate that the death of a Christian is their own Passover. In the Ordinary form of the Roman Rite, the candle is lit and placed near the coffin during the Mass of the repose of the soul or the Requiem.
In some traditions, the candle is extinguished on Ascension Day just after the Gospel, symbolising the removal of the risen Christ from the world. However, this practice has been questioned, as the Ascension signifies that the risen Christ is present at all places and times, not limited to a particular place and time in history. The Book of Common Prayer envisions the Paschal Candle burning at all services from Easter Day through the Day of Pentecost, encompassing the Great Fifty Days of the Paschal Feast.
Ear Candling: What's Really in the Wax?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The Paschal candle is traditionally extinguished on Ascension Day, after the Gospel reading, but it is not removed from the sanctuary until after Mass.
After being extinguished, the Paschal candle is put away and brought out again, unlit, at the Pentecost vigil.
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 and beyond.
The Paschal candle symbolises the presence of the risen Christ.
