Since we moved to Shepherdstown, every year we help make the Easter Candle for our church. Obviously, it’s become a tradition. I never realized how expensive these candles are, and with the church watching it’s pennies, it seems like a prudent way to save a little money. I not only didn’t realize the cost of the candles, I really never gave the candle much thought at all… however it is one of the most sacred and enduring elements in Christianity.
The Easter, or Paschal, Candle is lit at the Easter Vigil and used throughout the year in the church.
The candle must be made of pure wax representing the sinless flesh Christ took on from Mary. The flame represents His divinity and the wick His humanity. The Candle itself is not blessed at the Easter Vigil, but the blessing is for the fire from which the candle is lit.
At the beginning of the Easter Vigil, a “blazing fire” is lit outside the church. The fire represents the glory of Christ’s resurrection after the darkness of the church following the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy (Maundy) Thursday night. The priest first blesses the fire, praying that through the paschal celebrations, the people will be “inflamed with heavenly desires.”
The precise use of the Paschal candle has varied over the centuries. Initially it was broken up after the Easter Vigil and fragments were given to the faithful. But from the 10th century onward it was kept in a place of honor near the Gospel 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. Over time the candle grew in size to merit the description of “pillar.”
The word paschal originally meant the “passing over.” The word took on a new meaning with christianity, referring to Our Lord’s passion, death, resurrection, and glorification.
We didn’t see this year’s Easter Candle lit, but it’ll still stand in its place in the church, representing the death and resurrection of Our Lord — and — the faith, hope and eternal life for us all.
Happy Easter…..
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