Anyone that’s read this blog over the years may remember that when we first moved to Shepherdstown, we participated in making the Paschal, or Easter, candle for our church. In the past I’ve described a bit how we did it and it’s become an annual activity for us every year. The plan was to turn the candle making over to someone else because the same people have been doing it for quite a few years now. But — you know what they say about plans…. this past past Saturday we once again gathered to perform our candle making routine.
Most of these blog posts have talked about the activities associated with making the candle and not the candle itself — I thought today might be a good day to do just that.
The Paschal candle is one of the most sacred and enduring elements in Christianity. It is made of beeswax to represent the purity of Christ. the candle’s wick signifies Christ’s humanity, and the flame His Divine Nature.
The word “paschal” is the equivalent of the Greek paschs, derived from the Aramaic pashā and Hebrew pesah, meaning passing over. With the coming of Christianity the word “paschal” took on a new meaning, referring to Our Lord’s passion, death, resurrection, and glorification.
The 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 its description of “pillar.” By the mid-sixteenth century, some Paschal candles weighed as much as three hundred pounds, and after use, were melted into tapers to use at the funerals of the poor.
Well, our candle doesn’t weight three hundred pounds, but it’s about five feet tall and in a few weeks it’ll be ready to take its place in our church. It’s always nice to see the new candle in place on Easter — it’s a symbol of hope, renewal, and new life….
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