Church Candles and Their Essence

Church candles are one of the more important things that are used in church ceremonies and the Church religion. They are usually taken to represent many things about the Christian faith. For example, the Catholics hold the candle as representative of the body of Jesus Christ.

Christian baptisms also hold the candle as a symbol of an individual’s passage into receiving and being baptized in the light of God.

In wedding ceremonies, the mother’s of the couple lights up two candles that are taken to symbolize their union. These are some of the main roles that candles do during worship and ceremonies.

Ever since before, the candles have represented the light in the path of darkness has been something that’s become a big part in the lives of Christians and unbeliever’s as they transform themselves and start walking with the Lord.

Moreover, the candles are not only representative of the guidance that God gives, but it also shows the Lord’s love for his people.

All kinds of denomination use the church candles. Some have a preference as to the kind of candle they like to use for their church or services they perform.

Take the Catholic Church, for example, they prefer to use candles that are at the very least, 51 percent beeswax. If it was an Orthodox church, they usually require that the church candles be made from 100 percent beeswax.

The fact is that beeswax is quite expensive. This is the reason why the stubs are recycled to be made into new beeswax candles as well. On the other hand, there are other denominations that prefer to use organic candles instead.

Some churches like to us vegetable wax church candles. They like it because it burns efficiently and in longer times, apart from time, they are also cheap.

Using church candles have become a long tradition. Candles that are used today for our ceremonies and traditions were also equally celebrated in the traditions and celebrations in olden times.

Let’s see how these candles were used in ancient times and how it has come to evolve through the years.

Back then, Egyptians used the candle as a primary tool to conduct exorcisms, to scout out treasures and other rituals that they had. Because of this, the use of church candles was not exactly a welcome thought for the Roman Catholic Church.

Since it was primary tool used in pagan worship, the church had its hesitations. However, when the 4th century came, it slowly integrated the use of these candles into the common Christian rituals.

By this time, it was admitted to the church, however, despite of this, they were still
prohibited from being used in the altar since it also had strong associations with witchcraft.

It wasn’t until the Middle Ages when the church finally allowed church candles to be used in the altar provided they were blessed and cleanse. These candles were then also used as a way of blessing people, absolving sins, and casting out demons.

The candles usage has certainly treaded a long path. People have used these candles in so many ways for a very long time that its meaning has become amalgamated into our lives and special events that we celebrate. In addition, the church candles of today serve a great function in our faith and will continue to do so as long as we allow it to be.