The Paschal Candle, symbol of the Resurrection of Christ
The Paschal Candle in Religious Articles Brabander
The purchase of a new Paschal Candle is an important moment for any parish, church, convent, cathedral, etc... in preparation for the Easter Vigil and Holy Week.
In today's post we want to talk about this liturgical consumable. If you already have knowledge of the functionality, origin or meaning of the Paschal Candle, perhaps what you want is to reserve and/or buy your Paschal Candle 2023 for Easter . If you are interested in knowing more about Paschal Candles, do not hesitate, keep reading. Of course, we would like that if you find any wrong information, do not hesitate to contact Religious Articles Brabander.
Paschal candle, history of the candle for Holy Week
The Paschal Candles are one of the most relevant religious articles during the celebration of Holy Week and Easter. During these dates, in addition to the Paschal Candle, the Holy Week sculptures are very important, pieces of religious imagery that recreate the last days of Jesus.
Entrance in Nazareth, where he was received as the King of the Jews, the Last Supper with his Disciples, his capture and sentence to death on the Cross, the Way of the Cross and his Crucifixion on Mount Golgotha, and of course, his Death and Resurrection.
The Easter Brotherhoods take out their owners in procession, creating an atmosphere of strong religious sentiment in the streets. The importance of liturgical vestments should also be noted. The priests buy and wear vestments that vary in color throughout Holy Week. Each of these liturgical colors is loaded with meaning during these days.
The Paschal Candles that you can buy at Religious Articles Brabander are made of top quality wax through traditional processes that allow you to achieve a wax with a totally pure color and a very pleasant touch. We have for sale Paschal Candles with decorative elements in relief or completely smooth.
The Paschal Candles with relief decoration that you can buy, the ones that have been most in demand in the last four years, are decorated with the Cross (and/or other liturgical elements), the alpha, the omega and the year 2023 in relief (easily replaceable in future years). This decoration is made with colored wax using the most modern techniques, achieving vivid and easily visible colors. In addition, the Cirio can be sold with the five incense nails. In the decoration of each of the Paschal Candle models that we have for sale, four to six colors are used, which gives the Candle a beautiful appearance. The relief decoration is finished with gold paint to give the Paschal Candle a glow during the blessing and lighting ritual.
The Paschal Candle, due to its special characteristics and use, must be a large candle, as described above. The measures we sell the most are the Paschal Candle of 8 by 80 cm., 9 x 90 cm. and 10 x 100 cm . The reason for the popularity of these measures is the proportionality they maintain and the possibility of easily adapting the liturgical elements made in relief.
What is the Paschal Candle ?
The name "candle" comes from Latin, from the word "cereus", which means wax.
The Paschal Candle is a large wax candle since it is lit from the Easter Vigil, the Saturday of Glory of Holy Week, until Pentecost Sunday. It is decorated with an alpha and an omega, the current year (it is recommended to buy a new Paschal Candle each year) with a Cross and other liturgical symbols. It is one of the most significant candles that are normally used in a parish since it represents the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ .
Paschal candle, meaning
The history of the ritual of the Paschal Candle is not clear, but we do know that its beginnings are related to fire and the identification that the first Christians made of this element with the presence of God.
In the Old Testament we find numerous references throughout history in this sense, from the burning bush that appeared to Moses to the column of fire that guided the people of Israel during the nights while they were in the desert. In fact, many scholars consider the pillar of fire to be one of the symbols closest to the current meaning of the Paschal Candle.
It is believed that in the fifth or sixth centuries, the flame of candles and candles begins to be related to the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ. The light as a symbol that illuminates the path to which is surrounded by darkness.
Already in the Middle Ages, between the 13th and 15th centuries, the meaning of the Paschal Candle began to be established as a candle with a very relevant role in the Liturgy. At that moment in history, the unlit Paschal Candle is associated with the death of Jesus, while once lit it represents the return to life, the Resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ.
Paschal candle, parts and meaning
The most important meaning of the Easter Candle is to remind us of the victory over the death of Our Lord Jesus Christ through the Resurrection. In addition, there are other symbols with relevant meanings for all Christians:
1. The Cross or other liturgical symbols in the Paschal Candle
The Cross is traditionally the symbol of Jesus . In an Easter Candle it represents Christ and the eternal light that he gives to all of us, serving as a guide in the dark.
In the Paschal Candles Jesus is also represented with other symbols. In the Brabander Easter Store you can buy the Easter Candle of the lamb , the Easter Risen Jesus Christ pachal candle , the Easter Vigil Candle of the Sacred Heart , etc…
2. Nails or grains of incense in the Paschal Candle
In some cases, nails or grains of incense can be purchased in the center and at each end of the arms of the Cross. Through these elements, the five wounds that Jesus suffered during his Crucifixion are represented (the four wounds from the nails that held him to the Cross and the wound from the soldier's lance on the right side).
3. Alpha and Omega in the Paschal Candle
The Greek letter alpha (located at the top of the Candle) and the letter omega (located at the bottom of the Candle) are, respectively, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. In a Paschal Candle they represent that Christ is the beginning and the end of all things .
It also reminds us that the word of God is eternal (Revelation 1:8: "I am the Alpha and the Omega, saith the Lord, who is, who was, and who is to come, the Almighty").
It also tells us that now and always Christ is alive in his Church, and gives him strength to face another year.
4. Year 2023 in the Paschal Candle
The year 2023 is placed on the Paschal Candle as a symbol of God's presence here and now . It can be placed in each of the holes in the arms of the Cross or in the lower part of the Candle.
Ritual of blessing, the Easter Vigil or “Lucernarium”
The blessing ritual is performed in our parishes each year at the Easter Vigil, the night of Holy Saturday, “the mother of all holy Vigils” (St. Augustine).
The ritual of the blessing and lighting of the candle begins with the faithful, each one with a candle, gathered around a bonfire or Holy Fire . The church is dark as a representation of the darkness that reigned in the sepulcher where the body of Christ was after being crucified.
The new fire of the bonfire, after being blessed together with the Paschal Candle, is used to light the Candle, symbol of Christ, "Light of the world".
If the lighting has been done outside the Church, the Easter Candle is carried in procession inside the Church, which still receives Light from the Lord in darkness.
The flame of the Paschal Candle, as a representation of the Resurrection of Christ, is used to light the candles of all the faithful. Once this act is done, the Easter Candle is placed in the presbytery. Its light will preside over the liturgical ceremony of the Easter Vigil, where everyone will proclaim Christ's victory over death with his Resurrection.
The Paschal Candle, from the Easter Vigil to Pentecost
Once the Easter Vigil is over, the Paschal Candle is placed on the altar, next to the ambo of the Word, as a symbol of the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ. During the fifty days of the Easter season, the Easter Candle is lit in all liturgical celebrations until the evening of Pentecost Sunday.
Once the Easter Time is over, the Candle is usually placed in a candlestick near the baptismal font. The Paschal Candle will be lit during the baptismal celebration to light the baptismal candle that will be given to the baptized baby or godparents.
In burials during the rites, the Paschal Candle can be lit and placed in its candlestick at the head of the coffin It is a way to remind us of the message of Romans 6: 3-5 "By baptism we were buried with him in the death, so that just as Christ was resurrected by the glory of the Father, we too may lead a new Life".
The purchase of the Paschal Candle for Holy Week, together with the purchase of candles and the Advent wreath and incense and liturgical charcoal, is one of the most significant purchases for any parish.