Paschal candle

Paschal candle

Within the types of candles that we have for sale in our catalogue, at Brabander religious articles we have specialized in Paschal Candles. 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 . The Paschal Candles are one of the most relevant religious articles during the celebration of Holy Week and Easter.

The Paschal Candles that can be purchased at Religious Articles Brabander are made of top quality wax. They are manufactured using traditional processes that allow a wax with a completely pure color and a very pleasant touch to be achieved. We have for sale Paschal Candles with decorative elements in relief or totally smooth.

The best seller Paschal Candles with relief are decorated with the Cross (and/or other liturgical elements), the alpha, the omega, and the year in relief (easily replaceable). in the next years). This decoration is made with colored wax using the most modern techniques, achieving vivid and easily visible colors. 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. The best-selling measures are the Paschal Candle of 8 by 80 cm., 9 x 90 cm. and 10 x 100 cm.

What is the Paschal Candle?

The name of the candle comes from the 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.

Paschal candle, meaning

The Paschal Candle is one of the most significant candles that are normally used in a parish.

The Paschal Candle, while it is extinguished, represents death, the earthly life to which all men were condemned for our sins.

Instead, the Paschal Candle, once lit during the Easter Vigil ritual, represents the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ . It means the triumph of Jesus over death, the eternal life that our Savior gave us. The Paschal Candle represents the forgiveness of sins and the end of darkness.

Paschal candle, the history of meaning

The origin of the deep meaning represented by the Paschal Candle is not clear. What is known is that its meaning is defined by fire.

Fire was an element that represented, from the first, the presence of God. In the Old Testament we find numerous references 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. Many scholars consider the pillar of fire as 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 began to be related to the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ .

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.

The unlit Paschal Candle is associated with the death of Jesus, while the lit Paschal Candle represents the Resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Paschal candle, parts and meaning

The Paschal Candle is decorated with an alpha and an omega, the current year (it is recommended to purchase a new Paschal Candle each year), a Cross and/or other symbols of Jesus, and the five sticks of incense.

1. Alpha and Omega in the Paschal Candle

The Greek letter alpha (located at the top of the Paschal Candle) and the letter omega (located at the bottom of the Paschal Candle) are, respectively, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. The seaweed and the omega have three important meanings in the Paschal Candle:

A/ Christ is the beginning and the end of all things.

B/ The word of God is eternal (Revelation 1:08: "I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord, who is, who was and who is to come, the Almighty").

C/ Christ is alive in his Church now and always. Jesus gives us strength to face another year.

2. Year 2024 in the Paschal Candle

The year 2024 is placed on the Paschal Candle as a symbol of God's presence here and now.

3. The Cross and/or other symbols of Jesus

in the Paschal Candle it 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. Other liturgical symbols that are used today in the Easter Candles are the lamb, the risen Jesus Christ, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, etc…

4. Nails or grains of incense in the Paschal Candle

The nails or grains of incense represent the five wounds that Jesus suffered during his Crucifixion (the four wounds from the nails that held him to the Cross and the wound from the soldier's spear on his right side).