Thursday, April 16, 2020

Easter candle


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This Easter Vigil Father Daniel began our service with a blessing and lighting of our Easter candle. While all candles have held a special place in the Catholic tradition, the Paschal candle is used as a direct symbol of Jesus.

According to Fr. Edward McNamara, “The most likely origin [of the Easter candle] is that it derived from the Lucernarium, the evening office with which early Christians began the vigil for every Sunday and especially that of Easter. In turn, this rite is probably inspired by the Jewish custom of lighting a lamp at the conclusion of the Sabbath. The rite therefore has its roots in the very beginning of Christianity. In the Lucernarium rite the light destined to dispel the darkness of night was offered to Christ as the splendor of the Father and indefectible light. This Sunday rite was logically carried out with greater solemnity during the Easter Vigil.”