

Written by Benoît Santos - Updated on Oct 26, 2024
Are you trying to understand why we light candles in church when praying? 🕯️
The Christian Cross team brings them to you in this blog article.
The burning of the candle reminds us of the very purpose of every Christian's life. That which is to burn for love of Christ and to be purified by Him. The candle helps us to remember and sanctify the soul of a deceased person who is dear to us.
At the end of this article, you will be able to:
- Know the symbolisms of this act ;
- Know why to light a candle during prayer ;
- Understanding why the Catholic Church uses so many candles during prayer.
Without further ado, let's start reading this article!
The Importance of Candle Flame in Prayer

The candle ( candle ), is made largely of wax which is wrapped around a not too thin wire serving as a wick. It has a multitude of shapes. The candle is often used in certain religious rites.
We are often given to notice that they are brightly lit in churches most of the time. And even more so at every event of great magnitude such as weddings, masses . Why or for what purpose should we light candles in church? Is it a bad thing not to light them?
The symbolism of the candle in the church
Lighting a candle in church is not a meaningless thing. It illuminates us but it also translates The light of the world . Candles are traditionally lit in churches of all denominations because of their symbolic meaning. At baptisms , funerals , masses And At weddings , the function of candles is to illuminate and dispel darkness. Their beauty and warmth are a reminder of God's love.
Some believers come to light candles at church as a way of recognizing all the blessings that God has granted them. Others, it is in honor of their success, some, it is following their enrichment and most, it is in honor of their healing . This indescribable love that God has for us really has no limit to the point where he is always at our side in our difficult moments. In our moments of despair and more..,
The candle flame has various meanings. Let’s look at them in more detail.
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The unit
Lighting a candle in a church can have a unifying function. Often, each member of the congregation or religious group holds a candle and sings a hymn in unison. This unity symbolizes the love and warmth each has experienced from God and the religious community.
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The truth
The light of the candle provides guidance in the darkness. This is symbolic of the truth of God's word, a lamp that guides the path of the believer. Darkness is symbolic of ignorance, darkness and death.
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Love
Candles can be a symbol of love, especially because of the warmth they generate. It is appropriate during a wedding ceremony, where the bride and groom can light a candle as a symbol of their love.
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Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ Himself claimed to be the "light of the world" (John 8:12). The candle can symbolize Jesus Christ and the believer carries the light of Christ within him. The body of the candle burns , just like the material body, but the fire represents the eternal truth of those who believe.
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Faith
The flame of the candle is the symbol of faith itself. If left unattended, the flame will go out. The believer must protect the flame of faith from the contrary winds of life. While having faith that he is protected and accompanied in all his works by the Almighty God.
Why light candles during prayer?

Candles have been lit in churches since time immemorial. During celebrations, candles are lit on the altar. When the priest reads the Gospel on each side of him, a candle is lit. At funerals, many worshipers light candles. During processions, candles are lit and special care is taken not to extinguish them. Candles are always lit in front of holy images. It is important to let the candles burn until they are extinguished.
In some places, candles are not allowed to burn completely, it is good to know that the good Lord has seen our lit candle and our intention anyway. Lighting a candle should never be a mechanical gesture but a gesture felt deep in our heart accompanied by a personal prayer with our intentions. The candle is the continuation of our prayer when we cannot stay the desired time in church.
The burning of the candle reminds us of the very purpose of the life of every Christian, which is to burn for love of Christ and to be purified by Him. The candle helps us to remember and purify the soul of a deceased person who is dear to us. The candle is also the symbol of the resurrection on the holy night of Easter, when the priest with the fire of Jerusalem begins to illuminate the church by singing the Xristos Anesti .
Why does the Catholic Church use so many candles?

The answer lies in the tradition and history of the Church. The use of candles is part of the rich heritage of the Catholic faith. It is true that candles probably had a practical purpose in liturgies and rituals before electricity became common. But the use of candles has a much deeper scriptural and theological significance. In the Old Testament, the use of lights and lamps is considered an important part of Jewish worship in the Temple in Jerusalem. In fact, the seven-branched menorah , first used in the mobile sanctuary built by Moses as the Israelites wandered in the desert and later becoming an integral part of Temple worship, is today one of the most recognizable symbols of Judaism.
In his book Signs of Life, Dr. Scott Hahn explains how the apostles viewed the celebration of the Eucharist. The apostles introduced into the Christian liturgy many aspects of what had previously been associated with Temple worship, and one of the things that became established in Christian liturgies was the use of lights and lamps. As Dr. Hahn points out, one of the earliest accounts of a Christian liturgy describes St. Paul preaching to a crowded hall in which “there were many lamps” ( Acts 20:8).
It would have been excessive to have so many lights in the small room described in this passage. This indicates that the lamps were part of the ritual and had more than a practical purpose. At the basis of the Church's use of lamps (and candles today) are the words of Christ himself: "I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). This is why, during the Easter Vigil, we turn to the Paschal candle and proclaim "Christ, our light."
The candle in Christian masses and sacraments

The same truth that Christ is our light lies behind the use of candles in the celebration of the Eucharist, certain sacraments, and other rites such as funerals. At a baptism, a candle is lit from the Easter candle to indicate that the person being baptized is receiving the light of Christ. This is not just a pious thought. Lighting the candle is an important part of the rite of Baptism, in which a person dies spiritually and is resurrected with Christ.
By receiving the light of Christ during the ceremony in the form of a lit candle , the individual symbolically receives the light of Christ. So that he can live out his baptismal identity as a child of God. At funerals too, the Paschal candle is lit and placed near the coffin to recall the person's baptism. And their participation in the Paschal mystery of Christ. This person died and rose again with Christ at baptism. By lighting the Paschal candle at their funeral, we profess the hope of eternal life in the risen Christ.
As you may have noticed, candles are also widely used during the celebration of the Mass. What you may not have noticed is the number of different ways in which candles are used during the Eucharistic celebration . The root of this practice is always the fact that the lit candle is meant to symbolize the light of Christ , but the number of candles, and in some cases even their type, usually has additional meanings.
How many candles should be lit during mass and prayer?

There must be at least two candles lit during the celebration of any Mass. But this number may increase to four or even six during Sunday and holiday Masses. If the local bishop celebrates the Mass, a seventh candle must be lit and placed on the altar. The changes in the number of candles used serve both to indicate the festive character of the Mass celebrated on that day and to remind us that there is something different, and perhaps special, about this particular Eucharistic celebration.
During the liturgical season of Easter, for example, the Paschal Candle is lit at every Mass to indicate the joy of the Easter season. Also to continually draw attention to the commemoration of Christ's death and resurrection. And for what they mean to us. The use of candles during Eucharistic adoration follows a similar idea. The norm is to light four to six candles during the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance, while at least two lit candles are required for the exposition in the ciborium.
There are also modern customs associated with candles, such as the use of a unity candle at weddings. Such practices are not part of the Catholic tradition. The image behind a unity candle is certainly beautiful, but if we truly think about the rite of marriage and the depth and richness it already contains, there is no need to add to the Mass and the rite of marriage something that does not belong there. That said, I am not opposed to the idea of a couple lighting such a candle outside of the celebration of the Mass and the rite of the sacrament of marriage.
The sacramental dimension of the candle

Likewise, there is a sacramental dimension to lighting a candle and praying before an image or statue of Christ or the saints. Lighting a candle is not essential to our prayer, and it does not make the prayers more precious in God’s eyes. Burning a candle before an image or statue is not a form of idol worship, but it deepens our devotion to God. It represents our desire to have our prayers for ourselves and others remain before God as the candle burns, even after we have finished praying and left.
Simply lighting a candle and walking away doesn’t work; we also need to pray. After all, there’s a reason these candles are called votive candles . The term “votive” comes from the Latin word votum , which means “prayer,” among other things. One of the benefits of lighting a candle in a church is that it continues to burn long after we have left the church. If you have ever entered a famous sanctuary, you have probably noticed rows and rows of candles burning in different parts of the church.
Each candle was lit by someone who came in faith and hope, offering a prayer to God for something they needed. Or to thank the Lord. That’s not what we use candles for, of course. But it’s a wonderful testimony of faith and dedication to God. Maybe the next time you see a candle burning in a church, it’ll be worth whispering a short prayer for the person who lit it.
Let your light shine through the candle flames

The amazing thing is that the light of Christ, represented by the flames of the lamps and candles , not only symbolizes Jesus, but also indicates his invitation to each of us to be "the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14). Our Lord gives us his light so that it may be our light. So that we may share our light (which is truly his) with those around us.
So light a candle often when you pray . Focus on the flames of the candle the next time you go to Mass. And think about how that light symbolizes for you the presence of Christ. And may all of this help you to bring a new light—the light of Christ—into your life and into the lives of those around you.
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In short, you can now speak more comfortably about why we light a candle in church. You now know its origins and effects.
4 comments
Bonjour Franck 🕊️
En tant que chrétien, vous avez le droit de prier chez vous et d’allumer une bougie. La prière est une pratique spirituelle personnelle qui peut être effectuée n’importe où, y compris chez soi.
Allumer une bougie peut également faire partie de la pratique de la prière pour certains chrétiens. La bougie peut symboliser la présence de Dieu, la lumière de Christ ou la manifestation de l’Esprit saint. C’est un moyen symbolique de se concentrer et de créer une atmosphère propice à la prière et à la méditation. Cependant, il est important de noter que les pratiques religieuses peuvent varier selon les différentes dénominations chrétiennes. Certains groupes peuvent accorder plus ou moins d’importance à l’allumage des bougies ou à d’autres pratiques spécifiques. Il est donc préférable de se référer aux enseignements et aux pratiques spécifiques de votre église ou de votre dénomination si vous avez des questions plus précises sur la prière à domicile et l’allumage des bougies.
Merci,mais je voudrais savoir si l’on peut allumer la bougie lorsqu’on prie chez-soi à la maison
Merci pour l’éclaircissement…
Que le Tout Puissant Dieu vous inspire davantage sur d’autres sujets.
Gloire au Père et au Fils et au Saint Esprit. Amen!!
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Sidoine Clémence
Dec 25, 2023Merci monsieur de m’avoir éclairé sur cette pratique bougies lors de nos prières.
Puisse Dieu nous donner un esprit de prière pour nous et pour nos disparus.