What Are Catholic Prayer Candles?

Published July 12, 2022

Candles are a staple in the Catholic faith. We light candles when we pray at home, during mass, vigils, and baptism ceremonies among others. Pretty much every Catholic religious activity involves lighting a candle.

But have you ever wondered why we do such or what those candles mean? What exactly are Catholic prayer candles?

Also known as votive candles, Catholic prayer candles are cylindrical and often unscented candles that are lit during prayer and other ceremonies. They are typically made of beeswax or tallow and come in varying colors and sizes. Some even have decorative patterns on them depicting religious symbols.

To help you understand more about this Catholic custom, here are some of the things you need to know about Catholic prayer candles.

Why Do Catholics Use Prayer Candles?

There are various reasons why Catholics light candles during prayer or any religious ceremony. But as their name suggests, these “votive” candles are primarily used to express a wish, a vow, or a desire. They are also used to convey gratitude and devotion or as an offering in fulfillment of a vow.

The significance of using candles, however, is more about the light it provides rather than the candle itself.

Scriptural Significance of Candles

In the Old Testament, it is written that the Lord commanded Moses to set up lamps in the tabernacle (Exodus 40). The presence of lamps during services is also mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 20:8).

Lamps and candles have also been widely used during services by early Christians. Tertullian, a second-century Christian academic, wrote that:

We never hold a service without candles, yet we use them not just to dispel night’s gloom… but in order to represent by this Christ, the Uncreated Light, without whom we would, in broad daylight, wander as if lost in darkness.

The fourth-century theologian, Saint Jerome, also wrote that candles are lit in church even in daytime,

in truth not to dispel the darkness, but as a sign of joy…in order under that factual light to feel that Light of which we read in the Psalms 119:105: “Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path”.

Another Patriarch of the Church, St. Sophronius of Jerusalem, wrote that:

Lampadas and candles represent the Eternal Light, and also the light which shines from the righteous.

Significance of Candles in Sacraments and Ceremonies

The lighting of candles during ceremonies and sacraments also represents different meanings.

During baptism, for instance, three candles are lit before the baptismal font. This symbolizes that the sacrament is done in the name of The Holy Trinity. The sponsors also hold lighted candles to convey joy in welcoming a new member of the church.

When anointing the sick, a candle is also usually lit upon the priest’s arrival. This denotes that Christ, the Light of the World, is present in that very moment.

In funerals and memorial ceremonies, the attendees also hold lighted candles. It’s to show that the deceased’s soul has left this world and entered the Kingdom of God. In some traditions, it’s also viewed as lighting the deceased’s path as he journeys into eternal life.