Our Vibrant Faith

What Is the Paschal Candle?

A paschal candle is a large, white candle used in liturgies that is blessed and lit every year at Easter and is used throughout the Paschal season, which is during Easter and then throughout the year on special occasions, such as baptisms and funerals.  It is lit for the first time on the evening of the Easter Vigil, when the catechumenates who are being received into the Church are baptized.  The candle symbolizes the resurrection and light of Christ.  The five grains of incense on the candle represent the five wounds of Jesus, and the alpha and the omega indicate Christ is the beginning and the end.  The numbers within each corner of the cross are for the current year.

(Paschal Candle at St. Michael Parish's Worship Space)





History

The history of the paschal candle from Catholic Customs & Traditions by Greg Dues:

It was a Jewish custom to bless special lights...as part of the ceremonial meals.  This continued in the Christian Eucharist.  How do we know that?  There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were gathered (to break bread). (Acts 20:8)  This eventually turned to a daily prayer service called Vespers and finally, in the Middle Ages, gave rise to the blessing to the Easter Fire and pascal candle. (22)

Symbolism

On the symbolic dimension of the paschal candle, Baptism at the Easter Vigil from The New Dictionary of Sacramental Worship:

The service of lights sets the scene for the celebration of the sacraments of initiation by proclaiming Christ as light who comes to dispel the darkness of sin as the pascal candle is carried throughout the darkened church...By beginning with the blessing of the water with the litany of the saints, the local church bears witness that it is only part of a much broader community...(we see the) waters of the font...as the waters of creation over which the Spirit breathed, the flood waters which washed away sin, the Exodus waters through which freedom came, the Jordan waters where Christ was anointed by the Spirit, the waters flowing from the side of Christ on the cross.  During the blessing, the paschal candle is plunged into the font, symbolizing Christ the light-giving life to the church, which is brought to birth in baptism. (112-113)

From the Roman Missal

At the very beginning of the great Easter Vigil, a blazing fire is prepared in a suitable place outside the church.  When the people are gathered there, the priest approaches with the ministers, one of whom carries the paschal candle. (RM 8)


What the Candle Markings Mean

Vertical Line: Christ yesterday and today
Horizotal Line: the Begining and the End
Symbols: the Alpha and the Omega
 

Bee the Bee (video about the paschal candle, from Martin Marklin)