05
Jun
PASCHAL CANDLE’S GRAND FINALE. At the end of all Masses this Pentecost weekend, we will extinguish the Paschal Candle as a sign that Eastertime 2022 has ended. After that, it will no longer shine forth from its place of honor, next to the Ambo; its new home will be near the Baptismal Font. After Pentecost, it is only lit for Baptisms and Funerals and, by Parish custom, it is moved to and lit near the Book of Remembrance and All Souls Memorials for the Month of November: the Month of All Souls.
PASCHAL CANDLE HISTORY. Many, if not most religions use candles in worship; Jewish Sabbath Prayers begin with the woman of the house lighting at least two candles. Christians kept this custom for the first 300 years as a private, in-house ritual; only after the Peace of Constantine, which ‘legalized’ the Church, did we hold formal public rituals. One such service was a rite called a Lucernarium, Latin for ‘light,’ during which Christians met at eventide, especially for the Vigil of Easter, for solemn prayers. After all gathered, a large candle was lit, and a hymn honoring the Light of Christ was sung. Saints Ambrose [339-397] and Augustine [354-430] composed a ‘Light Chant’ which evolved into what we now call the Exsultet. A letter written by Saint Jerome [347-420] called this rite and its hymn ‘an official Church custom.’ For the most part, our current version of the ‘Exultet’ was composed by an unknown author … in the 600’s!
In the time of the Emperor Constantine [272-337], the historian, Saint Eusebius [circa 283-371] wrote that the Emperor “transformed the night of the sacred Easter Vigil into the brilliancy of day, by lighting throughout the whole city pillars of wax, so that this mystic vigil was rendered brighter than the brightest daylight.” [And some say our Holy Week Services are ‘over the top!’] As massive Cathedrals were erected, an equally massive, often marble, candle holder – literally attached to the Ambo – was made for the Paschal Candle. Until the 10th Century, at the end of Eastertime [sometimes that was the Ascension of the Lord; at other times, Pentecost] – or even right after the Easter Vigil Mass – the Paschal Candle was broken into pieces, which were then given to the faithful – especially to those who – literally under it – had celebrated their Baptism, Confirmation and First Communion at the Easter Vigil.
Then it became customary to keep the Paschal Candle intact and reserve it near the Baptismal Font. However, records show that well into the 16th Century, the Paschal Candle – which in some places weighed up to 300 pounds! – was melted down after Eastertime – and was ‘reused’ to make the candles that were used at funerals for the poor. Back then, it was customary to put 6 candles around a casket or catafalque, 3 flanking each side; some may recall this was done at President Kennedy’s Requiem Mass in 1963.
In the 12th Century, it became customary to inscribe the numerals of the current year into or onto the Paschal Candle. Around this time it also began to take its present form: a 3 to 6 foot candle, large enough to be a primary symbol of the Risen Lord, shining as The Light of Christ, who leads us through the darkness of this world – yet light enough to be carried in procession and be moved for Baptisms and Funerals. It then began to be referred to as the ‘pillar of flame’ recalling the ‘pillar of flame’ that led the Israelites at night during their Passover journey from Egypt.
Today’s liturgical rubrics say the Paschal Candle’s use at Funerals is optional but normative at Baptisms. Even when one is baptized in an emergency, as at a hospital, the Anointings, Prayer of Exorcism, Clothing with White Garment, Lighting a Baptismal Candle from the Paschal Candle, are strongly encouraged in what some call ‘Supplying the Ceremonies.’ For these rituals are not simply ‘pretty things to do’ or ‘extras;’ they help us experience, celebrate and better understand the meaning of the Sacraments.
Why do we not extinguish it [as we did for centuries!] on the Ascension of the Lord – but wait until Pentecost? Unlike the Christmas creche, which recalls our Lord’s earthly life, the Paschal Candle represents the Risen Lord’s life. And after His Ascension, he remained just as present to us, though not bodily, in the Sacraments, His Word, and in every other way He said we would find Him! Happy Pentecost, alleluia, alleluia!
With God’s love and my prayers,
Very Rev. Michael J. Kreder, VF, KCHS
PASCHAL CANDLE’S GRAND FINALE. At the end of all Masses this Pentecost weekend, we will extinguish the Paschal Candle as a sign that Eastertime 2022 has ended. After that, it will no longer shine forth from its place of honor, next to the Ambo; its new home will be near the Baptismal Font. After Pentecost, it is only lit for Baptisms and Funerals and, by Parish custom, it is moved to and lit near the Book of Remembrance and All Souls Memorials for the Month of November: the Month of All Souls.
PASCHAL CANDLE HISTORY. Many, if not most religions use candles in worship; Jewish Sabbath Prayers begin with the woman of the house lighting at least two candles. Christians kept this custom for the first 300 years as a private, in-house ritual; only after the Peace of Constantine, which ‘legalized’ the Church, did we hold formal public rituals. One such service was a rite called a Lucernarium, Latin for ‘light,’ during which Christians met at eventide, especially for the Vigil of Easter, for solemn prayers. After all gathered, a large candle was lit, and a hymn honoring the Light of Christ was sung. Saints Ambrose [339-397] and Augustine [354-430] composed a ‘Light Chant’ which evolved into what we now call the Exsultet. A letter written by Saint Jerome [347-420] called this rite and its hymn ‘an official Church custom.’ For the most part, our current version of the ‘Exultet’ was composed by an unknown author … in the 600’s!
In the time of the Emperor Constantine [272-337], the historian, Saint Eusebius [circa 283-371] wrote that the Emperor “transformed the night of the sacred Easter Vigil into the brilliancy of day, by lighting throughout the whole city pillars of wax, so that this mystic vigil was rendered brighter than the brightest daylight.” [And some say our Holy Week Services are ‘over the top!’] As massive Cathedrals were erected, an equally massive, often marble, candle holder – literally attached to the Ambo – was made for the Paschal Candle. Until the 10th Century, at the end of Eastertime [sometimes that was the Ascension of the Lord; at other times, Pentecost] – or even right after the Easter Vigil Mass – the Paschal Candle was broken into pieces, which were then given to the faithful – especially to those who – literally under it – had celebrated their Baptism, Confirmation and First Communion at the Easter Vigil.
Then it became customary to keep the Paschal Candle intact and reserve it near the Baptismal Font. However, records show that well into the 16th Century, the Paschal Candle – which in some places weighed up to 300 pounds! – was melted down after Eastertime – and was ‘reused’ to make the candles that were used at funerals for the poor. Back then, it was customary to put 6 candles around a casket or catafalque, 3 flanking each side; some may recall this was done at President Kennedy’s Requiem Mass in 1963.
In the 12th Century, it became customary to inscribe the numerals of the current year into or onto the Paschal Candle. Around this time it also began to take its present form: a 3 to 6 foot candle, large enough to be a primary symbol of the Risen Lord, shining as The Light of Christ, who leads us through the darkness of this world – yet light enough to be carried in procession and be moved for Baptisms and Funerals. It then began to be referred to as the ‘pillar of flame’ recalling the ‘pillar of flame’ that led the Israelites at night during their Passover journey from Egypt.
Today’s liturgical rubrics say the Paschal Candle’s use at Funerals is optional but normative at Baptisms. Even when one is baptized in an emergency, as at a hospital, the Anointings, Prayer of Exorcism, Clothing with White Garment, Lighting a Baptismal Candle from the Paschal Candle, are strongly encouraged in what some call ‘Supplying the Ceremonies.’ For these rituals are not simply ‘pretty things to do’ or ‘extras;’ they help us experience, celebrate and better understand the meaning of the Sacraments.
Why do we not extinguish it [as we did for centuries!] on the Ascension of the Lord – but wait until Pentecost? Unlike the Christmas creche, which recalls our Lord’s earthly life, the Paschal Candle represents the Risen Lord’s life. And after His Ascension, he remained just as present to us, though not bodily, in the Sacraments, His Word, and in every other way He said we would find Him! Happy Pentecost, alleluia, alleluia!
With God’s love and my prayers,
Very Rev. Michael J. Kreder, VF, KCHS