Why Does Liturgy Require Candles?

01-27-2019Weekly Reflection

Saturday’s feast of the Presentation is a day for the blessing of candles. Why does liturgy require candles? In the first years of the church, worship was often at night, and candles and torches were carried from place to place within the worship space as needed. Candles were also a mark of festivity and hospitality when people gathered for prayer in homes, and later on in large buildings with thick walls and dark corners. But even after gaslight and electricity, candles were kept.

Part of the reason has to do with the warm, clean light of a candle’s flame. Candles are a good sign of the partnership of God and creation: wax made by bees gathered and fashioned by human hands into something beautiful and useful. In order for the light to shine, the candle surrenders itself, almost as if it is pouring itself out so that the light can flood into the world. The candle of baptism, placed into our hands, and carried, again and again, speaks silently of that same wisdom. If you would save your life, you must lose it. You must pour your life out like Christ so that you may be filled with the light of his love.