The Mysterious Easter Candle

Everyone that goes to a Catholic Church has seen an "Easter Candle" before. Each individual Church receives a mandatory candle that they must light at every mass from the beginning of Easter until the Ascension. The Easter Candle signifies the light of the world, and its technical name is the "Paschal Candle." I have always wondered why it is so large, and intricate, as well as its significances. The pure beeswax that the candle is crafted from shows the pure nature of Christ, and how he is without sin. While the wick of the candle represents Christ's humanity, on which the flame burns signifying Christ's divinity. Also, five essential grains of incense are added to the candle to represent the same spices that were used on the five wounds of Jesus during his burial. 

This special candle is brought by the priest into the Church during the Easter Vigil, at which point the church is entirely dark. Then the priest lights the candle to represent the entrance of light into the world, showing our eternal life with Christ after death thanks to his ultimate sacrifice. Next the candle is brought up to the altar where the priest will bless it and inscribe the letters that are shown above. The top letter is the Alpha letter from the Greek alphabet, which signifies "the beginning." The second letter is the Omega sign from the Greek alphabet that represents "the end." Lastly, he writes in the numbers of the current year, as well as affixing the incense while saying the prayer shown below.

"Accept this Easter candle,

a flame divided but undimmed,

a pillar of fire that glows to the honor of God.

(For it is fed by the holy melting wax, which the mother bee brought forth

to make this precious candle.)

Let it mingle with the lights of heaven

and continue bravely burning

to dispel the darkness of this night!

May the Morning Star which never sets

find this flame still burning:

Christ, that Morning Star,

who came back from the dead,

and shed his peaceful light on all humanity,

your Son, who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

Amen."

-Timmy Mashinski