Church candles are one of the more important things that are used in church ceremonies and the Church religion. They are usually taken to represent many things about the Christian faith. For example, the Catholics hold the candle as representative of the body of Jesus Christ.
In Christian baptisms, it remains a belief that candles represent the child or person being baptized as receiving the light of the Lord.
In weddings, you have two candles lit by the couple's mothers representing their union. These are just some of the uses of candles during church worship and celebrations.
Ever since before, the candles have represented the light in the path of darkness has been something that's become a big part in the lives of Christians and unbeliever's as they transform themselves and start walking with the Lord.
Moreover, the candles are not only taken to symbolize the light of the Lord, but it also symbolizes the Lord's love.
The usage of church candles crosses all kinds of denominations. Most denominations usually have a preference into the kind of candle that they use for their church or services.
For example, Roman Catholic Church candles have to be strictly made of beeswax, at least 51% of it. If you go to an Orthodox Church, however, the candles should be made of 100% pure beeswax.
Beeswax is quite an expensive material. This is a primary reason why these same candles are usually recycled and the stubs are used into making new beeswax candles. On the other hand, other denominations only require that a candle that is organic.
Some churches like to us vegetable wax church candles. They like it because it burns efficiently and in longer times, apart from time, they are also cheap.
Making use of church candles has been a tradition for thousands of years. The same candles that we use today for different ceremonies and activities were also used in equally important celebrations in the past.
Let's take a look at a brief history of how these same candles evolved and were used during ancient times.
Originally, Egyptians were the ones who used candles to carry out exorcisms, look for treasures and other rituals. Thus, using church candles were not exactly something that the Roman Catholic Church was keen about.
Since it was primary tool used in pagan worship, the church had its hesitations. However, when the 4th century came, it slowly integrated the use of these candles into the common Christian rituals.
However, even though it became used in church it was not permitted to be used in the altar because of the association it had with witchcraft.
It wasn't until the Middle Ages when the church finally allowed church candles to be used in the altar provided they were blessed and cleanse. These candles were then also used as a way of blessing people, absolving sins, and casting out demons.
The use of candles has definitely come a long way. Humans have used candles for many purposes and they have become integrated into our everyday lives as well as special occasions. Not only that, church candles have become a part of our faith and will continue to become one as long as we make it to be.
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