Paschal candle - wikipedia Paschal candle This article describes the Paschal candle of the Western Churches. For the Paschal triple - candle used in Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches of the Byzantine rite see Paschal trikirion. The Paschal candle of Cubao Cathedral following the Easter Vigil, Quezon City, the Philippines, 2013. A Paschal candle is a large, white candle used in liturgies in Western Christianity ( viz., the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion, and Lutheran churches, among others ). A new Paschal candle 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. The equivalent of the Paschal candle in the Western Orthodox Church is the Paschal trikirion which differs both in style and usage. Contents 1 Etymology 2 Description 3 Usage 3.1 Easter Vigil 3.2 Other times of the year 4 Eastern usage 5 External links Etymology The term `` Paschal '' comes from the Latin word `` Pascha '', which came from the Hebrew word Pesach, which in Hebrew means Passover, and relates to the Paschal mystery of salvation. It is sometimes referred to as the `` Easter candle '' or the `` Christ candle. '' Description Some Paschal candles in the Netherlands. For congregations that use a Paschal candle, it is the largest candle in the worship space. In most cases today the candle will display several common symbols : The cross is always the central symbol, most clearly identifying it as the Paschal candle The Greek letters alpha and omega signify that God is the beginning and the end ( from the Book of Revelation ) The current year represents God in the present amidst the congregation Five grains of incense ( most often red ) are embedded in the candle ( sometimes encased in wax `` nails '' ) during the Easter Vigil to represent the five wounds of Jesus : the three nails that pierced his hands and feet, the spear thrust into his side, and the thorns that crowned his head. In the medieval Church, Paschal candles often reached a stupendous size. The Paschal candle of Salisbury Cathedral was said to have been 36 feet ( 11 meters ) tall. Today, in the United States and Southern Europe ( e.g., Italy and France ) the candle is approximately 2 inches in diameter and 36 to 48 inches tall ; in Northern Europe the candle tends to be shorter in height ( 19 to 24 inches ) and wider in diameter ( 3 to 5 inches ). Usage Easter Vigil For churches that celebrate the Easter Vigil on the night of Holy Saturday, the ceremonial lighting of the Paschal candle is one of the most solemn moments of the service. On Maundy Thursday of the same week the entire church is darkened by extinguishing all candles and lamps. This represents the darkness of a world without God. Brazier used for kindling the `` New Fire ''. At the opening of the Easter Vigil a `` new fire '' is lit and blessed. The minister will trace the symbols ( mentioned above ) on the Paschal candle, saying words similar to : `` Christ, yesterday and today, the beginning and the ending. To Christ belongs all time and all the ages ; to Christ belongs glory and dominion now and forever. Amen. '' The Paschal candle is the first candle to be lit with a flame from this sacred fire, representing the light of Christ coming into the world. This represents the risen Christ, as a symbol of light ( life ) dispelling darkness ( death ). As it is lit, the minister may say words similar to : `` The light of Christ, rising in Glory, dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds. '' Deacon chanting the Exultet beside a Paschal candle. Typically, the worshiping assembly then processes into the church led by the Paschal candle. The candle is raised three times during the procession, accompanied by the chant `` The light of Christ '' to which the assembly responds `` Thanks be to God ''. Following the procession the Exultet is chanted, traditionally by a deacon, but it may be chanted by the priest or a cantor. The Exultet concludes with a blessing of the candle : 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. From the New Roman Missal : On this, your night of grace, O holy Father, accept this candle, a solemn offering, the work of bees and of your servants ' hands, an evening sacrifice of praise, this gift from your most holy Church. But now we know the praises of this pillar, which glowing fire ignites for God 's honor, a fire into many flames divided, yet never dimmed by sharing of its light, for it is fed by melting wax, drawn out by mother bees to build a torch so precious. O truly blessed night, when things of heaven are wed to those of earth, and divine to the human. Therefore, O Lord, we pray you that this candle, hallowed to the honor of your name, may persevere undimmed, to overcome the darkness of this night. Receive it as a pleasing fragrance, and let it mingle with the lights of heaven. May this flame be found still burning by the Morning Star : the one Morning Star who never sets, Christ your Son, who, coming back from death 's domain, has shed his peaceful light on humanity, and lives and reigns for ever and ever. R. Amen. In some traditions, the base of the candle may be ritually immersed in the baptismal font before proceeding with the remainder of the service. This candle is traditionally the one from which all other lights are taken for the Easter service. Other times of the year The Paschal candle. Note that the year it was used was 2005 ( St. Olav 's Cathedral, Oslo ). The candle remains lit at all worship services throughout Easter season ( or in some traditions until Ascension Day, when it is extinguished just after the Gospel ), during which time it is located in the sanctuary close to the altar. After the Easter season, it is frequently placed near the baptismal font. Before 1955, the option existed of blessing the baptismal font on the Vigil of Pentecost, and this was the only time the Paschal candle would be lit at services after Ascension. The Paschal candle is also lit during baptisms to signify the Holy Spirit and fire that John the Baptist promised to those who were baptised in Christ. During the baptismal rite in many traditions, a small lit candle will be given to the newly baptised by a member of the community, with words similar to, `` Let your light so shine before others, that they might see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. '' ( Matthew 5 : 16 ) The Paschal candle is also lit and placed near the casket or urn during funeral services such as the Mass of Repose and the Mass of Requiem. This is to signify the hope of the resurrection into which Christians are baptised. Eastern usage In the Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic churches, there is no direct correspondence to the Western Paschal candle. However, throughout Bright Week, the priest carries a cross and paschal trikirion at all of the services, especially when censing, during the Little Entrance or when giving the Paschal greeting. The trikirion consists of three lit candles in a candlestick, which the priest carries in his left hand. In the Slavic tradition, the three candles may be white or different colors : green, red, blue. The deacon also carries a special Paschal candle which is a single large candle whenever he leads an ektenia ( litany ) or censes. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Paschal candle. The Candle Carving Site Herbermann, Charles, ed. ( 1913 ). `` Paschal Candle ''. Catholic Encyclopedia. New York : Robert Appleton Company. Structure of the Mass of the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church Forms Pre-Tridentine Mass Tridentine Mass Extraordinary form Mass of Paul VI Types Low Mass Missa Cantata Solemn Mass Pontifical High Mass Papal Mass Ritual Masses Blue Mass Chapter and Conventual Mass Coronation Mass Nuptial Mass Red Mass Requiem Mass sine populo Votive Mass Order of Mass Pre-Mass Vesting prayers in the sacristy Asperges me Vidi aquam in Eastertide Liturgy of the Word Sign of the Cross Psalm 43 Entrance Antiphon Penitential Rite Confiteor / Kyrie Gloria Dominus vobiscum Collect Oremus First Reading Responsorial Psalm or Gradual Epistle Alleluia Gospel verse / sequence Gospel Homily Credo Niceno - Constantinopolitan Creed or Apostles ' Creed General Intercessions Liturgy of the Eucharist Offertory Orate fratres / prayer over the gifts Preface Sursum corda / Sanctus / Hosanna Eucharistic Prayer / Canon of the Mass oblation / epiclesis / Words of Institution / elevation / anamnesis texts and rubrics Roman Canon history Eucharistic Prayer II Memorial Acclamation Lord 's Prayer embolism / doxology Pax Sign of peace Agnus Dei Fraction Holy Communion Communion antiphon Ablutions Postcommunion Dismissal Ite, missa est / Benedicamus Domino Last Gospel Post-Mass Leonine Prayers Recessional hymn Participants Acolyte Altar server female Bishop Boat boy Cantor Choir Crucifer Deacon Extraordinary minister of Holy Communion Laity Eucharistic Congress Lector Priest Subdeacon Usher Parts of the Sanctuary / Altar Altar crucifix Altar rails Ambo Communion bench Credence table Kneeler Lavabo Misericord Piscina Tabernacle Altar cloths Altar linens Antependium Burse Chalice veil Corporal Lavabo towel Pall Purificator Candles and lamps Altar candle Altar candlestick Paschal candle Sanctuary lamp Triple candlestick Votive candle Liturgical objects Altar bell Aspergillum Censer Chalice Ciborium Collection basket Cruet Flabellum Funghellino Holy water Incense use Manuterge Paten Processional cross Pyx Sacramental bread wafer Sacramental wine ( or must ) Thurible Water Liturgical books of the Roman Rite Ceremonial of Bishops Evangeliary Gospel Book Graduale Lectionary Roman Missal Vestments Alb Amice Chasuble Dalmatic Episcopal sandals Liturgical colours Headcover Humeral veil Pallium Pontifical Stole Surplice Tunicle Vimpa Liturgical year ( Roman Calendar ) Advent Christmastide Ordinary Time Septuagesima Lent Passiontide Holy Week Paschal Triduum Eastertide Ascensiontide Eucharistic discipline Abstemius Anima Christi Concelebration Church etiquette Closed communion Communion and the developmentally disabled Communion under both kinds Denial of Communion Canon 915 Eucharistic fast First Communion Frequent Communion Genuflection Host desecration Infant communion Intinction Reserved sacrament Thanksgiving after Communion Viaticum Eucharistic theology Body and Blood of Christ Corpus Christi ( feast ) Crucifixion of Jesus and substitutionary atonement Epiousios Grace ex opere operato In persona Christi Historical roots of Catholic Eucharistic theology Koinonia Last Supper Mirae caritatis Mysterium fidei ( encyclical ) Origin of the Eucharist Real presence Transubstantiation Year of the Eucharist Stercoranism Regulations and concepts Ad orientem and versus populum Calendar of saints Canon law Code of Rubrics Commemoration Ecclesiastical Latin General Instruction of the Roman Missal Holy day of obligation Intercession of saints Ordinary and propers Pro multis Sunday Lord 's Day Vernacular Related Agape feast Catholic liturgy Christian prayer effects of prayer Congregation for Divine Worship Council of Trent Ecclesia de Eucharistia Eucharistic adoration and benediction Dominicae Cenae / Holy Hour Eucharistic miracle Fermentum Fourth Council of the Lateran Gelineau psalmody Gregorian chant History of the Roman Canon Lex orandi, lex credendi Liturgical Movement Liturgical reforms of Pope Pius XII Mediator Dei Missale Romanum ( apostolic constitution ) Pope Paul VI Catholic theology Sacraments of the Catholic Church Second Vatican Council Sacrosanctum Concilium Summorum Pontificum Tra le sollecitudini Catholicism portal Order of the Divine Service in Lutheranism Preparatory Service Entrance hymn and Trinitarian formula ( known as the Invocation ) Penitential Rite including the Confiteor and Declaration of Grace ( or Asperges on Easter ) The Service of the Word Introit Gloria Patri Kýrie Gloria Dominus vobiscum Oremus Collect Old Testament reading gradual ( or Responsorial Psalm ) Epistle Alleluia ( tract during Lent ) Gospel Hymn of the day Homily or Postil ( Sermon ) Nicene Creed ( Athanasian Creed on Trinity Sunday ) Offertory Prayers of the Faithful The Service of the Eucharist Preface ( Sursum corda / Sanctus / Hosanna ) Eucharistic Prayer ( Epiclesis / Words of Institution / Memorial Acclamation ) Lord 's Prayer Sign of peace / pax ( elevation ) Agnus Dei Distribution Nunc dimittis Postcommunion Benedicamus Domino Benediction Dismissal Ite, missa est Participants Acolyte bishop cantor choir crucifer deacon elder laity lector Pastor ( or Priest ) usher Parts of the Sanctuary altar altar bell altar crucifix altar rails kneeler piscina processional cross tabernacle Candles altar candle paschal candle sanctuary lamp votive candle Liturgical vessels ciborium chalice cruet Liturgical objects collection basket holy water incense ( use ) paten sacramental bread ( wafer ) sacramental wine thurible Vestments alb chasuble dalmatic geneva gown humeral veil stole surplice tunicle Liturgical books and hymnals Agenda Christian Worship ( Supplement ) Evangelical Lutheran Hymn - Book Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary Evangelical Lutheran Worship Lutheran Book of Worship Lutheran Hymnal Lutheran Hymnal with Supplement Lutheran Service Book Lutheran Worship Service Book and Hymnal Lutheranism portal GND : 4313193 - 1 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Paschal_candle&oldid=835406360 '' Categories : Catholic liturgy Lutheran liturgy and worship Candles Hidden categories : Commons category with page title different than on Wikidata Articles incorporating a citation from the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia with Wikisource reference Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Беларуская Català Čeština Deutsch Ελληνικά Español Français Bahasa Indonesia Italiano Kiswahili Latina Lëtzebuergesch Nederlands Norsk Norsk nynorsk Polski Português Ripoarisch Русский Slovenčina Svenska தமிழ் 13 more Edit links This page was last edited on 8 April 2018, at 14 : 39. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: when is the paschal candle lit in church
Answer: every year at Easter