“In him was life: and the life was the light of men.”

John 1:4

In Western society, candles have often been used as a sign of hope, a light in the darkness. Even in this secular world today, a candlelight vigil is held whenever tragedy is struck. The Holy Mother Church in Her wisdom also asked us, Her children, to ponder on this mystery of burning candles as She incorporate this sacramental into the liturgical life of the Church.

Let us begin with the wick of the candle. The wick of a candle is the center of the candle, where the flame burns ever so brightly. However, the wick of a candle is usually braided from 3 cotton strands. This for us Catholic symbolizes the “oneness” of the Holy Trinity, where the three Divine Persons; The Father, The Son, and the Holy Ghost united together in the Divine love. This unity of love brings forth the light which the darkness of hell cannot overcome.

And the light shineth in darkness: and the darkness did not comprehend it.

John 1:5

The Church specifically asks Her children to use beeswax candles wherever possible. Not just because of some sort of “healing properties” or because it is “natural” but of the mystical symbolism of bees. The significance of bees is so treasured by the Church that there is even a specific blessing of bees in the Roman Missal.

V. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
R. Who has made heaven and earth.

V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with your spirit.

Let us pray.

Lord God almighty, You have created heaven and earth, and all the animals existing on the earth and in the earth and the air, that men might make use of them. You have also directed that the priests of Your holy Church should in the House of God light candles made of the work of bees while that sacred ministry is being performed in which the most holy Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, Your Son, becomes present and is consumed. May Your blessing come down upon these bees and these beehives. May they multiply and be fruitful and be preserved from all evils, so that the product which comes from them may be used to praise You, Your Son, and the Holy Spirit, and the most blessed Virgin Mary, through the same Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

The Blessing of Bees – Roman Ritual

The worker bees are the children of the Queen signifying our Lady, the “New Eve” who our Lord Jesus entrusted to us as our mother as He said on the Cross, “Behold your mother”. Just as the worker bees work tirelessly and collect from the flowers bringing them the nectar. The hive turns them into sweet honey and pure wax and so we the faithful who day to day work tirelessly in the world to bring back to the Church and through the grace of God and His Church and transform our work into spiritual food.

Candlemas

On the 2nd of February, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, (formally known as the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary or simply Candlemas) marks the end of the Christmastide (in the Traditional Calendar). The Mass for this Feast always starts with a blessing for beeswax candles and a candlelight procession.

“The wax of the candles signifies the virginal flesh of the Divine Infant, the wick figures His soul, and the flame His divinity.”

St. Anselm (1033-1109), Archbishop of Canterbury

Here in Church Candles NZ, you can request your beeswax candles to be blessed before shipping / pick-up. Your order will be blessed by the priest of the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter in the traditional form in Latin.

The Blessing of Candles

P: Our help is in the name of the Lord.
All: Who made heaven and earth.
P: The Lord be with you.
All: And with your spirit.

Let us pray. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, bless + these candles at our lowly request. Endow them, Lord, by the power of the holy + cross, with a blessing from on high, you who gave them to mankind in order to dispel darkness. Let the blessing that they receive from the sign of the holy + cross be so effectual that, wherever they are lighted or placed, the princes of darkness may depart in trembling from all these places, and flee in fear, along with all their legions, and never more dare to disturb or molest those who serve you, the almighty God, who live and reign forever and ever. All: Amen.

They are sprinkled with holy water.

Peter Yung
BSc(Hons), BTh, GradDipTchg