🔥 The wick of the candle symbolizes Christ’s humanity, the flame symbolizes his Divine Nature. The fire lit at the Easter Vigil is a symbol of Christ’s resurrection.
🐝 Candles burned in the Catholic Church are made of 51% or more of beeswax, which is considered to be the sweetest and the purest, therefore the most appropriate symbol of the humanity of Christ.
🕯️ During the Easter Vigil, a fire is lit in a metal bowl, called a brazier. From the brazier, the Paschal Candle is lit and carried into the darkened Church. The light is a symbol of Christ’s resurrection and the spreading of the faith.
🍇 The Paschal Candle is usually adorned with one or more Christian symbols. Some common ones are:
✝️ A cross: a symbol of Christ’s redemptive sacrifice
🏛️ Alpha and Omega: the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet signify that God is the beginning and the end
🌾🍇 Wheat and Grapes or the Chalice and Host: symbolizes the Eucharist
🗣️ the 12 Apostles: signify the witnesses of the passion, death, and resurrection of Christ.
🐑 The Good Shepherd or the Lamb of God: both signifying Jesus🧄 The five grains of incense, inserted in the shape of a cross, signify the wounds of Christ (hands, feet, and side), as well as recall the aromatic spices that were used to prepare Christ’s body for burial.
☁️ The Paschal Candle remains on the altar until the Ascension and is lit during each liturgy. After the Ascension it is moved to next to the baptismal font, where it will be lit during each baptism.
