The white candle holds special symbolism and meaning in the Catholic Church. White candles are commonly used during various Catholic rituals, masses, sacraments and holidays. The color white represents purity, innocence and the light of God. When Catholics light a white candle, it signifies their prayer intentions and desire to reflect Christ’s light into the world. The flame represents the illuminated presence of Christ and the melted wax signifies letting go of personal intentions to allow God’s will to permeate our lives.
Use of White Candles in the Catholic Church
White candles are used throughout the liturgical calendar in the Catholic Church. During the Advent and Christmas seasons, white candles symbolize the purity of Christ’s light coming into the world. A white candle is lit on Christmas Eve to represent the star of Bethlehem that led the Magi to the newborn Jesus. White candles also decorate the altar during the joyful Easter season, representing the light of the risen Christ dispelling the darkness of sin and death.
At a Catholic baptism, a white candle is lit from the Easter candle and given to the newly baptized to signify that they now share in Christ’s light. White candles are used at First Communion to show that the communicants are filled with God’s grace. At Confirmation, the bishop lights a white candle from the Easter candle and presents it to the one being confirmed to represent receiving the light of the Holy Spirit.
During a Catholic wedding, the bride and groom light a white candle together to symbolize their union in Christ. White candles surround the altar at a funeral or wake, pointing to the hope of the resurrection. On the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord on February 2nd, white candles are blessed and used in the Candlemas procession to honor Christ as the light of the world.
The Paschal Candle
The Paschal candle, also known as the Easter candle or Christ candle, holds special significance in the Catholic Church. This large white candle is first lit during the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday. It represents the light of the risen Christ dispelling the darkness of sin and death. The candle is inscribed with a cross and the current year, along with the Greek letters Alpha and Omega signifying that God is the beginning and the end (Revelation 22:13).
Five grains of incense are embedded in the candle to represent Christ’s five wounds from the crucifixion. The Paschal candle burns near the altar at all masses and liturgies during the Easter season until Pentecost, after which it is placed by the baptismal font. Throughout the year, the Paschal candle is lit during baptisms and funerals to signify the hope of new life in Christ.
The Advent Wreath
The Advent wreath used during the season leading up to Christmas includes three purple candles and one pink candle surrounding a central white candle. The wreath is adorned with evergreens representing ongoing life. Each week, another candle is lit until all are glowing on the fourth Sunday of Advent. The gradually increasing light signifies the approach of Christmas and anticipation of Christ’s birth.
The pink candle is lit on the third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday, to represent joy. The white candle in the center is called the Christ Candle and is lit on Christmas Eve and Day to honor the birth of Jesus, the light of the world. The Advent wreath candles provide hope and expectation during the season of preparation for the Nativity of Christ.
White Candles for Prayer Intentions
Lighting votive candles is a common Catholic practice for prayer intentions. White candles are often used when praying for healing, purity, innocence and general intentions. The candle’s flame represents bringing our requests before God and the melting wax shows giving over our concerns to the Lord. Lighting a candle focuses our prayers and unites them with Christ’s eternal light.
Here are some examples of when white candles may be lit for specific intentions:
- Healing from illness – White represents wholeness and cleansing
- A deceased loved one – White symbolizes the hope of resurrection
- Purity – White reflects living a virtuous life
- Innocence – White invokes protection for the vulnerable
- Clarity in decision-making – White represents the light of discernment
- Peace – White points to stillness and tranquility with God
White candles remind us of the promise written in 1 John 1:7 – “If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” Lighting a white candle helps us reflect Christ’s light through our prayerful intentions.
Significance of the Flame and Melting Wax
When lighting a candle in prayer, the flame and melting wax each carry spiritual meaning:
- Flame – The living flame represents Christ as the light of the world. It symbolizes his illuminating presence as we bring our petitions before God.
- Melting Wax – As the candle burns down, the melted wax signifies letting go of our concerns and humbly submitting to God’s will. Just as the wax yields to the flame, we surrender our desires to the Lord.
By lighting a candle, we allow Christ’s light to penetrate our hearts and illuminate any darkness. Watching the wax melt teaches us to let go and trust in God’s plan, even when it is difficult. The flame represents Christ with us, while the wax models surrender to Christ in us.
Traditions of Lighting Prayer Candles
Here are some common traditions involving lighting white candles for prayer intentions:
- Votive candles – Small, inexpensive white candles are lit before a statue or sacred image and left to burn in prayer.
- Prayer services – Candles are lit and placed on the altar to lift up communal intentions.
- Prayer groups – Participants may light individual candles representing personal petitions.
- Household shrine – A white candle burned at home keeps prayer going throughout the day.
- Special intentions – Candles are lit for a particular purpose like healing or purity and allowed to burn down.
- Prayer cards – A candle may be placed next to a prayer card for a deceased loved one or another intention.
Lighting a candle connects our prayers to the divine light of Christ. The candle burning represents the fervor of our petitions, while the melted wax shows the willingness to let go into God’s care. White candles remind us of Christ with us, guiding our prayers and shining through our intentions.
Why Use White Instead of Other Colors?
White candles hold intercessory and symbolic meaning in Catholic tradition. Some reasons white is used for general prayer intentions rather than other liturgical colors:
- Purity – White represents being washed clean from sin by Christ’s sacrifice.
- Light – White invokes Christ as the source of divine illumination.
- Innocence – White calls to mind a childlike simplicity in approaching God.
- Simplicity – White conveys going to God just as we are, without pretense.
- Openness – The white flame visualizes an openness to God’s presence and will.
- Wholeness – White symbolizes being made whole and complete in Christ.
While other candle colors have a place in the Church’s symbolism, white points to surrendering ourselves to Christ’s light in humble and hopeful prayer. The white candle reminds us to bring our authentic selves before God, allowing our requests to be purified and illuminated by Christ.
White Candles for the Saints
In addition to general intercessions, white candles are sometimes lit in honor of specific saints. The Catholic Church recognizes saints as models of Christian living united with God in Heaven. Saints intercede on our behalf when we pray for their help. Here are a few examples of saints associated with white candles:
- St. Rita – Patroness of impossible causes, white signifies persisting in prayer.
- St. Therese – Patroness of missions, white reflects zeal in spreading the Gospel.
- St. Padre Pio – Patron of healing, white represents Christ cleansing our body and soul.
- St. Francis – Patron of animals and ecology, white symbolizes connection to all creation.
- St. Teresa of Avila – Mystic and reformer, white conveys inner illumination from God.
When lit in honor of a saint, the white candle serves as a prayer offering to petition their intercession and a symbol of our devotion. We ask the saint to pray along with us by the light of the small flame.
Conclusion
In the Catholic tradition, the white candle holds rich symbolism and meaning. The pure wax and living flame represent Christ’s divine light entering our world and penetrating our lives. When we light a white candle, it focuses our prayers while melting wax signifies surrendering our intentions to God’s will. White points to purity, innocence, simplicity and hope. Candles illuminate our Advent anticipation, Easter joy and sacramental grace.
Whether placed near a sacred image, burned in the home or lit by hospital bedside, white candles unite our prayers with Christ’s eternal light. Their flickering flames testify to our faith that through Him all darkness is dispelled. White candles silently proclaim “Let your light so shine before others, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
