I love candles.  John and I got married in the evening primarily because I wanted to get married by candle light.  We didn’t have any flowers but we did have 250ish candles lighting the sanctuary, the liturgical setting was called Unfailing Light and I was absolutely giddy when I realized the Paschal Candle would be lit for the April Wedding.

Now, I don’t consider myself a traditionalist in many things liturgical.  I often sit during the prayers. (because they’re long and my feet hurt)  I prefer attending services that only recite the creed occasionally. (and never would be ok with me too)  I don’t even worry too much if my music responsibilities cause me to miss communion.  Still, I must admit the increasingly bizarre uses of the Paschal Candle in Lutheran (and now even Catholic) churches have me rolling my eyes.  It came to a head the First Sunday of Advent when John and I visited a wonderful Catholic Church in Germany and shortly before the prelude someone came out and lit the Paschal Candle.  I decided to do some research on the correct uses of the Paschal Candle.  Here is the short version:

• The Paschal Candle is lit for Easter Vigil, each liturgy during the 50 days of Easter (through the Festival of Pentecost) and at each celebration of Baptism and Funeral Liturgy.
•  If Matins, Vespers or Compline are celebrated during the 50 days of Easter, the community gathers around the lit Pascal Candle and not a separate candle.
•  The Pascal Candle is not lit outside of these times even during festivals and other special services.
•  When lit, the candle should be lit well before the arrival of the congregation. (This is my biggest pet peeve…the acolyte is not carrying the mystical light of Christ from the sacristy to the people…that’s really crappy theology).
• With the above in mind, it is particularly inappropriate for the Paschal Candle to be lit by the acolyte in front of the assembly.
•  The candle may also be lit during the Easter season when the sanctuary is in use for meetings, rehearsals, etc.  (Ideally the Paschal Candle would be lit 24/7 for the 50 days of Easter but this is thought impractical by most)
•  The Paschal Candle should be made of wax and diminish in size throughout the year.
•  Traditionally it is located near the altar during the 50 days of Easter and next to the font during the rest of the year.

I’ve broken these rules on occasion and don’t feel it was the end of the world.  I once used the Paschal Candle as the “Christ Candle” under a hanging Advent Wreath on Christmas Eve.  I’ve used it on Good Friday in the context of a tenenbrae service.  I’m pretty sure I lit it a time or two early in my career just because it made it feel more festive during a festival like Christ the King.

I do believe that if we were re-thinking the use of the Paschal Candle in today’s world it is possible that we would use it differently.  I’m not sure I can justify theologically why it shouldn’t be burning every Sunday.  But we aren’t and it isn’t and so I think we should do it correctly lest the symbolism and meaning be diluted away.  If the Paschal candle becomes “just another candle” we light at our own whim, then I want 250 of them in our sanctuary because I love candles!