What does the Easter candle represent?

The Judeo-Christian tradition of using special candles during what we now call the Easter season is approximately 3450 years old. In Old Testament times, faithful believers lit candles the evening before Passover (Christians now reference that day as Good Friday). 

The utilization of candles in worship continued through the centuries but was not obligatory in the Catholic Church until the 17th century. 

Today, Catholic parishioners commemorate the Easter season (Good Friday—Pentecost) with the Paschal candle—the largest of all candles used in worship. Sometimes five feet tall, The Paschal (or Easter) candle represents Jesus, the light who came into a darkened world.  

The Paschal candle is a way for parishioners to keep an Easter vigil—the candle is lit in darkness and brings light to the sanctuary. Other candles are lit from it to represent how Jesus calls His followers to take His light to the world (Matthew 28:18-20).

The candle burns from Good Friday through Easter Sunday as a reminder that the glory and Spirit of God are always with us.

Paschal candles stand tall and burn bright. The candle represents the ministry of Christ. It is marked with the Greek letters Alpha and Omega, a New Testament title for Jesus, meaning the first and the last. The candle is carried into the sanctuary (as Christ was carried to the tomb) and is a focus point in Easter services.

What do Paschal candles look like, and when are they lit?

Easter Candles are white or ivory, thick (perhaps 2-4 inches in diameter), and adorned with symbols. Paschal candles are distinctive in that they bear the Greek letters Alpha and Omega, a cross, five red beads of incense, and the year. 

The candles are carried into the sanctuary on Good Friday and placed in a prominent area throughout the Easter season. The candle burns from Good Friday through Easter Sunday. The candle's flame is then extinguished and lit during daily masses through Ascension Thursday. 

The Easter Season officially closes on the Sunday after Ascension Thursday. Called Pentecost, that Sunday marks 50 days after the crucifixion. Pentecost commemorates the birth of the New Testament Church and the giving of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2). 

What are Paschal candles made of, and what do the wick and flame represent?

Paschal candles are made of pure beeswax. This represents the pure and sinless life of Jesus. Christians believe God requires a perfect offering (Exodus 12:5) to atone for sins. Jesus was uniquely qualified to be the perfect and final sacrifice because He never sinned (Hebrews 9:11-12; 1 Peter 1:19). 

Jesus' sacrifice was prophesied in Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22. The composition of the Paschal candle reminds believers Jesus did not come to live but to die so that we could be forgiven and live with Him in eternity.

The candle also represents the dual nature of Christ—His divinity and humanity. The candle's wick symbolizes his humanity—the flame represents His divinity.

The five grains of incense embedded into the candle outline the shape of a cross and remind believers of the five wounds Jesus suffered during the crucifixion (the piercing of his hands, feet, and side). The aromatic spices remind believers of the perfume poured on His body and shroud after being placed in the tomb.

Though the meaning of the Easter candle has evolved over the centuries, it remains a sacred tradition by which believers honor the ministry and sacrifice of Jesus.