Until the
Paschal Candle Is Lit |
Contents
- Introduction
- Quick Paschal Candle Status
- What is a Paschal candle?
- Why is it called the Paschal candle?
- When do we light the Paschal candle?
- Details for Easter
- When and how to light and
extinguish during the Easter season
- When to finally extinguish at the
conclusion of the Easter season
- Where to place the Paschal candle?
- Other candles and the Paschal candle
- Next year
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Introduction
Uncommon in American Lutheran churches until the
latter part of the twentieth century, the Paschal
candle is now nearly ubiquitous. Indeed, it is the
rare congregation in the WV-WMD Synod that lacks a
Paschal candle. Common practice surrounding the
Paschal candle, however, is not exactly common. In
fact, there is great diversity in its use among
us. Some of this diversity is within the realm of
acceptable adiaphora. Some of this diversity,
however, deviates significantly from historic and
recommended usage found in our liturgical manuals,
so much so that the Paschal candle looses its
natural symbolism and ability to excite our piety.
This page does not advocate a Procrustean
employment of the Paschal candles. This page does,
however, advise upon standard usage that has
developed over the course of roughly 1500 years.
If you have not reviewed the general information
on planning liturgy, worship appointments, etc.,
please
do so at our Worship Aids.
Quick Paschal Candle Status
The Paschal candle should not be
lit (except for a baptism or a funeral) until
Easter arrives at sunset on the evening of 19
April 2025.
What is a Paschal candle?
In form, the Paschal candle is a large (usually
largest candle) with a special set of decorations
on it.
In use, the Paschal candle burns during the
Easter season. It is burns for baptisms and
funerals. It's placement is usually at the altar
during the Easter season and at the font the rest
of the year (and also for baptisms and funerals).
Why is it called a Paschal candle?
Because it is the Easter candle, i.e., a
candle that has special use during the Easter
season.
Paschal is an adjective indicating a
relationship to Easter. It derives from the 12th-century
Old French paschal which in turn comes
from the Late Latin adjective paschalis
derived from the Latin noun pascha,
meaning "Easter of Passover." Pascha comes
from the Greek πάσχα, again Easter or Passover,
which, in turn, comes from the Aramaic and
eventually the Hebrew for Passover.
Some have called this a Christ candle. This
is a strange appellation that does little more than
add to confusion over employment and symbolism. Use
of this term should be avoided.
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When do we light the Paschal candle?
In term of season, the Paschal candle burns
during the Easter season.
Admittedly, some have argued that every
Sunday is an easter, but the interpretation of the
broader church has not used that line of thinking
to support burning of the Paschal candle outside
of the defined Easter season. In the same way, we
refer to a special decorated tree as a Christmas
tree, we refer to a special decorated candle
as a Paschal candle. Just as a Christmas
tree lit up in April would make little sense, a
Paschal candle burning in November makes little
sense (unless it is a baptism or funeral). With
this in mind:
- The Paschal candle should never be used in
conjunction with the Advent wreath.
- The Paschal candle should never be used as a
sanctuary lamp/candle.
- The Paschal candle should not be lit outside
of the defined Easter season except for
baptisms and funerals.
In terms of pastoral acts, the Paschal candle
burns for baptisms and funerals.
Some have taken to burning the Paschal
candle for confirmations and other special
services of the church. Outside of baptisms and
funerals, the employment of the Paschal candle is
not indicated in any liturgical manual.
- The Paschal candle should not be used for
confirmation (or any other affirmation of
baptism) unless the confirmation is taking
place during the Easter season.
- The Paschal candle should never be used as a
unity candle for weddings (and should only
burn at a wedding if the wedding falls in the
Easter season).
- The Paschal candle should not be used for
ordinations or installations unless the rite
is taking place during the Easter season.
Details for Easter
When and how to light and extinguish during the
Easter season
The Paschal candle is lit during the season of
Easter. This begins with the ceremonial lighting
of the Paschal candle at the beginning of the lucernarium
of the Easter Vigil. Where the Paschal candle is
large enough ( usually only in cathedrals) it
burns continuously (i.e., 24x7) until it is
extinguished at the end of the season. As this is
neither practical nor safe for most of our
settings, it is recommended that the first person
in the door of the church before a service should
light the paschal candle, and the last person out
should extinguish it (rather than including it in
the lighting and extinguishing of the other
candles). It should even be the case that any time
the sanctuary is in use (e.g., a choir
practice, a meeting, or when the space is
available for prayer) the same practice of having
it lit is followed.
Be sure to read the section on the placement of
the Paschal candle just a little further down this
page.
When to finally extinguish
at the conclusion of the Easter season
When to finally extinguish the Paschal candle has
been a bit of a moving target since its
restoration among Lutherans.
- A venerable Lutheran tradition had been to
finally extinguish the Paschal candle during the
reading of the Gospel on Ascension Thursday at
the point when Jesus ascends into heaven. The
symbolism of the burning candle emphasized his
earthly presence from the time of the
Resurrection until his ascension. This is in no
way condemned. It is a fine tradition, and any
who wish to continue it should do so. Of course,
this may be relevant only for those who hold an
Ascension Thursday service.
- Since the introduction of the LBW, the
recommendation in our liturgical manuals has
been to keep the Paschal candle burning
throughout the Fifty Days. This would suggest
continual burning through the Feast of
Pentecost, extinguishing the candle after the
last service for the Feast of Pentecost has
concluded making sense.
- Some few places burn the Paschal Candle
through the Feast of the Holy Trinity. This is
not indicated in our liturgical manuals and is
discouraged.
- Some places keep the Paschal candle lit all
year round. This is nowhere near liturgical
norms and should not be done. The Paschal candle
(as its very name indicates) is not lit outside
of the Easter season except for baptisms and
funerals.
Where to place the Paschal candle
During the time of the Paschal candle's Easter
burning, except for the Easter Vigil, the Paschal
candle's position is at the altar after which it
returns to the font. During the Easter Vigil, it's
place is near the altar, but where exactly will
sometimes be determined by the layout of the
chancel. Those holding an Easter Vigil should
refer to the Manual on the Liturgy—Lutheran
Book of Worship or its LBW
equivalent for guidance.
If there is a funeral, the burning Paschal candle
may be used in the funeral procession and then
placed at the head of the casket once it has
reached its place. If not used in the procession,
pre-position the Paschal candle (unlit for safety
reasons) near where the casket will rest so that
it may be easily moved to the head of the casket,
lighting the paschal candle after it has been put
at the head of the casket.
Other candles and the Paschal candle
The lighting and extinguishing of candles for the
services of the church is a matter of local
custom. Some congregations have rather elaborate
rituals for doing so. Others struggle to find
acolytes. If lighting and extinguishing the altar
candles has become a challenge, a congregation
might follow the advice found in the Manual on
the Liturgy—Lutheran Book of Worship: light
the candles well before the service begins and
extinguish them well after the service ends, doing
so decorously but without pomp and circumstance.
This can be done by ushers, the sexton, the altar
guild, the pastor, etc., vesting to do so
being optional. Two other notes about the lighting
and extinguishing of candles:
- The practice of lighting the taper holder from
the last altar candle and carrying a flame out
of the sanctuary at the end of the service is
not indicated in any liturgical manual; this
practice should be discontinued.
- If the Paschal candle is burning, the other
candles may be lit from it.
Vespers, however, is a different matter. The lucernarium
at the beginning of the service is a highly
ritualized lighting of the candles.
Next year
Well before Easter 2025, we'll add to this page
information related to the preparation of the
Paschal candle, detailed rites related to it, and
greater explanation of its symbolism.
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