Carmen Álvarez Cuadrado
TRNS: Jaimes O'Railly
This is one of the most commonly used elements in the liturgy, but there is one candle that holds special significance.
It is called the Paschal candle, and you can distinguish it from a regular candle by its size and design.
Christ yesterday and today, the beginning and the end, the Alpha and the Omega.
To him belong time and the ages.
To him be glory and power for ever and ever. Amen.
Five grains of incense are inserted into the wax of the candle, symbolizing the five wounds of Christ in his hands, feet, and side.
And now, the culminating moment: the lighting of the Paschal candle. But why is this candle the most important symbol of Easter?
P. JUAN MANUEL ESTRADA
Experto en Liturgia
The Paschal candle becomes for us a sign of the risen Christ, the light of Christ that comes to dissipate the darknesss of sin and death, and to illuminate a new life in the risen Christ. This is what is truly meaningful.
A new Paschal candle is blessed every Holy Saturday during the Easter Vigil, and the Exultet—the Easter proclamation—is sung. Listen to it now...
It is made by wax that melts, which the mother bee produced for the substance of this precious lamp.
And this is the key because artificial wax does not work. It has to be naturally sourced from bees. But what does it symbolize?
From a theological perspective, the Resurrection of Christ includes not only humanity but all of Creation. That the candle must be made of beeswax is a way of bringing the fruits of creation to light.
From a more allegorical dimension, bees are organized hierarchically, just like the Church. There is a queen bee, who represents Christ, and the worker bees, which are the people of God.
Honey is also sourced from bees, a highly valued product that tastes sweet, just like everything that comes from Christ.
We are now entering the Cera Bellido workshop in Spain, where they make these candles from 100% beeswax. You are about to see the candle-making process. The candle is supposed to be yellow, but the natural sun-drying technique turns it white. This is the result...
100% beeswax and sun-bleached, so it contains no chemicals of any kind.
This is no minor detail but rich and Biblical symbolism. Look at one of Pope Benedict XVI's chasubles and how it has dozens of bees embroidered on it. The German Pope wore it on several occasions. Will we see Pope Leo XIV wear it this Holy Week?
