Votive candles

[hedgehog]

Given the constant rhetoric about developing a Catholic identity, why are so many churches replacing votive candles with electric lamps? After the Mass and Rosary,votive candles are the number one identification for Catholic prayer.Is it really because of the fire hazard or because the custodians complain about cleaning up the candle wax? Why isn't this job given to Altar and Rosary if it's such a problem for the paid staff?

[Matilda]

1. I've never seen electric lamps.

I think candles are beautiful, but I wouldn't be surprised if insurance
companies are unhappy about them. I've never heard of a fire in a
church started by candles, but I suppose it could happen ...

[hedgehog]

3. Most dioceses are self-insured.

I'm not certain that is the wisest choice, but apparently one of the charisms of a bishop is to be an actuary as well as a real estate genius.

[AngryOldDem]

4. Yes, what a bishop is called to oversee often far outweighs his abilities

As for your question about votives, I imagine it's because of the wax and the added work it would take on the part of the custodial staff. The two churches of which I have been a member, though, haven't had either votives or lamps.

[hedgehog]

5. That's really sad!

It reminds me of back in the early days of Vatican II when it seemed some priests were embarrassed to have their churches look too Catholic and got rid of all the statues of Mary and the saints. Of course, a lot of Catholic hiomes got rid of all their images, too.

[demosincebirth]

2. I heard some place that the soot accumulated on the ceiling

and walls is one of the reasons.

[DemBones DemBones]

6. When they cleaned the Sistine Chapel about ten years ago, they

saw that Michelangelo had painted with bright colors, not the muted ones you can see in old art history books.

[DemBones DemBones]

7. I've only seen electric candles in Italy. It's a bit odd to go into

a church that's centuries old and see electric candles but I just chalked it up to the Italian love for gadgets, which is as great as their sense of style.

On the other hand, the soot factor augie mentioned is surely part of the reason for electric candles.