Votive Candles in Catholic Churches

[hedgehog]

Poll question: Votive Candles in Catholic Churches

I love the votive candles, but more and more often they are being banished in favor of little electric candles. Supposedly, they are a fire hazard, but somehow I've missed all the stories about Catholic Churches burning to the ground! IMO, the real reason that they are going away is that someone has to clean up the melted wax, change the candles and count the cash box. That, plus it looks like people buying favors when they light a candle and put some coins in the box! What do you think?

[CBHagman]

1. Someone actually sued the diocese because she...

...set her skirt on fire while praying at -- wait for it -- a statue of St. Jude. Yes, St. Jude. I am not making this up.

She is also suing the manufacturer of the skirt she wore.

http://cbs2.com/local/local_story_073132346.html

I don't wish to be callous towards someone who was badly injured in a fire, but the fact is that you always have to use caution around candles. My brother once saw a nun beat out the flames when a classmate accidentally ignited her own hair after lighting a votive candle. The girl was wearing her long hair loose and didn't extinguish the match before drawing it back from the candle and towards herself. She was fine, thanks to the nun's quick action.

So where does this leave me on the subject of votive candles? Well, I don't want to see any churches going up in flames, nor do I want to see anyone hurt or, worse yet, killed. And then there's that business of people dropping clanking coins in the votive box DURING mass and concerts (Yes, during concerts).

But as long as they are carefully handled, kept in glass containers and away from fabric, and someone is on duty when they are lighted, I don't have a problem with them.

[hedgehog]

2. I'd like to know more about that story.

Like, were the racks there originally or added only after the accident? How long had people been placing candles on the ground? To me the sub-text here is that the parish staff from the pastor on down couldn't be bothered to accommodate people's wish to pray with the use of candles. This goes back to my original opinion that the candles are being banished because the people in charge of parish grounds don't want the hassle.

[Matilda]

3. This sounds like an unusual case.

Having candles on the ground is dangerous, but it's not usually the way things are done, and perhaps
it's not really a smart idea.

I've never seen electric candles, but I don't often visit other churches so I can't be sure they're
not out there. Our church put down a plastic mat under the candle stand a couple of years ago, so
it's much easier to clean up the mess. The biggest danger we have is that many people thoughtlessly
light candles from the front of the stand instead of starting at the back, so others are forced to
move their arm over the lit candles to reach the back of the stand, and I've seen many people draw
back their arm quickly because of the heat of the candles in front. I think the church should put up
a sign asking people to start the candles from the back, since most can't figure it out for
themselves. Of course, it's possible to walk around the back of the stand to place your candle, but
many people don't think of that either.

I can't imagine that electric candles have the same effect, but that's an emotional argument.

[DemBones DemBones]

4. I support real votive candles in glass votive cups in a metal stand.

We use long thin wooden sticks, lighting the stick off an already burning candle and then lighting your candle(s.) No matches needed. There's a large metal container of sand on a shelf under the candle rack to extinguish the stick in, and a coin slot built into the front. That's pretty standard in churches I've been to, but it seems others here have had different experiences. . . Electricity is great, but not for votive candles!

I don't think we should get rid of the cash boxes because if you put money in, you're helping to pay for the cost of the candle, not "buying favors."

People who'd think that we were buying favors would also think we worship statues and you can't do much about that. As a recent GD or GD-P thread said, "You can't reason with Stupid." People who insist on being ignorant, whether it's about politics or religion or anything else, are Stupid, by choice.


Candles and incense are used in many religions to symbolize prayer rising to God. I like the idea that the candle continues symbolically sending your prayer as long as it burns, long after you've left the church.

O8)

[hedgehog]

5. I'd chuck the cash box because it's more trouble than it's worth.

It's a temptation to thieves, someone has to retrieve and count the money, then deposit it, then record it, etc.... Candles can't possibly cost that much, can they?

As for maintenance, turn the entire thing over to a prayer group at the parish and let them take care of it as part of their devotions. No more grumbling from the janitors.

[DemBones DemBones]

6. The cash box in our church is too small

to be much of a temptation to thieves and I'd guess it's emptied into the Sunday collection for counting. Somebody does indeed have to count all that money given on Sunday, which runs between $15,000-$20,000 a week in our parish, so I doubt counting the cash box is a big deal.

The candle box money probably doesn't pay for much but it's a tradition to donate when you light a candle. Nobody has to donate to light a candle and many light one without donating, If donations offset the cost of replacement candles, then they're being funded by those who light them, not by everyone, which seems fair. If donations don't pay for the replacement candles, the church does.

I'm pretty sure our Altar Society maintains the candle stand, along with much else. And our janitor, a woman, is a parishioner, apparently with no grumbles since she's held the job for 10-12 years.

[tjwmason]

7. I hate electric votives

Let me rephrase that I HATE electric votives.

My local parish has real candles at the shrine of Our Lady, but electric ones at the shrine of the Sacred Heart - whilst I pray in front of both every week, I only ever light candles in front of Our Lady. I also don't really like the fat and low votive candles, I find them far harder to light than the traditional long thin ones.

[DemBones DemBones]

8. Me, too. I am also annoyed at all the ads for electric candles

appearing when I click on this DU thread!!!

[RiDuvessa]

9. I prefer real candles.

And I don't have a problem with the cash box. As with the previous poster I see it as offsetting the cost of the candle. Hopefully so the church can use the funds to help other people.

One of my best memories is watching my Mom light candles and pray for my sister in the beautiful cathedrals and churches of Italy. They have such wonderful churches there.