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WHY DO CATHOLICS...? ARCHIVE
The following question was answered as a part of our Why Do Catholics...? series. If you would like to submit a question for our Why Do Catholics...? series, email faithform@abecket.org or leave your question in the Faith Formation box in the Parish Office.

Why do Catholics light candles?

For Christians, a candle is a reminder of Christ, the light of the world. Lighting a candle along with a prayer helps the person praying to recall Jesus, as our source of light and life and who seeks to touch us in our need. Our prayers connect us with one another – symbolized by other candles light near the one we have just lit and to those who will be lit after ours---the prayers or thanksgiving of God’s people rising to God.

However, Catholics must remember that lighting a candle does not have a certain great effect for our prayer. We are never to hold this as some kind of superstitious action that because we lit a candle our prayer will have more “power.” It is simply a symbol and can be seen as a sacramental -- a sign of the presence of Christ in our life.

Laura Broyles, Adult Faith Formation Director
laura.broyles@abecket.org

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