There are monographs bearhig on this subject as fol- lows : D. W. Mailer, De perenmbus vet. lucerms (Altorf, 1705) ; J. J. Holier, De vet. \vxvoKaiff, (Jen. 1661) ; Schnrzfleisch, De lumimiinu sacris (In his Controv, xxv); Stockhausen, De cvitu ei um lumirium antique (Tr. ad Rh. 1726). See Candlestick.
II. Candles in Christian Worship.— 1. Roman ChnrdL — The practice was probably derived fh>m heathen and Jewish worship. Some Roman writers ascribe its ori- gin to the early Christians, who, prevented by perse- cution from worshipping in daylight, held their meet- ings under ground, where artificial light was needed (Claude de Yert, EjpHcaiion des Cirhnonies de Veglisf^. Others (e. g. Bergier, Diet, de Thiologie, s. v.) quote the book of Revelation, wherein mention is made of "candles" and golden ** candlesticks," in support of the usage, and also the Apostolical Canons (Can. 4), where mention is made of " oil for the holy lamp.'* Bergier also cites Jerome (contra VigikmHum, c. 8) in support of the use of lights in worriiip ; but the pas-
CANDLE
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nge dted simply speaks of a nsage in the Eastern Church of llghtbig candles when the Gospels were read as a symbol of joy at receiying the light. Je- rome expressly says the usage did not exist in the West, though he seems to jostiiy the lighting of can- dles and lamps before the tombs of the martyrs. See Lamps. The nse of candles in the worship of tiie Ro- man Church is defended on the ground that they sym- bdize Christ as the **tnie light,^* and also of the in- jimction of Christ to his followers to be ** the lights of men*' (Matt. V, 14, 16).
The principal solemnities in the Roman Church at which candles are used are the mass, the administra- tions of the sacraments, the benedictbns and proces- sions. They are also frequently employed before the statues and images of the saints, and many use them at their private devotions, especially while praying for the dead. Nnmerous liturgical prescriptions regulate their use. They must be, except in cases of emer- gency, of wax, and their color is generally white or yellow, but rarely red. The Patched candle is a large candle to which five grains of incense are attached in the form of a cross ; in most Roman Catholic church- es it is lighted with a newly-made fire on Easter eve. Alban Butler says that ^ Ennodius, bishop of Pavia (6Ui century), has left us two forms of prayer for the blessing of this candle. From him we learn that drop- pnigs or particles of the wax thereof^ after Low Sun- day, were distributed among the people, who burnt them in their houses against the influence of evil spirits, in which there was no superstition if the ef- 1^ was not certainly expected, because it was hoped for and asiced of God through the public prayers and Ueseings of the Church, directed for that end (!) The pasehal candle is an emblem of Christ rising from the dead, the light of the world, and is a sign which an- nounces to us the joy and glory of his resurrection. The five grains of frankincense fixed in it symbolical- ly represent his five precious wounds, and the embalm- ing of his body at his burial, and again in the grave, hj tlie devout persons who brought spices to his monument. This great candle anciently gave light during the watching in the church on Easter-eve in the night. The tr^ camdU arising from one stock signifies the Trinity of persons in one God, or the light of the Triune God shining to the world through Christ This only bums during the oflice of holy Saturday morning; after which it is taken away, and no more made use of; not eren on Easter-day.'* — Butler, /Vtute 9ad FatU (Treat, vi, ch. viii).
1 /» (k« Proietkmt Ckurcket^-^Thb Lutheran Church, after the Reformation, retained the use of lights on the ahar; the Reformed churches abolished it. In the Church of England, the " Injunctions of Edward VI" (1517) forbade the use of lights, *' except of two lights upon the high altar before the sacrament, which, for the signification that Chr\it is the very true light of the world, they shaU suffer to remain still.*' In ca- thedral churches these two lights were generally kept on the altar, but not lighted; and the great writers and leaders of the Church of England wrote against the nse of lights as tending to idolatry. So the Hom- ily "On the Peril of Idolatry" quotes Lactantius as ftOows: "Seemeth he to be in Jiis right mind who oier^ up to the Giver of all light the light of a wax cmdle for a gift ? He requireth another light of us, ▼bicfa is not smoky, but bright and clear, even the light of the mind and understanding. Their (the Wfiien) gods, because they be earthly, have need of H^ lest they remain in darkness ; whose worship- pen, because they understand no heavenly thing, do draw religion, which they use, down to the earth." The Homfly adds: **Thus for Lactantius, and much iDore, too long here to write, of candle-lighting in tem- ples before images and idols for religion ; whereby ap- pwretii both the foolishness thereof, and also that in opinion and act we do agree altogether in our candle