QUESTION ON THE BIBLICAL FOUNDATION OF CANDLES II by Rev. Fr. Abe Arganiosa, CRS

Pope Benedict XVI proclaiming Christ as the Light of the World during the Easter Liturgy

1.   The Candles of the Wicked shall be put off

Job 18:6  The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle shall be put out with him.

Job 21:17  How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.

Prov 24:20  For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.

Jer 25:10  Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle.

·        As Catholics we must rejoice that our Candles are not put off. It shows that we are still under the Grace of God – our Lord Jesus Christ - who is the Light of the World [Jn 1:4-5; 1 Jn 1:5].

2.   God commanded that special Candelabra [Candlesticks] be put inside the Temple

1 Kgs 7:49  And the candlesticks of pure gold, five on the right side, and five on the left, before the oracle, with the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs of gold,

1 Chron 28:15  Even the weight for the candlesticks of gold, and for their lamps of gold, by weight for every candlestick, and for the lamps thereof: and for the candlesticks of silver by weight, both for the candlestick, and also for the lamps thereof, according to the use of every candlestick.

2 Chron 4:7  And he made ten candlesticks of gold according to their form, and set them in the temple, five on the right hand, and five on the left.

2 Chron 4:20  Moreover the candlesticks with their lamps, that they should burn after the manner before the oracle, of pure gold;

·        In obedience to the will of God the Father we put and use Candles in our Temples and Houses of Prayers and we use it for Worship and for Prayers.

·        It is not true that the use of Candles is of pagan origin because the use of candles came from the Will of God and expressed in His direct order.

3.   The Lord Jesus as High Priest of the New Covenant stood beside the Candelabra

Rev 1:12  And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;

Rev 1:13  And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

Rev 2:1  Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

·        That is the reason why the Ministers of the Church who are also the representatives of Christ are leading the people in prayer and worships amidst the Candles.

Pope Benedict XVI celebrating the Holy Mass standing before the large, golden candlesticks...

4.   The Servant of God walks under the light of His Candle

Job 29:3  When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;

·        The candles remind us that we are servants of the Lord and that we must walk in His paths.

5.   Candle manifests the Light of the Lord

Ps 18:28  For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.

Prov 20:27  The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.

·        The candles symbolizes the light of grace given to us by God giving us wisdom, knowledge, understand and spiritual guidance.

6.   Candle is a sign of God’s blessing to Good People

Prov 31:18  She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

7.   Wise People lights a Candle

Mt 5:15  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

Mk 4:21  And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?

Lk 8:16  No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.

Lk 11:33  No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.

Lk 15:8  Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?

8.   The use of candle will end only in the Fullness of Salvation in Heaven at the End of Time

Rev 18:23  And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

Rev 22:5  And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

9.   The Two Candlesticks of the Ordinary Mass represents the Two Candlesticks standing before God

Rev 11:4  These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

·        In most of the Holy Masses celebrated all over the world two candles are being lit on the Altar Table. That idea is taken at Rev 11:4 showing that we are before the presence of our God.