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Rose Sun wrote:

Hi, guys —

I have a question about the candles with saint or angels on them.

  • Is it appropriate to offer one in the name of someone or for whatever purpose you might need to pray for?

Rose

  { Is it proper to offer a candle in the name of someone or for whatever prayer intention you have? }

Bob replied:

Dear Rose,

Happy thanksgiving and thanks for the question.

Yes, you can offer intentions and light a holy candle for them. It is a symbol of those prayers that are constantly being held before God. Candles are sacramentals that present an outward sign of something unseen, namely the sacrifice, love, and especially the intercession for others and those matters which we present to our Lord.

There is also a sacrifice inasmuch as the expense of the item is something we offer in place of something for ourselves. There is a long history of the use of candles in worship, so we use them in our liturgies as well as to signal the Holy Presence of our Lord in the tabernacle, and the prayers of all the faithful in the Communion of Saints.

Peace,

Bob Kirby

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