April 12, 2026, 12:00 PM
Maybe (or maybe not) you’ve wondered about the paschal candle. We see it in the sanctuary every Easter. It seems to be a different candle – sometimes highly decorated. It’s really tall and hard to light. And, if you were at our Easter Vigil (or check out the photos on social media) you know that we had three paschal candles by the end of the evening.
The paschal candle has a long, long history in worship. Easter begins when it’s lit and carried into the church. It’s a new candle, lit from a fresh fire. It keeps a prominent place near the pulpit or altar through Pentecost. We light it for every baptism. We put it near the casket or cremains at every funeral. It tells us we’re enlightened at the beginning and end of our Christian journey by the risen Christ.
How about the decorations? We can buy a decorated candle from a catalog—and that’s a fine option. But, throughout my priesthood I’ve usually asked artists to paint the candle. I give a little direction (e.g., Make sure there’s a cross somewhere!). This year Seth Goodman, art professor at Lycoming, provided us with an image of the church’s patron, St Boniface. He’s wielding the ax to cut down the oak tree beloved by northern European pagans. He cuts down that tree to allow a new life in Christ to sprout and blossom and bear fruit. He’s actually a tremendous image of what Easter does to us. He was willing to be sent (remember, he thought his calling was as a quietly praying monk in an abbey) to preach the gospel to people he didn’t know. He risked (and gave) his life in witness to that gospel—and in confident hope that his real life endured with Christ in heaven.
And those extra candles? They’re the paschal candles for St Ann and St Lawrence churches. They’re not just decoration to be lit from a grill lighter. They need to be first enflamed by the blessed fire of that holy night! And then they’re taken to the churches—a reminder that our one Easter Vigil is a sign of our Catholic unity and our common goal in Christ’s mission. Let these candles burn brightly, challenging us to be Christ’s Church, salt for the earth and light for the world!
Fr. McCreary
The paschal candle has a long, long history in worship. Easter begins when it’s lit and carried into the church. It’s a new candle, lit from a fresh fire. It keeps a prominent place near the pulpit or altar through Pentecost. We light it for every baptism. We put it near the casket or cremains at every funeral. It tells us we’re enlightened at the beginning and end of our Christian journey by the risen Christ.
How about the decorations? We can buy a decorated candle from a catalog—and that’s a fine option. But, throughout my priesthood I’ve usually asked artists to paint the candle. I give a little direction (e.g., Make sure there’s a cross somewhere!). This year Seth Goodman, art professor at Lycoming, provided us with an image of the church’s patron, St Boniface. He’s wielding the ax to cut down the oak tree beloved by northern European pagans. He cuts down that tree to allow a new life in Christ to sprout and blossom and bear fruit. He’s actually a tremendous image of what Easter does to us. He was willing to be sent (remember, he thought his calling was as a quietly praying monk in an abbey) to preach the gospel to people he didn’t know. He risked (and gave) his life in witness to that gospel—and in confident hope that his real life endured with Christ in heaven.
And those extra candles? They’re the paschal candles for St Ann and St Lawrence churches. They’re not just decoration to be lit from a grill lighter. They need to be first enflamed by the blessed fire of that holy night! And then they’re taken to the churches—a reminder that our one Easter Vigil is a sign of our Catholic unity and our common goal in Christ’s mission. Let these candles burn brightly, challenging us to be Christ’s Church, salt for the earth and light for the world!
Fr. McCreary
