Liturgical Candles are Causing Global Warming
Posted by: tony on 12/07/2007 03:28 AM
Updated by: tony on 12/07/2007 03:28 AM
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Expires: 01/07/2008 12:00 AM
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(Let me steal and modify one of my favorite movie lines :))
"I love the sweet smell of beeswax in the morning. It smells like... SANCTITY"
When I was a young boy, I loved lighting candles in church. I would put in the quarter from my allowance, and light the candle. Part of it was doing something "licitly" that was normally forbidden (by my parents). The other part of it was the thought in my young mind that the candle continued to pray for my intention long after I was gone. I know... That's not correct theology, but there were a number of things I had wrong as a youngster.
Now, via the Anchoress, I discover that the acolytes of the prophet Gore want my elder brothers to put some of their Chanukkah candles out. She opines:
And as I've said before, I expect the followers of the Church of Global Warming to be just as tolerant to those of other faiths, and their practices. We Catholics won’t force you to go to mass, fast, do penance or fly commercial, and you don’t force us to put out our candles, unlight our Christmas trees or worship Al Gore.
And in that hope, I'm going to go light a few candles at a local church that still uses real candles - although I guess pushing a few "electric candle" buttons will meet the case, as well - and I'm going to offer up an Advent prayer for religious tolerance and human forbearance throughout this vast, mysterious planet, which is greater than all the fuss, fury and conceits of humankind.
When our parish's art and environment committee solicited suggestions as to improvements to the environment of our parish, I stepped up and suggested a votive candle rack. I said that once the tabernacle was moved front and center in the sanctuary and out of the "Eucharistic chapel", said chapel would be a perfect place to put the candle rack.
So once the tabernacle was properly placed, the votive rack went up in the new "prayer room". There are kneelers, chairs and doors that close. You have statues of the Blessed Mother and her Divine Son, and it is a neat place to pray.
I found real votive candles (not beeswax) that burn for 10 hours at 10 cents apiece in boxes of 1440 (gratuitous plug for the candle company). We have been going through a lot of candles, which warms my heart (in addition to warming the immediate environment, using fossil fuel (paraffin) and contributing to C02 emissions).
One of the reasons I pushed for real candles (after looking into whether our parish's insurance allowed it or how much an additional rider would cost), is that there is richer symbolism in the candle that simply the flashlight. The candle is used up in the burning as Christ was used up on the cross. The smoke rising up symbolizes our prayers rising to heaven.
There's also just something about looking into the prayer room and seeing all of those candles lit. It is a physical manifestation of the invisible prayers being offered to almighty God.
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