Votive candle

A votive candle or prayer candle is a small candle, typically white or beeswax yellow, intended to be burnt as a votive offering in an act of Christian prayer, especially within the Anglican, Lutheran, and Roman Catholic Christian denominations, among others.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4] In Christianity, votive candles are commonplace in many churches, as well as home altars, and symbolize the "prayers the worshipper is offering for him or herself, or for other people."^[5]^[3]^[4] The size of a votive candle is often two inches tall by one and a half inches diameter, although other votive candles can be significantly taller and wider. In other religions, such as Hinduism and Buddhism, similar offerings exist, which include diyas and butter lamps.

^ Geddes, Gordon; Griffiths, Jane (2002). Christian Belief and Practice. Heinemann. p. 68. ISBN 9780435306915. Many Christians light candles as an aid to prayer. In Roman Catholic and some Anglican churches, Christians place a lighted candle by a statue of Jesus, Mary or one of the saints. The candles are called votive candles. They are symbols of the prayers the worshipper is offering for him or herself, or for other people. In some churches a board is placed nearby with names of those for whom prayer is requested.
^ "The Lighted Globe". Family of God Lutheran Church. 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
^ ^a ^b Keene, Michael (2000). Christian Life. Nelson Thornes. p. 11. ISBN 9780748752874. The shape of many of the older churches was important. The central aisle down the middle (the nave) was crossed by another aisle in front of the sanctuary to form a cross-shape. The shape of the church is a reminder to everyone of the death of Jesus. The people sit on either side of the aisle in pews. Candles are a feature of many churches although they are not found in Nonconformist churches. People often light a candle before they say a prayer--the candles used for this purpose are called 'votive candles'. Candles remind worshippers of Jesus who described himself as 'the Light of the world'.
^ ^a ^b Cross, Frank Leslie; Livingstone, Elizabeth A. (2005). The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. Oxford University Press. p. 277. ISBN 9780192802903. Retrieved 20 October 2014. Votive candles are candles lit before statues in churches or shrines as personal offerings.
^ O'Toole, James M. (1 July 2005). Habits of Devotion. Cornell University Press. p. 128. ISBN 9780801472558. Everyday forms of Marian devotion like the recitation of daily prayers or litanies or the lighting of votive candles at a church or before a home altar, though still practiced, seem to be less attached to a communal focus.

[GeddesGriffiths2002-1] Geddes, Gordon; Griffiths, Jane (2002). Christian Belief and Practice. Heinemann. p. 68. ISBN 9780435306915. Many Christians light candles as an aid to prayer. In Roman Catholic and some Anglican churches, Christians place a lighted candle by a statue of Jesus, Mary or one of the saints. The candles are called votive candles. They are symbols of the prayers the worshipper is offering for him or herself, or for other people. In some churches a board is placed nearby with names of those for whom prayer is requested.

[2] "The Lighted Globe". Family of God Lutheran Church. 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2019.

[Keene2000-3] Keene, Michael (2000). Christian Life. Nelson Thornes. p. 11. ISBN 9780748752874. The shape of many of the older churches was important. The central aisle down the middle (the nave) was crossed by another aisle in front of the sanctuary to form a cross-shape. The shape of the church is a reminder to everyone of the death of Jesus. The people sit on either side of the aisle in pews. Candles are a feature of many churches although they are not found in Nonconformist churches. People often light a candle before they say a prayer--the candles used for this purpose are called 'votive candles'. Candles remind worshippers of Jesus who described himself as 'the Light of the world'.

[CrossLivingstone2005-4] Cross, Frank Leslie; Livingstone, Elizabeth A. (2005). The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. Oxford University Press. p. 277. ISBN 9780192802903. Retrieved 20 October 2014. Votive candles are candles lit before statues in churches or shrines as personal offerings.

[O'Toole2005-5] O'Toole, James M. (1 July 2005). Habits of Devotion. Cornell University Press. p. 128. ISBN 9780801472558. Everyday forms of Marian devotion like the recitation of daily prayers or litanies or the lighting of votive candles at a church or before a home altar, though still practiced, seem to be less attached to a communal focus.

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