Catholic Info
Traditional Catholic Faith => The Sacred: Catholic Liturgy, Chant, Prayers => Topic started by: Michelle on May 05, 2024, 03:50:20 PM
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I have a large box of the remains of altar candles. I was thinking about melting them down to make household candles to sell at our craft sale. I was wondering what kind of wax they are made from. Are altar candles 100% beeswax, or a mixture? I would appreciate any help concerning the church laws.
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Best to ask the priest what he bought.
Altar candles used to be 100% pure then the requirement went to 66-2/3% and finally in the '50's down to 51%. After Vat II...it was anything goes.
If there is any beeswax in the candle the amount should be molded into the side of altar candles near the bottom.
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The common altar candle in Australia contains around 10% bees wax which gives it a slight yellow/brown tinge compared with the white paraffin: https://www.christiansupplies.com.au/candle-15-x-1-beeswax-blend
100% bees wax candles are uncommon in my experience, probably due to the cost, and are much darker in colour
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Best to ask the priest what he bought.
Altar candles used to be 100% pure then the requirement went to 66-2/3% and finally in the '50's down to 51%. After Vat II...it was anything goes.
If there is any beeswax in the candle the amount should be molded into the side of altar candles near the bottom.
Thanks.
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The "yellow" beeswax candles are or used to be used during lent and for funerals. I've seen them used at funerals before at our chapel. I've made my own candles form my own wax before, and they are pretty yellow. I've read there is a way to sun bleach thin sheets of wax to whiten it. You can also use only virgin comb and /or the wax capping on honey comb to get a white wax.
cz
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I have a large box of the remains of altar candles. I was thinking about melting them down to make household candles to sell at our craft sale. I was wondering what kind of wax they are made from. Are altar candles 100% beeswax, or a mixture? I would appreciate any help concerning the church laws.
Dear Michelle,
Perhaps it would be better to use your blessed candles for the sacred rather than for a profane, material gain. You could burn them during recitation of the rosary; by the bed of a sick person; to greet Fr. at your door when he comes to your home; for the 3 Days of Darkness. Those candles were present at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. They might have been used in the candelabra for the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Those candles are sacramentals, and therefore, should be treated with respect. How would you know how the buyer would use them? Those candles are precious in a very real sense!
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I know past members of our chapel took the old altar candles and melted and colored them to reuse them as Advent candles. Market them as such, sell at your chapel, and you could do your best to ensure they are not used for the profane.
Unless of course you think advent wreaths are pagan.
cz