Send CathInfo's owner Matthew a gift from his Amazon wish list:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/25M2B8RERL1UO

« previous next »
Pages: [1]

Author Topic: Altar candles  (Read 564 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Michelle

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 108
  • Reputation: +91/-25
  • Gender: Female
Altar candles
« on: May 05, 2024, 03:50:20 PM »
  • Thanks!0
  • No Thanks!0
    • 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.
    Logged

    Offline Miseremini

    • Sr. Member
    • ****
    • Posts: 3812
    • Reputation: +2835/-240
    • Gender: Female
    Re: Altar candles
    « Reply #1 on: May 05, 2024, 04:29:51 PM »
  • Thanks!0
  • No Thanks!0
    • 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.
    Logged
    "Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered: and them that hate Him flee from before His Holy Face"  Psalm 67:2[/b]

    Offline Plenus Venter

    • Full Member
    • ***
    • Posts: 1178
    • Reputation: +833/-70
    • Gender: Male
    Re: Altar candles
    « Reply #2 on: May 05, 2024, 07:05:52 PM »
  • Thanks!0
  • No Thanks!0
    • 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 
    Logged

    Offline Michelle

    • Newbie
    • *
    • Posts: 108
    • Reputation: +91/-25
    • Gender: Female
    Re: Altar candles
    « Reply #3 on: May 05, 2024, 07:06:40 PM »
  • Thanks!0
  • No Thanks!0
    • Quote from: Miseremini on May 05, 2024, 04:29:51 PM
    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.  
    Logged

    Offline Chris Z

    • Newbie
    • *
    • Posts: 12
    • Reputation: +9/-0
    • Gender: Male
    Re: Altar candles
    « Reply #4 on: May 05, 2024, 08:44:30 PM »
  • Thanks!1
  • No Thanks!0
    • 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
    Logged

    Offline Texana

    • Jr. Member
    • **
    • Posts: 389
    • Reputation: +176/-47
    • Gender: Female
    Re: Altar candles
    « Reply #5 on: May 06, 2024, 01:58:41 PM »
  • Thanks!0
  • No Thanks!0
    • Quote from: Michelle on May 05, 2024, 03:50:20 PM
    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!
    Logged

    Offline Chris Z

    • Newbie
    • *
    • Posts: 12
    • Reputation: +9/-0
    • Gender: Male
    Re: Altar candles
    « Reply #6 on: May 06, 2024, 06:25:36 PM »
  • Thanks!0
  • No Thanks!0
    • 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

    Logged
    Pages: [1]
    « previous next »