...the flame from the Paschal Candle is used to light a small taper in memory of a loved one on All Saints Day.

In Jerusalem, the earliest Christians blessed and lighted candles every Saturday night. By at least the fifth or sixth century, the custom had become associated with celebrations of the Resurrection, and paschal candles had found their way into the liturgy of the Western church.

In the medieval church, allegorical meaning was ascribed to every aspect of the paschal candle. Unlighted, it represented Christ’s death and burial; lighted, it represented the splendor and glory of Christ’s resurrection. The wick represented Christ’s humanity, and the halo of flame represented his divinity. Other candles lighted from the paschal candle symbolized Christ giving the Holy Spirit to the disciples.

For us, the symbolism of Christ’s triumph over the darkness of sin and death is preeminent. This symbolism is most apparent when the paschal candle is introduced each year to the congregation in the Easter Vigil on Easter Eve. When the Vigil begins, the church is dark, symbolic of the darkness of the sepulcher that held the crucified Christ. A new fire is kindled, and the paschal candle is lighted, representing the Risen Christ, the Light of the world.

Symbolically, this is the fire from which all light is ignited. Traditionally, before lighting the candle from the new fire, the candle is inscribed with a cross, an alpha and omega, and the current year. This reinforces the point that Christ is present among us now and throughout eternity. The following words traditionally accompany the inscribing: "Christ yesterday and today [cross], the beginning and the end [Alpha and Omega]. His are all times and ages; to Christ be glory and dominion, through endless ages . Amen." Five grains of incense may be inserted into the cross with wax nails, representing the five wounds of Christ, as indicated during the Easter proclamation.

As the candle is carried in procession into the dark nave, so Christ lights our way out of darkness. During this procession, the bearer of the candle lifts it high and sings, "The light of Christ," to which all respond, "Thanks be to God!"  Christ is present in the midst of the assembly. We are not pretending to reenact Christ’s physical resurrection. We are not simply recalling an ancient event when Christ was present. The reality in the message of the resurrection is that the Risen Christ is present here today, with and for us. There is no one particular moment within the procession of light or in the vigil liturgy that we believe to be the exact moment of Christ’s resurrection. The ancient Easter proclamation, sung by the light of the paschal candle, says it clearly: "O night truly blessed which alone was worthy to know the time and the hour wherein Christ arose again from hell!" We are gathered in darkness to wait and look for the resurrection. Gradually we enter into the reality that Christ is risen and is present among us.

The paschal candle traditionally lighted for each liturgy during the great fifty days of Easter. (Easter is not over until Pentecost, the fiftieth day!) Ideally, the candle burns continuously from the Vigil of Easter through Pentecost.

In some traditions, the paschal candle is extinguished at the reading of the gospel on the Ascension of our Lord. This practice emphasizes the historical presence of Jesus following the resurrection, rather than focusing on the presence of the Risen Christ in our time. The fuller symbolism of the paschal candle calls for letting it remain lighted and central through the entire Easter season.

At Gloria Dei, the paschal candle is placed on its stand near the baptismal font as a visual reminder that in our baptism, we are crucified and resurrected with Christ. The candle is lighted at each celebration of Baptism, at which time small baptismal candles are lighted from it for presentation to the baptized or sponsor. This act is a visual reminder of the integral connection between Baptism and Easter. For funerals, the paschal candle is lighted and placed in its stand at the head of the casket during the funeral rite. In a visual way, the paschal candle visually proclaims the message of Romans 6:3-5 (used at the beginning of the burial liturgy): "In our Baptism we have already died and been raised with Christ."

The paschal candle, sometimes called the Easter candle, should not be confused with the so-called Christ candle, which has no roots in liturgical history but is often seen at the center of Advent wreaths.

Source: Evangelical Lutheran Church in America www.elca.org