Father Ángel Espinosa de los Monteros invites us to reflect on the importance of keeping the flame of faith alive throughout the year, rescuing a liturgical symbol that we often forget after the Easter Vigil.

It is common that, after the joy of the Easter Vigil and the celebration of the Resurrection, the Paschal candle ends up relegated to a forgotten corner of the kitchen, living alongside household utensils. However, this object is not a temporary decoration; it is a constant reminder that  Christ is the light of the world  and that his presence should not be limited to a single date on the calendar.

Father Ángel proposes a simple exercise in piety: creating a small oratory at home. It doesn’t require a large financial investment, just a small table, a crucifix, an image of the Virgin Mary, and the Bible. It is there that the candle should take center stage, becoming the silent companion of our daily meditation.

What does that candle we have at home really mean?

To understand why it should be lit every day, the priest breaks down the profound symbolism behind it:

• The Light:  It represents the resurrected Christ who illuminates the world. Lighting it during the Gospel reading is to invoke his presence, like the pillar of fire that guided Israel.
• The Flame:  It symbolizes new life and resurrection.
• The Cross and the Nails:  They remind us of the sacrifice of love and the five wounds, those marks that Christ wanted to keep even after his glory.
• Fire:  It is hope, salvation and love, a reality that we must keep burning in our daily lives.
• The Alpha and the Omega:  They point out that Christ is the beginning and the end of everything, our eternal companion.
• The Year:  The “2026” engraved on the candle is a reminder that God is present today, at this precise moment in history.
• The Lamb:  The ultimate connection between the Old and New Testaments, the lamb who takes away the sin of the world.

As Father Ángel rightly says, the goal is to end the year with a candle that is melted, used, and worn down by prayer. A candle that doesn’t burn down is a candle that hasn’t fulfilled its purpose.

Don’t buy the light only to keep it hidden. Integrate this symbol into your life, make space for it in your home, and allow the light of Christ to illuminate not only your prayer space but every one of your actions over the next 365 days.  Let us do all the good we can, keeping the flame burning.