A baptismal candle symbolizes the light of Christ and the flame of faith. The flame used to light this candle is always taken from the Easter candle, also known as the paschal candle. This very tall Easter candle is blessed and lit from a new fire at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday when we celebrate the Death and Resurrection of Jesus and welcome new members of the Church through Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. As it is carried in procession throughout a darkened church, we sing, “Christ our light. Thanks be to God!” The Easter candle remains lit in the sanctuary through the Feast of Pentecost and then is kept next to the baptismal font for the remainder of the liturgical year. It is lit as a resurrection symbol for baptisms and funerals. The candle is usually decorated with a cross, the numerals of the current calendar year, and the Greek letters alpha and omega to signify Christ as “the beginning and the end.” Five grains of incense can also be inserted in the cross to symbolize the five wounds of Christ. At the Easter Vigil, the following lines are sung in the darkness of the church: “Accept this Easter candle. May it always dispel the darkness of this night!” (the Exsultet or Easter Proclamation). Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. (ICEL). All rights reserved.