Although I am not from a Catholic background, I have always been strongly drawn to the spiritual practice of lighting candles as an accompaniment to prayer. I like the idea that our prayerful communication with the Divine continues while the candle burns. Spiritually, it's a wonderful idea. From a fire safety point of view, not so much.
That's why I love the website of Brother David Steindl-Rast, a now-elderly Benedictine monk who has made prayer and gratitude his life's work, along with ecumenical dialogue between Christianity and Buddhism. On his site (www.gratefulness.org), you can light a virtual candle which will burn for a full 48 hours, accompanied by your prayer (which can reflect any form of spirituality, of course). Over 7 million of these free candles have been lit since 2001. Simply click on the "Light a Candle" button on the left side of the website's homepage and follow the easy instructions!
What a wonderful site. Thanks for posting this.
ReplyDeleteI found the easiest part of my transition from Catholicism to Paganism was that both value ritual.
This is wonderful! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI love this site...I have not been there for so long! It felt so nice to say a prayer and light a candle today. Thank you for the reminder and the link!
ReplyDeleteeveryone that knows I'm a pagan find it extremely funny that I go to Saint Mary's and light candles and pray for my friends and family...makes perfect sense to me..I tell Mary to tell her son to watch out for my friends..my problem is I do it out loud and freaks out the little czech ladies who come in to pray..they think I should do it silently...I'm under the impression that after all these years the dieties have bad hearing...
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments, everyone! I KNEW I couldn't be the only one who likes to light votive candles!
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