I lived with my grandmother until I turned 12. She was Catholic and we often went to church together. I have vivid memories of her shaking me awake when I started to sleep during the homily. Another thing that I remember is that she used to light a candle at church each Sunday. This extended to home as well; there were often religious candles burning in her bedroom. Both my grandmother and great grandmother, and in fact all my grandmother’s siblings, burned religious candles at home.
I no longer go to mass, but in my travels, I often visit churches. Since I believe in the unity of religion and that God is one, I take the chance to sit in a pew and say a prayer. I look for a feeling of peace, study the the organ (there’s almost always one in churches in Europe) and light a candle. I love stained glass windows and watching the play of sunlight and shadows in the interior of the church.
Lighting a Candle
When I light a candle, it is usually in remembrance of my grandmother, grandfather, great grandmother or aunt, who are all deceased. I often say The Lord’s prayer, Psalm 23, or a prayer for the deceased. The first two are prayers I said every night as a child with my grandmother, and so I still remember the words.
Catholics usually use candles dedicated to particular saints to ask them to act as an intermediary with God. I light a candle in memory of my family members who are deceased, because they believed in lighting candles. It’s a way for me to honor their memory, by doing something that they would do if they were still alive. The prayer I say on my own behalf, because I think that prayers benefit the soul of the departed.
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Spread Light
To everyone, I wish light upon light. For the progress of souls, I say a prayer; for the living, I send light through a loving kindness meditation. If I were to judge myself, I’d say that I don’t do either of those enough. We can always spread more light, but that’s not the point. I appreciate every speck of brightness that I create, that you send, because it increases the brightness in the world.
Let’s spread light, with our intentions, our smiles, all our actions.
During April, I’m participating in the writing prompts challenge from WordPress.com. Want to participate? Find the prompts here.
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