WORLD CANDLE LIGHTING DAY
Acts, Chapter 24,
Verse 15
I
have the same hope in God as they
themselves have that there will be a resurrection of the righteous and the
unrighteous.
Paul in his trial before Felix the Roman Governor for
sedition is explaining that he believes everything in the Jewish law and the
prophets. He also explains he believes in the resurrection of the just and
unjust, as in Dan 12: 2.[1]
Many of those who sleep in the dust
of the earth shall awake; some to everlasting life, others to reproach and
everlasting disgrace.
The
Bible tells us that when Jesus returns to earth, he will physically raise all those
who have died, giving them back the bodies they lost at death. These will
be the same bodies people had in earthly life—but our resurrection bodies will
not die and, for the righteous, they will be transformed into a glorified
state, freed from suffering and pain, and enabled to do many of the amazing
things Jesus could do with his glorified body (cf. 1 Cor. 15:35–44, 1 John
3:2). The resurrection of the body is an essential Christian doctrine, as
the apostle Paul declares: "[I]f the dead are not raised, then Christ has
not been raised. If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile, and you
are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have
perished" (1 Cor. 15:13–18). Because, as Paul tells us, the Christian
faith cannot exist without this doctrine, it has been infallibly defined by the
Church. It is included in the three infallible professions of faith—the
Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed—and has been
solemnly, infallibly taught by ecumenical councils. The Fourth Lateran
Council (1215), infallibly defined that at the second coming Jesus "will
judge the living and the dead, to render to every person according to his
works, both to the reprobate and to the elect. All of them will rise with their
own bodies, which they now wear, so as to receive according to their deserts,
whether these be good or bad [Rom. 2:6–11]" (constitution 1). Most
recently, the Catechism of the Catholic Church reiterated this
long-defined teaching, stating, "‘We believe in the true resurrection of
this flesh that we now possess’ (Council of Lyons II). We sow a corruptible
body in the tomb, but he raises up an incorruptible body, a ‘spiritual body’
(cf. 1 Cor 15:42–44)" (CCC 1017).
NIHIL OBSTAT: I have concluded
that the materials
presented in this work are free of doctrinal or moral errors.
Bernadeane Carr, STL, Censor Librorum, August 10, 2004
presented in this work are free of doctrinal or moral errors.
Bernadeane Carr, STL, Censor Librorum, August 10, 2004
IMPRIMATUR: In accord with
1983 CIC 827
permission to publish this work is hereby granted.
+Robert H. Brom, Bishop of San Diego, August 10, 2004
permission to publish this work is hereby granted.
+Robert H. Brom, Bishop of San Diego, August 10, 2004
For hundreds of years, lighting a candle
has been a way to show respect for those that have died. This beautiful gesture
shows that although someone may be gone from this world, their memory will
endure, and the light of their flame will continue to inspire and guide
others. Worldwide Candle Lighting Day is a celebration of solidarity and
memory. It’s a day on which people around the world gather to light candles for
children who have died and to show that they will always be loved and never
forgotten. The candles are lit at the same time in every time zone, meaning
that a consistent warm glow passes around the planet for a full 24-hour day.
The History of Worldwide Candle Lighting Day
Worldwide Candle Lighting Day was a gift
to the bereavement community from The Compassionate Friend. The Compassionate
Friend’s Worldwide Candle Lighting Day started in the United States in 1997 as
a small internet observance in honor of children who lived tragically short
lives for any number of reasons, from sickness, to accidents, to war, but has
since spread throughout the world. Nowadays, hundreds of formal candle lighting
events are held in many different countries and thousands of informal candle
lightings are conducted in homes as families gather in quiet remembrance of
children who have died but will never be forgotten. many organizations join in
to observe this holiday, some f which are local bereavement groups, churches,
funeral homes, hospitals, hospices, children’s gardens, schools, cemeteries,
and community centers, and rememberance services have ranged in size from just
a few people to nearly a thousand over the years since the creation of this
special day. All of this just goes to show how necessary it was to set this day
aside for this purpose.
How to Celebrate World Candle Lighting Day
As mentioned before, this day is
celebrated with a quiet elegance: at 7 p.m. local time, people light candles
for one hour to remember their loved ones. It is a moving occasion that bypasses
geographical and cultural divides. As everyone lights their candles at seven pm
local time, far-flung parts of the world get illuminated in turn, so that
eventually the light has moved all around the globe. If you have experienced
the loss of a child in your lifetime, this is a good moment to honor his or her
memory by taking part in the candle lighting. You could also invite some close
family members to spend this time with you and light their own candles for the
late child.
This doesn’t only have to be a sad
occasion, however. Children’s lives are mostly filled with fun and laughter, so
reminiscing about all of the things the child you are honoring managed to enjoy
before he or she passed may should serve to lighten the atmosphere up a little
bit. Of course, nothing will ever make up for the loss of a child, but there is
some solace to be taken in the fact that the child’s life was a good one,
however short. No matter whether you’ll be lighting a candle at home or joining
a gathering Worldwide Candle Lighting Day it is a way to show love and
community.
Feast of the
Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome
— Benedict XVI, Angelus Address, November 9, 2008
"Read
these counsels slowly. Pause to meditate on these thoughts. They are things
that I whisper in your ear-confiding them-as a friend, as a brother, as a
father. And they are being heard by God. I won't tell you anything new. I will
only stir your memory, so that some thought will arise and strike you; and so
you will better your life and set out along ways of prayer and of Love. And in
the end you will be a more worthy soul."
111. 'The flesh though dressed in silk'... This is my only comment when
I see you waver before the temptation that hides its impurity under pretexts of
art, of science..., of charity! This is my only comment set in the words of an
old proverb: 'The flesh is flesh though dressed in silk.
'Daily Devotions
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