[Salvation]

January 6, Bl. Andre Bessette Brother André spent most of his days in a narrow lodge, with only a table, some chairs and a bench as furnishings. He was attentive to the needs of all, smiling, obliging. In the evening he would engage in the difficult work of maintaining the parlor and hallway floors. He was on his knees until late at night, washing, polishing, and waxing by the dim light of a candle. — Abbey of Saint-Joseph de Clairval The use of candles is one of the loveliest Christmas customs that we can keep on using throughout the year. Now, more than ever, Christmas is a festival of light in a dark world, a time to hold our candles high, and to teach our children all the little ceremonies which make life gracious and full of meaning. No matter how long we live, nor how learned we become, we may travel the world over, and find nothing more beautiful than candlelight on the face of a child. "Now the Lord be thanked because we have light." — Dorothy Albaugh Stickell Day Thirteen activity Day Thirteen recipe (Yule Spice Cake)

[Salvation]

Day Thirteen ~ Activities for the Thirteenth Day in the Octave of Christmas

Remembering that Christmas is the feast of lights, and we are celebrating the coming of the Light of the World, try your hand at making candles with the family.

DIRECTIONS

Candles for the Domestic Church

The first step at making candles is deciding what kind of candle do you want to make: rolled, dipped, or poured candles, in taper, pillar, votive, or other shape? Think about the year ahead and what kind of candles you would like to use through the Church year. There are Advent candles, candles to have blessed on February 2nd, baptismal candles, Christ Candle, Mary Candle, Lumen Christi or Paschal Candle.

Making a Paschal pillar candle now would be a great idea, so it can be blessed on Candlemas day, February 2nd. Then during Lent everyone can decorate it. Starting now can help the learning curve. A great thing about the craft medium of candles -- if you make a mistake, it can be melted down and started again.

If you can, try to find some beeswax and make at least 51% beeswax. The candles smell wonderful, burn cleaner, less drips, and burn longer.

Candle kits and candle making supplies are readily available at most craft stores and many stores online. For detailed directions on how to make candles, see Candles 101.

Candles and beeswax have played a large role in the liturgy, including in the older translation of the Exsultet (or Exultet )at the Easter Vigil, which honors the bees for their beeswax. For more reading, see

• The Wax Candle in the Liturgy

• Address on Bees by Pope Pius XII

• Blessing of Bees on the Feast of St. Benedict

• Blessing of Candles on Candlemas