Comments on: The Unity Candle http://bustedhalo.com/features/pppw12-the-unity-candle an online magazine for spiritual seekers Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:56:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Concerned Catholic http://bustedhalo.com/features/pppw12-the-unity-candle/comment-page-1#comment-17200 Concerned Catholic Mon, 15 Aug 2011 10:15:04 +0000 http://www.bustedhalo.com/?p=11158#comment-17200 I'm concerned about this website. To the sociologist who's asking questions about "Catholic" weddings, you may need to do more work and ask more priests. With respect to the priest you used as your resource, I'm surprised that he doesn't know the symbolism of the "unity candle". FYI: the unity candle represents the union of man and woman with God. Both the bride and the groom use a small/thin candle to light a big candle. Once the big candle is lit, they each blow their own candle leaving just the big candle which will stay on throughout the ceremony. This ritual is common in Filipino weddings and those with Spanish influence countries. Now, offering of flower(s) to Mama Mary is done by Catholics who understands and appreciates the importance of Her role in the Plan of God. The priest you used as your resource should know this. I’m concerned about this website. To the sociologist who’s asking questions about “Catholic” weddings, you may need to do more work and ask more priests. With respect to the priest you used as your resource, I’m surprised that he doesn’t know the symbolism of the “unity candle”.
FYI: the unity candle represents the union of man and woman with God. Both the bride and the groom use a small/thin candle to light a big candle. Once the big candle is lit, they each blow their own candle leaving just the big candle which will stay on throughout the ceremony. This ritual is common in Filipino weddings and those with Spanish influence countries.
Now, offering of flower(s) to Mama Mary is done by Catholics
who understands and appreciates the importance of Her role in the Plan of God. The priest you used as your resource should know this.

]]> By: vinny http://bustedhalo.com/features/pppw12-the-unity-candle/comment-page-1#comment-8222 vinny Tue, 02 Mar 2010 01:06:17 +0000 http://www.bustedhalo.com/?p=11158#comment-8222 The sign of unity in a catholic marriage is the rings..when you add another sign of unity it diminishes the first and more important one, The unity candle makes no sense and is an unecessary " add on". I have seen weddings where both sets or parents were divorced, with new signifcant others, spouses..a real mess..some weddings the bride and groom lit the small candles. some weddings the mothers did, some wedding both sets of parents did..and last one with all the divorced..couple didn't know who to ask. Who the heck is it supposed to represent the union of..the mothers, the parents , the couple. Just stick with the rings!!! enough already. The sign of unity in a catholic marriage is the rings..when you add another sign of unity it diminishes the first and more important one, The unity candle makes no sense and is an unecessary ” add on”. I have seen weddings where both sets or parents were divorced, with new signifcant others, spouses..a real mess..some weddings the bride and groom lit the small candles. some weddings the mothers did, some wedding both sets of parents did..and last one with all the divorced..couple didn’t know who to ask. Who the heck is it supposed to represent the union of..the mothers, the parents , the couple. Just stick with the rings!!! enough already.

]]> By: mlb517 http://bustedhalo.com/features/pppw12-the-unity-candle/comment-page-1#comment-8194 mlb517 Sat, 27 Feb 2010 00:06:03 +0000 http://www.bustedhalo.com/?p=11158#comment-8194 Hey Fr Eric, Im glad you are still representing for UT! Hey Fr Eric, Im glad you are still representing for UT!

]]> By: cathyf http://bustedhalo.com/features/pppw12-the-unity-candle/comment-page-1#comment-8192 cathyf Fri, 26 Feb 2010 21:26:04 +0000 http://www.bustedhalo.com/?p=11158#comment-8192 When I got married, the unity candle was our priest's wedding present to us... When I got married, the unity candle was our priest’s wedding present to us…

]]> By: frjimt http://bustedhalo.com/features/pppw12-the-unity-candle/comment-page-1#comment-8191 frjimt Fri, 26 Feb 2010 18:53:44 +0000 http://www.bustedhalo.com/?p=11158#comment-8191 It takes longer for the unity candle junk that it does for the vows, the rings. We end up standing around listening to a soloist singing 98 verses of pete seger's greatest hits. So, I recommend that couples incorporate the candle (bringing ceremony & reception together) by doing it at the time of "grace" and "toast." Besides, the candles last longer than the marriage! It takes longer for the unity candle junk that it does for the vows, the rings.
We end up standing around listening to a soloist singing 98 verses of pete seger’s greatest hits.

So, I recommend that couples incorporate the candle (bringing ceremony & reception together) by doing it at the time of “grace” and “toast.”

Besides, the candles last longer than the marriage!

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