Notes from the Pastor [5]
(Please note this is an archival post that is decades old. Msgr. Awalt passed away a number of years ago.)
Perhaps the most familiar object in our worship is the candle. It is a visual illustration of that familiar phrase from the Canon of the Mass, “All creation gives you praise,” The humble but hardworking bee contributes the wax. The wax is also the work of human hands as it is given wick and shape. The candle plays an important part early in our lives with the baptism of children. Once lit, it is presented to our godparents and through them to us as we are admonished to keep the Faith burning as the flame of the candle. Thus we become a reflection of the one who is the Light of the World. At the Eucharist we find candles near or on the altar. Long ago it was a practical necessity so that we could see. Now with electricity, it is essentially symbolic. The candle is consumed while giving off light. This action is analogous to ourselves being expended in the work of Christ.
The lighted vigil candle marks the real presence in our church where it is positioned near the tabernacle as a silent witness.
The candle dispels the darkness as it is greeted at the Easter Vigil services as the risen Christ, the Light of the World. All light their individual candles and spread the light, candle to candle, indicating that we are to transmit or share the Word of God. The Easter (Paschal) Candle is greeted in song as it enters the church. It symbolizes the risen Christ. It bears signs of the wounds from the crucified and risen Christ.
William J. Awalt
Filed under: Awalt Papers, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
Although the recent disclosures in Pennsylvania and New Jersey have fanned the flames of controversy about abuse by clergy in the Catholic Church, it must be admitted that the Archdiocese of Washington has suffered the most serious blunt of the scandal. One of our cardinals faces censure under a Vatican investigation and the other stepped down after criticism of his efforts to stem abuse were judged insufficient and as lacking transparency. Given the situation, Washington may be the one “hot potato” local church that no bishop will want. Unlike other archdioceses, our numbers are modest and the prominence of the church here is due to the status as the nation’s capital. There are also particular problems with this jurisdiction given that many politicians from other states and dioceses live and work here. Can the ordinary of Washington establish censures or regulations over parishioners that conflict with the rules held by their proper bishops? This is one of the reasons acknowledged why pro-abortion politicians are not refused Holy Communion in Washington. Some national bishops refuse to take such measures and others have dictated this policy to their priests. Of course, it can be argued that there is no middle-ground because a lack of a prohibition already takes sides. Cardinal McCarrick often spoke about this, saying that he did not want to force confrontations at the altar. However, matters were exasperated when he befriended the late Senator Ted Kennedy over protests from organizations like the American Life League. When challenged about it, he argued that the archdiocese and “the Church” needed these politicians to support us on other issues. While only a parish priest, my objection was that if a child is destroyed, for that human person there are no more issues. It also seemed to stand in stark contrast from the guidance given by Cardinal Ratzinger who later became Pope Benedict XVI. Under Cardinal Wuerl, the policy of not withholding Holy Communion became official. The only possible exception would be when the communicant was deliberately inciting a controversial confrontation, as with wearing pro-abortion shirts and hats in church.
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