Burning a novena candle for nine days is a widespread spiritual devotional practice in Christianity, and Catholicism in particular. It symbolises the perseverance of prayer and continued faith over a period of nine days. However, to take full advantage of this practice, it is important to know where and how to burn this candle. This text explores the different aspects of the novena candle devotion, the places where it can be burnt and the practices that surround it.
Why a novena candle for 9 days?
A novena candle represents a prayer that rises continuously to God, without interruption, for nine days. This number is not chosen at random. The novena is a biblical tradition dating back to the Apostles, who prayed for nine days between the Ascension of Jesus and Pentecost to receive the Holy Spirit. It is therefore a symbol of perseverance in prayer and trust in divine intervention.
Lighting a candle during this period is a symbolic gesture that adds a visual and tangible dimension to prayer. The flame represents the light of Christ, hope and faith, and leaving the candle burning for several days testifies to a continuity in prayer, even in the physical absence of the praying person.
Where to burn a novena candle?
The place where you burn a novena candle is important, as it helps to create an atmosphere of devotion and recollection. There are several possible places to burn a novena candle for nine days, each with its advantages depending on the situation and the spiritual significance you wish to give to the process.
1. At home: a domestic altar
The most common place to burn a novena candle is at home, in a corner set aside for prayer or on a small domestic altar. This can be a space specially set up with religious objects, such as crucifixes, icons, statues of saints, or simply a table dedicated to prayer.
Burning a novena candle at home has several advantages:
Proximity and intimacy: By having the candle lit at home, you are continually in the presence of your prayer, which helps to strengthen your spiritual connection. Every time you pass the candle, you are reminded of your prayer, and this helps you to keep the intention alive in your heart throughout the novena.
Easy to keep an eye on: It is essential to keep an eye on a candle as it burns. If you choose to burn it in your home, make sure you place the candle in a safe place, away from flammable objects, and ideally in a suitable candleholder that protects the flame.
Creating a sacred space: Lighting a candle in your own personal prayer space creates a sacred place in your home. This place becomes a spiritual refuge where you can retreat to pray in peace.
If you choose to burn the candle in a domestic space, it is recommended that you place it where you can see it regularly, to remind you of the prayer. Many devotees find that lighting the candle in the kitchen or living room, where the family gathers, helps to integrate it into daily life and reinforce the practice of family prayer.
2. In a church or chapel
Burning a novena candle in a church or chapel is another widespread practice. This allows the candle to be lit in a sacred place, where God's presence is particularly felt. Most churches have specially designated areas for candles, often located near statues of the Virgin Mary or saints, where the faithful can light prayer candles.
Here's why burning a novena candle in a church is meaningful:
Sacred place: A church is a consecrated space, dedicated to prayer and encounter with God. By lighting a novena candle there, you place your prayer in a place where other prayers are said daily, creating a spiritual communion with the community of the faithful. This adds a collective dimension to your personal prayer.
Eucharistic presence: If you light your novena candle in a church, particularly in a chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, you place your prayer before the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.
Continuity: Some churches allow candles to be left burning for several days, which is ideal for a novena. However, it's always a good idea to check with the local parish whether this is possible, as in some churches candles may be replaced after closing.
3. Outdoors, at a shrine or place of pilgrimage
Places of pilgrimage, such as Lourdes or the Shrine of the Black Madonna of Czestochowa, are favourite places to burn a novena candle. These places, where apparitions or miracles are often associated, offer an atmosphere of intense prayer and devotion.
Places of Grace: Lighting a novena candle in a shrine or place of pilgrimage adds a dimension of holiness to your prayer, as these places are often seen as points of contact with the divine. Pilgrims come from far and wide to pray there and deposit their intentions, which reinforces the idea that your prayers are being carried along with those of thousands of other faithful.
Offer your intentions: In these shrines, it is common to leave a written intention, sometimes placed next to the lit candle. This symbolises a spiritual offering, a request for grace or intercession.
Feeling of connection: Lighting a candle at a shrine allows you to feel in communion with other pilgrims and faithful around the world who are praying for similar intentions.
4. Have the candle burned virtually
With modernity and digitalisation, some shrines or churches offer the possibility of lighting a novena candle remotely. It is now possible to make a request online, and a candle will be lit on your behalf in a sacred place.
This can be a good option for people who cannot physically visit a church or shrine, but still wish to light a candle in a place of prayer. This option allows you to benefit from the spiritual power of a sacred place while staying at home.
How to prepare a space to burn a novena candle?
Whether you choose to burn your candle at home or in a church, it's important to prepare a sacred space. Here are a few tips on how to prepare this prayer space properly:
Choose a quiet, safe place: If you're burning the candle at home, make sure the area is safe and away from draughts or flammable objects. A stable, sturdy candleholder is essential.
Create an environment conducive to prayer: Surround the candle with religious symbols, such as a cross, a statue of the Virgin Mary or a saint to whom you are praying. This creates an atmosphere of recollection and devotion.
Commit to daily prayer: During the nine days of the novena, take a moment each day to pray in front of the candle. You can recite a special prayer linked to the novena or simply meditate in silence.
Offer your intention to God: Every day, offer your intention to God, asking for the intercession of the saint or the Virgin Mary if you are praying for a specific grace. Remain in a state of mind of humility and trust, knowing that your prayer is heard.
Conclusion: Where to burn your novena candle?
The choice of where to burn a novena candle for nine days depends on your personal situation, your devotion, and what you wish to achieve with your prayer. Whether at home, in a church, or in a sanctuary, the essential thing is to pray with faith, perseverance and humility. A novena candle is much more than a simple symbolic gesture: it is the reflection of an ongoing prayer that rises up to God, seeking an answer, comfort, or grace.
