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In Christian worship, a candle is often used as a symbol of the light of God. It can also be used
to decorate the walls and enhance the ambiance. The lighting of candles has become a
symbolic gesture at many Christian churches, where worshippers will light candles as a sign of
remembrance for a loved one who has passed as well as during a part of services like a Mass.
Clergy often relates the candle as representing Jesus as the Light of the world and also as
representing God’s presence and power. Now, what is the difference between church candles
and votive candle stands? While visiting a Christian store you might have stumbled upon plenty
of candle varieties but what makes each of them different? Let’s take a look:
Firstly, the candle stands used in churches are called votive stands and the term refers to
something that is consecrated or offered in fulfillment of a vow. It is also called a prayer candle
as it represents the prayer said for someone else or for one’s self. A votive candle stand can
take up different styles and sizes. It could either be a tabletop stand or a standalone piece
that can be made with wood, steel, metal, fiber, crystal, or brass. At La Corona Del Rosario,
one of the most popular Christian stores in Kerala, we have candle stands in all of the above
mentioned materials in elegant styles.

Candles form a significant part of Catholic celebrations and rituals, and the lighting of candles
plays a considerable role. They are lit during the celebration of Masses and at other times to
signify God’s presence in the Blessed Sacrament in churches or chapels, or at funerals. In the
Sacrament of Baptism, an individual is initiated into the Church by receiving a candle from the
Paschal Candle, which symbolizes Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection. By lighting this
candle, an individual receives the Light of Christ so that they may live and walk the path of God’s
children and sustain that flame of faith burning alive in their heart. As they receive this indelible
baptismal mark, they shall encounter the Lord and be one with all the saints in Heaven when the
time comes.
Now, what does the votive candle stand lighted before a statue or God’s image? It
demonstrates one’s devotion and reverence for God. A lighted candle stand symbolizes a
prayer offering. We present our petitions to the Lord and ask the saints to pray with us, as well
as for us during our most urgent needs. This light, when kept burning in a place of prominence,
represents our longing for God’s companionship as we go about our daily duties at home and in
the workplace.
Candles are lit at altars, usually set up as part of a religious ceremony in honour of a particular
saint. Candles are also commonly lit beside images of the Sacred Heart, Mary, the Little Flower,
St Joseph and others. These candles can be placed before statues of saints and other objects
such as flowers or artwork. The number of candles and the placement of candle stands/candles
to be lit at the primary altar differs based on the occasion and type of clergy presiding over the
Mass. As per traditions, all the candles must be in place and lit before the Mass begins and they
are not extinguished until the service is over.

Worshippers do keep church candles at their home while praying. You can choose from our
range of candle stands and candles to complete the setup. Like we had already mentioned, the
concept of light has a special significance because it represents Christ. Christ is called the “light
of the world” in John 1:4 and he is associated with light imagery in John’s Gospel as well. As a
result, we understand why, during the Sacrament of Baptism, a priest presents a candle that has
been lit from the Paschal candle and tells the newly baptized to receive Christ’s light. And at
Easter, the Paschal candle is lit as a sign of Christ’s risen light that cannot be extinguished. It
shines into the world as a symbol of hope and love.
A symbol of devotion, hope, prayer and a lot more, candles play a crucial role in Christianity. It
needs to be maintained carefully. Our range of candles and candle stands are meticulously
crafted with the best raw materials that are sourced to befit your requirements.La Corona Del
Rosario has always been in the front when it comes to client satisfaction and delivering best
quality Christian supplies, gifts and products. If you are in search of a reputed Christian store in
Kochi, head over to our outlet in Koonamavu or Varapuzha for a seamless shopping experience.

Considered to be symbols of faith and also their identity, priest vestments have their own
importance to them. In the Middle Ages, priests wore clothes that marked them as different from
the commoners and royalty who would sometimes pay less attention to their attire. The clothing
of priests aimed at showing the purity of their intentions hence, it had a direct effect on how
people perceived their role in the community or the church.

The word “vestment” is derived from a Latin word which translates to clothing. The priest prays
his “vesting prayers” while he gets vested and it is associated with or describes the symbolism
of each vestment piece. This helps the priest prepare for Mass by channeling his thoughts to
what will happen next and connect him to the liturgy’s history. However, the first prayer does not
have any connection to the piece of clothing but it is said while the priest washes his hands.
Let’s take a look at the significance of priest vestments, one by one:

● Amice
The first vestment worn by the priest, amice, is a square piece of cloth with two cords
attached that goes around the priests’ neck and covers his collar. It is usually tucked into
the collar and covers the shoulders while the cord is tied around the chest. It is not a
mandatory piece of clothing but it has its own practical uses. It symbolizes the
moderation of words and defends against the temptations of the devil. While putting the
amice on, the priest prays the following: “Place, O Lord, the helmet of salvation upon my
head, to repel the assaults of the devil.”
● Alb
Alb is a long white robe that symbolizes the purity of soul required for Mass, as well as
the garment used by Pilate to clothe Christ. Altar servers, lectors and priests wear albs
when serving at Mass. The priest prays the following while putting on the alb: “Cleanse
me, O Lord, and purify my heart … that washed in the Blood of the Lamb … may attain
everlasting joy.”
● Cincture
Over the alb, the priest wears a cincture which is worn as a belt usually made of cord or
rope. It symbolises the virtue of purity. He prays, “Gird me, O Lord, with the cincture of
purity and quench in me the fire of concupiscence; that the virtue of continence and
chastity may remain in me” as he puts on the cincture. It is usually white but it differs
depending on the liturgical season or the colour of the day. White, violet or black are the
colours permitted to be worn at funerals and the priest vestment is decided accordingly.
● Stole
The stole is an article of immense importance and value, which more than any other
garment demonstrates the dignity of ordained office. The stole is a long piece of cloth
worn over the neck and falling down the front of the priest’s chest. It is symbolic of the
spiritual authority of the priest, and so it is what is primarily worn to signify priesthood.
This becomes the major reason why the stole is worn for everything (including
confessions, exorcisms), and most priests carry one with them in case they need it for an
emergency baptism. And like a cincture, the colour of the stole depends on the liturgical
season or colour of the day. These are widely available at Christian stores.
● Chasuble
The outer and the last of the priest vestments, Chasuble comes in different designs and
shapes. Like cincture and stoles, it must be worn to suit the occasion or purpose i.e., the
colour must be of the proper liturgical season (green for ordinary times, purple for advent
and lent, gold or white for feasts, etc). A chasuble represents the charity that is required
for the priests and symbolizes the virtue of charity. While putting the chasuble on, the
priest prays, “O Lord, Who hast said, My yoke is easy and My burden light; grant that I
may be able so to bear it, that I may obtain Thy grace. Amen.”
Each of the vestures have its own significance, order and symbolism. Priests put them on as per
various liturgical seasons, colours and order. Bishops and priests present themselves during the
celebration of the mass wearing sets of liturgical vestments. The five liturgical colours (green,
red, gold or white, rose and purple) have symbolisms and purposes which are unique. These
are to be found or can be bought from any Christian stores. The leading Christian stores in
Kerala, one being La Corona Del Rosario, are popular for their range of priest vestments and its
quality. If one is searching for priest vestments online or offline, head over to
https://lacorona.in/product-category/clergy-apparel/ to easily scroll through their vestment
collections.

“Like a branch that grows because of its connection to the tree, we thrive when we stay
connected to the church.”
Church articles comprise the various important elements, each with its own significance, in
worship like the holy chalice, ciborium, incense pot, mass kits, and traditional
lamp/nilavilakku, to name a few. What makes it a crucial part of their life? Let’s get into the
reasons why these church articles are vital for every Christian:
The sacred vessels used in liturgical celebrations are the receptacles and utensils used to
hold the consecrated Body and Blood of Christ. In the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic
Church, such vessels are Chalices (golden or silver), Patens (pewter or wood), Ciboria
(wooden boxes), Pyxes (silver or gold boxes), and Monstrances (frontal vessels). The chalice
functioned as a vessel holding consecrated wine during the Christian tradition of
communion, during which it was believed that the Eucharist and wine became the body
and blood of Christ. In ecclesiastical life, the priest uses this chalice at mass to serve
the wine to his congregation. This chalice and paten, or plate, were made to hold the
consecrated wine and bread used during the Eucharist, also known as the Mass, considered
to be the central service of Christian worship. At La Corona Del Rosario, one of the most
popular Christian stores in Kochi, you get to choose your desired sacred vessel and church
articles at our store or while sitting in the comfort of your home.
Gold is an object with roots strongly connected to many cultures and religions,
representing both spiritual and powerful significance. In Christianity, gold was used to
symbolize the connection to the Holy Spirit in the form of reliquaries. Relics are considered
to hold more value than precious stones and carry more esteem than gold, for they possess
historical significance and hold a relic of a saint or martyr.
As kids, we were accustomed to lighting candles in the church. There lies a huge meaning
for this practice. Altar candles and altar linens, along with chalices and ciboriums, play an
important role in the liturgy. Candles banish darkness, reminding worshippers of the
greatness and magnificence of God’s Love. Altar candles vary in color, depending on their
liturgical period, and can be green, red, or purple. All these lights are a symbol of victory
over death and are often used together with candles during worship services. Not to forget
the paschal candles: the Paschal candle is the first candle to be lit during Easter Sunday
Mass, representing a light that comes into the world. This symbolizes Christ’s resurrection,
which signifies a time of life and growth when darkness has been dispelled by light. These
candles are readily available at La Corona Del Rosario, the trusted Christian store amongst
all, both online and offline.
Yet another important Christian article is the bells which come with two purposes: Church
Bell & Easter Bell. They are traditionally used to call worshippers to church for a
communal service and to announce the fixed times of daily Christian prayer. Church bells
stop ringing on Good Friday and are silent from the beginning of Holy Week until Easter
when they ring again at the end of their journey in St. Peter’s Church in Rome. Tradition
holds that they then return to their church and spread the news of Jesus’ Resurrection
from the bell tower to the bell tower. Bells in a church are rung for various ceremonial purposes
and you get to choose from gold/silver plated bells, brass bells, or the traditional wooden
Easter bell from the most visited Christian store in Kerala, La Corona Del Rosario.
Talking of bells and candles, let’s get into the details of the menorah, a word derived from the
Hebrew which translates to the lamp. The seven lamps on a menorah symbolize the
branches of human knowledge, represented by the six lamps leaning inwards towards, and
guided by, the central lamp—God. The seven-branched menorah also symbolizes the
creation in seven days, with the center light representing the Sabbath. Our executive will
guide you throughout the process of selecting church articles from our Christian store.
The above listed are a few of the many church articles displayed at our Christian store in
Kochi. Our head office is situated at Koonamavu, Ernakulam and we have a branch at
Varapuzha, Kochi. We proudly carry the tag of La Corona Del Rosario being the leading
offline & online Christian store in Kerala with more than 4,000 products to choose from
and a loyal customer base from around the globe. We are committed to delivering purest & top-notch articles and church supplies while keeping the welfare of society in mind. Hence, our
initiative to work closely with women, retired and housebound people to help us in the
process of making & selling church articles, rosaries, and vestments. Come visit our store to
learn more about the same and to choose the best church articles & supplies.