Deaneries, candles and the Sign of the Cross

Why do Catholics light candles?

There are many instances in sacred Scripture in which the Divine Presence is communicated by means of fire. These include the burning bush of Exodus, where God speaks to Moses in and through the fire that rages but does not consume, as well as the great battle on Mount Carmel between the prophet Elijah and the evil prophets of Baal, in which Elijah proclaims prior to victory that “the god who answers by fire is the true and living God.” And then of course there is the fact that Christ speaks of himself as the light of the world, which at the time of the Messiah’s earthly ministry would have presumed fire of some kind (no incandescent bulbs in 33 A.D.). And don’t forget the Holy Spirit himself, who appears to the Apostles on Pentecost as tongues of fire. The burning of candles during sacred worship or private devotion and prayer is therefore a reminder of the presence and power of God. In addition, a candle, like Christ, gives light and life through death — as the candle provides light, it is destroyed, as its wax and wick are burned up. Candles are therefore a powerful reminder of the mystery of Christ himself, who saves through self-gift, and invites us all into this same mystery.

What is a deanery? What is its purpose?

Most dioceses are geographical things, that is, defined by a specific geographical area. Almost every corner of the world, as far as I know, is included within a diocese, under the care of a diocesan bishop (the term “archdiocese” is really just a modifier of the more fundamental term “diocese,” which originated in the Roman empire to designate a portion of the empire under the care of an imperial vicar). This division of the globe is meant to ensure that every single member of the faithful have the sacraments available to them, and can rely upon the pastoral care of a bishop. Well, for the sake of better governance and management, dioceses also have divisions, mostly along geographical lines, and we call these divisions “deaneries.” Each deanery is assigned a dean, who is most often a pastor in the area. The dean assists the bishop and his own brother priests in the supervision and support of that particular area, though admittedly how the deans are utilized is almost entirely governed by the local bishop and will often be adapted to best serve his own pastoral needs and style of governance. While there are 18 deaneries currently within the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Deanery 4, which includes the rockin’ east side of St. Paul (and parts of Oakdale), is widely regarded to be the most venerable deanery in all of the archdiocese.

Why do Catholics make the Sign of the Cross?

The cross is the sign of our salvation, and as such, it is a profound symbol of the infinite love that Jesus bears for both his Father and for us. All supernatural grace flows from Christ’s total gift of self, made manifest upon the wood of Calvary. And so, when we make the Sign of the Cross over ourselves, or the priest uses the Sign of the Cross in the celebration of the sacraments or sacramentals, we are being reminded of the source of our salvation — the sacrifice of Christ. It is by means of this radical self-emptying that the very life of God has been made available to us. So, whether it is through the imposition of holy water, the blessing at the end of Mass, the beginning of the rosary or the reception of absolution in confession, we proudly and devoutly make the Sign of the Cross to proclaim the triumph of the Lord and our trust in his power to save. There is also the very pious practice of making the Sign of the Cross when we pass by a Church in which the Blessed Sacrament is reposed, or when we pass by a cemetery. In both of these instances, like the aforementioned list, the Sign of the Cross is a reminder to us of the love of God, who has given all so that we might know, love and serve him, both in this life and in the next.

Father Erickson is pastor of Transfiguration in Oakdale. Send your questions to [email protected] with “Why Do Catholics Do That?” in the subject line.