The National Shrine Grotto Easter Candle:
​A Collaboration of Unity and Faith

Photo taken by Mike Miller. Pictured is Sr. Peace Villanueva, staff member of the National Shrine Grotto. Sr. Peace assisted in the design of the Grotto's Paschal candle.

​
​This year, the National Shrine Grotto’s Easter candle was collaboratively designed between Sr. Peace Villanueva and Sr. Maria Madonna dei Poveri, and the painting was done by Sr. Poveri and Mother Mater Pia. Sr. Poveri and Mother Pia are members of the contemplative branch of the Servadoras. This is the order to which our own Sr. Peace and Sr. Victoires belong. Each detail of the candle was carefully thought out and with every brush, the sisters prayed for the pilgrims, staff, and mission of the National Shrine Grotto.

The following is a summary written by Sr. Maria Madonna dei Poveri explaining the making and meaning of the Paschal candle:


The design for the Grotto was a joint effort between myself and Sr. Peace. It was a great blessing to paint it and, in that way, contribute to the Easter liturgy there, as well as having the opportunity to pray more intentionally for all those involved with the shrine- the staff, our religious, and all those who visit to worship there.

Our intention for the design was that it be very specific to the Grotto, by incorporating symbols and images from the shrine.
An Easter candle must include certain elements proper to the liturgical celebration: namely the cross with the year around it, and the Alpha and Omega. Typically this is painted onto the candle, but as well, during the Easter vigil the priest will cut these into the candle while saying this prayer: “Christ yesterday and today, the Beginning and the End, the Alpha and the Omega, all time belongs to Him, and all the ages. To Him be glory and power through every age and forever.”

And then the priest places five nails with incense into the edges and center of the cross saying: “By His holy and glorious wounds, May Christ the Lord guard and protect us.”

The Easter candle is as well explicitly mentioned at length in the Easter exulted, which the priest may chant during the vigil mass: “…Accept this candle, a solemn offering, the work of bees and of your servants hands…” What a blessing it is to be those hands!
Apart from these elements the candle may include any fitting design. As I said our intention for the design was that it be specific to the Grotto, which can be summed up in ‘Jesus and Mary.’

The main image is of Christ Resurrected. The body of Christ is based off a typical Resurrection (Anastasis) icon. For the face I used as a model the mosaic of Christ which is above the altar in the Grotto’s Glass Chapel. Christ is emerging from the tomb in glory with a simple cross, the instrument of His victory.

Above Him is written, “I am the Resurrection and the Life” (John 11:25) with lilies on either side, a typical symbol of the resurrection.

At the center of the design is the cross, above which is a rosary wrapping around the candle, which is a fitting symbol for the Christian life — at the center there must be the Cross and Mary.

At the base of the design, to mirror Christs “I am the Resurrection and the Life,” is written, “I am the Immaculate Conception,” as our Lady proclaimed at her apparition in Lourdes. On either side of this are pale yellow roses, a symbol of our Lady, as she appeared to St. Bernadette with a yellow rose on each of her feet.

Lastly, each of the quotations are bordered with a rock wall, intended to recall the Grotto of Lourdes. This, along with trying to make a half inch replica of the mosaic of Jesus, was the most difficult element of the candle. The face of Jesus probably took as much time to paint as the rest of the candle. The rock walls on the other hand took about ten minutes to create and ten seconds to paint, but weeks to come up with a way to make them. After unsuccessful attempts at making wax molds and clay sculptures, in the end, I used hot glue on strips of construction paper to make the structure and textured spray paint. 

​
As members of the National Shrine Grotto staff viewed the Easter candle for the first time, emotions overwhelmed them one by one. They all felt the passion and devotion that went into the art and design of the 2023 Easter candle. Thank you to Sr. Maria Madonna dei Poveri, Mother Mater Pia, and Sr. Peace for all of your hard work, prayer, and dedication to create such a beautiful contribution to our Easter liturgies in honor of Our Risen Lord.

---