US Christian Votive Candle: "San Antonio"

This US Christian votive candle is an offering with an image of San Antonio de Padua and the Infant Jesus. Votive offerings are often linked with a vow or wish. The votive can be a thanksgiving offering made for a blessing bestowed on the giver. It can also be an offering meant to guarantee a deity's help for some future undertaking.

In the Catholic Church, votive offerings are usually in the form of candle lighting. Christianity has always associated light with God and therefore candles have become an important part of many rituals.

Antonio was born in Portugal in 1185. He became a Franciscan, a follower of St. Francis. He was renowned as a gifted preacher. Antonio is venerated as the apostle of charity, the finder of lost objects; patron of lovers, of marriage, of pregnant women.

The Christian faith is based on the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus or Christ. Jesus, (7–2 BC/BCE – 30–36 AD/CE), is the central figure of Christianity. Most Christian denominations venerate him as God the Son.

The principal sources of information regarding Jesus are the four canonical gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The gospels declare that Jesus was a Jew born in Bethlehem, in the Roman province of Judea. At the age of 30, he began to preach throughout Palestine, which was then under Roman rule. The gospels describe miracles that Jesus performed such as raising the dead.

Most critical historians agree that Jesus was a Jew who was regarded as a teacher and healer. He was crucified in Jerusalem, on the orders of the Roman Prefect of Judaea, on the charge of sedition against the Roman Empire. Christians believe that Jesus then rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, from which he will return.

Source:
Source cited: "Jesus Christ." Children's Illustrated Encyclopedia. New York: Dorling Kindersley, 2010. 297. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 1 July 2013. Document URL: http://go.galegroup.com.ezproxy.lapl.org/ps/i.do?id=GALE|CX1796500200&v=2.1&u=lapl&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_of_Padua BOLLE, K. W., and R. J. FLYNN. "Votive Offerings." New Catholic Encyclopedia. 2nd ed. Vol. 14. Detroit: Gale, 2003. 589-590. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 1 May 2013. Document URL: http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE|CX3407711643&v=2.1&u=lapl&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w "Candles." New Catholic Encyclopedia. 2nd ed. Vol. 3. Detroit: Gale, 2003. 15. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 1 May 2013. (MLA 7th Edition) CLASEN, S. "Anthony of Padua, St." New Catholic Encyclopedia. 2nd ed. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale, 2003. 506-507. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 1 May 2013. Document URL: http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE|CX3407700630&v=2.1&u=lapl&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w "Light, Liturgical Use of." New Catholic Encyclopedia. 2nd ed. Vol. 8. Detroit: Gale, 2003. 580-582. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 1 May 2013. Document URL: http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE|CX3407706726&v=2.1&u=lapl&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w