CANDLELIGHT MASS

By Cara Fabian

Candlelight Mass is so special and such an amazing way to connect with Jesus. I had never experienced a Candlelight Mass before attending St. John’s and it has opened my eyes and heart to delve deeper into love and faith in Jesus Christ.

Candlelight Mass is your typical weekday Mass, but held with candlelight as the only source of light. These Masses are typically held at night, where the candlelight is so striking in front of the darkness. It is also so much more quiet and calm than a regular Sunday Mass. It truly is a time to reflect in everything God has brought into your life and in everything you are able to give. It also allows you to dive deeper into praise and worship during Mass, as the dark diminishes the ability for others to watch, which is something I am very mindful of at Sunday Mass.

My first Candlelight Mass was in August of 2021 and I remember how it affected me so vividly. I was in a place in my faith where I was not sure if I was meant to be so greatly loved by Jesus and by my friends, and Candlelight was the place where I was able to let go of my earthly worries and just reflect on how Jesus and Catholicism have impacted my life so greatly in ways I had not realized. During most of the Mass, I was very stoic and stiff (it was my first Mass at St. Johns after all), but right after receiving communion, I remember my walls breaking down and the tears flowing. It was such an emotional experience; the candles lit up the tabernacle so beautifully, the music was so moving, and the Holy Spirit was so present. I felt the love of God surrounding me, and everyone else present in that sanctuary. I so specifically remember that after that initial wave of pure joy washed over me, I was so calm and relaxed. I am that girl who struggles with focusing in Mass a lot, especially after Holy Communion, and at Candlelight I have never wanted that individual prayer time to end.

Candlelight Masses have shown me how deep everyone’s faith and trust in God is here at Ram Catholic. It showed me a new depth of how deep God’s love for me really is. It gave me a taste of how deep I can fall in love with Jesus, specifically at St. Johns XXIII. I was someone who showed up to Candlelight, expecting nothing more than a typical Mass, and I received one of the most precious experiences I will ever receive.