The Easter Vigil Candle Saved My Family from the Flood

Christ be our light. Teach us to trust in you.

The year was 1987. The setting was in a small village called Youngstown in Cainta, Rizal in the Philippines.  Unlike other neighboring families, this family was busy preparing sandbags in the front of their house.  Neighboring houses were already waist deep in water. The sound of consistent heavy drumming can be heard as rain continuously poured throughout the day on rooftops. My sister, Rosella Balgoa and her husband Teem had to stop the water from coming into their house— the only one on their street on a higher elevation. A little voice inside of her told her to light “the candle.” However, her rational side responded, “What’s that got to do with the flood? We are on the race against time.” She knew which candle the voice was referring to.  It was the Easter Vigil candle.

In the early 80”s when my sister and her husband were just newlyweds, a Salesian priest named Father Taiz gave them an Easter Vigil candle also called Paschal candle as a wedding gift.  It was a one foot long candle with a decorative olive branch on it. Curious about the actual connection of the candle with Jesus Christ, I inquired in writing to Fr. John B. Tamayo, who happens to be my brother, a missionary Salesian priest. This was his response.

The Easter Vigil Candle is lighted from the fire of burning wood. The fire symbolizes the new life scattering the darkness of the night. As the Easter Candle is blessed with the lighting from the fire, the priest puts the five incensed marks of the wounds of Christ remembering his death and is now RISEN AND LIVES FOR EVER. He is victorious over sin, death and evil. He has redeemed humanity and all creation and invites us all to shine like him in His resurrection.

Now going back to the story… As my sister and her husband were hastily working on sandbagging, the flood water started going inside their house through the floor drain in their restroom.  This really sent my sister to panic mode. Again, she heard the subtle voice, “Light the candle.” With no other recourse, she called all family members to come to their family altar. Then she lighted up the Easter Vigil candle, which had now been reduced to only one inch. She led the family in saying one Our Father, one Hail Mary and one Glory Be and prayed that the rain would stop. My sister shared, “It took several minutes for the rain to calm down until it gradually stopped. I could hear the heart pounding thunder and saw the flashes of lightning in the black sky. It was like thunder and lightning were in an argument.   That too, stopped although the sky remained in darkness.”

Jesus, be our light for the youth.

My sister continued, “If there is a calamity or a heavy problem you are facing, you can always light up the Easter vigil candle and pray. Jesus dispelled darkness and death on Easter and He will always be there to help us.” Because of my sister’s experience, my sister and I share this story with our friends and other fellow parishioners. I also attend as much as I can the Easter Vigil mass every year and bring my own candles so that it can be lighted with the light of Christ.

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, You are the Light of the world. Help us to listen and follow God’s will, so we can radiate your light to others and be able to possess your gift of life through your mighty name. Amen.    (Based on John 8:12)