… and a coupon code…
First, old business: The giveaway for Peter Kwasniewski's new book, The Holy Bread of Eternal Life, is now closed. If you are the winner, an email is headed your way.
If you are not a winner, we all win, because Sophia Institute Press is kindly offering a 30% discount on the book through the season of Lent!
Use the code 30Leila at checkout! EDIT: Try it now?
If you are buying from Amazon, here is my affiliate link for the book.
New business: Your reminder that Candlemas is coming — February 2. Perhaps it will be possible for your priest to bless your candles this year. I usually take a basket with my household candles, and that means making my order this week (I actually did it last week!).
Pictured above are the ones I ordered — I don't know if I have figured out the best possible value for money, and I still need to get some more tapers, but I will share what I have purchased (these are affiliate links, thanks!):
12 Hyoola 10″ beeswax tapers — these seem to fit nicely in my normal candleholders;
12 sage green tapers, in an attempt to find some to replace the pair that I found in a thrift store and just really like the color of, one stub of which you can see in this post (I don't think I've succeeded);
shorter and slightly smaller diameter candles to fit into the odd assortment of smaller candle holders I have accumulated, one of which you can see in the photo– these say they are 100% beeswax;
votives; we use a lot of these as tapers can be tricky on the kitchen table with the kids reaching across, and votives are lovely in glass holders in the little oratory and various mantels or other places that need a little candlelight
As I said, I will try to get more tapers and next time I go to the grocery store I will pick up some of those longer-burning votives — they come in handy when the power goes out and we need a light in the bathroom.
Mary C says
Good afternoon, Leila. I tried a couple of different ways to enter the discount code at Sophia Institute Press, but receive “invalid promo code” message. I’ll try again later. God bless.
Robin Mureiko says
I, too, got the same message!
Leila says
Sorry — technical difficulties that I hope will be resolved soon! I have put a message in the post that I will remove when I find out the code is working.
Mary C says
Thanks, Leila! It works now and I just placed my order. God bless.
Rachel says
Thanks for sharing! Can you check the votive link? it keeps going to the smaller tapers.
Leila says
Sorry, Rachel, I fixed that. Refresh your page and try again! Thanks!
Amanda says
Thanks for the heads up on Candlemas! Just a tip for anyone in need of candles: I’ve been pleased for years with the 100 percent beeswax candles from Beelite Candles. I’m not affiliated with them at all; I’m just happy to have found an American company making quality pure beeswax candles.
Lisa Racioppa says
I ordered my candles last week, so can’t wait for them to come in to get them blessed!!! Tree and nativity are still up and planning a feast for Feb.2!
Amada Beatriz says
My aunt is abbess at an Orthodox Monastery in France (Monastere de Bois Salair). The nuns make a living by making and selling beeswax candles. They are so beautiful and so intricate — perfect for household and church use! They ship to the US too. You can find all their items here: https://www.monasteredeboissalair.com/florisain
You would be supporting a beautiful community of nuns who endeavor to keep faith and tradition alive in their small corner of the world.
Alea Wassmuth says
Thanks! It was a very good test of my HS French class (25+ yes ago) until I finally saw the google translate button! I have to say, I did pretty well! They do make beautiful bougies!
Jill Gaglione says
Can’t find the translate button🤪 would love to support them!
Logan says
Wow! Those candles are amazing!
Donna L. says
Hello Auntie Leila~
Thank you for keeping us with our eyes on the light! Especially now…
What does one say to our children in light of the fraud and cheating? I have always taught them that hard work, honesty and the truth is the best way to live their lives.
Just wondering…
God bless you all!
Leila says
Dear Donna,
I don’t know what to say about all that’s going on. Politics has always been a dirty business — maybe now is a good time to remind our children to re-commit to striving to follow God’s law in every particular in our own personal lives. Seems like a lot of what we are going through now is a result of people having strayed from the Commandments and seeking affirmation for their troublesome consciences. What can we do but reform ourselves? What else is there?
Donna L. says
Dear Auntie Leila,
You are quite right, of course. I will keep the faith, encourage my family to do the right thing, and the holy thing even if nobody else does so. Light in the darkness!
Thank you for your reply and may God bless you all!
Donna
Alea Wassmuth says
I too have my candles ordered for the year. Including advent candles! I got into the habit a few years back to order them right after the Christmas season. For one, they can be blessed at candlemas. Two, I avoid learning I need more when I set up for advent next year, and have to go half of advent without!
Melanie Vogel says
I ordered some the other day, for myself and for my oldest who moved out last Spring. Sometimes in the grocery store I have seen candles in the kosher section, I’m not sure if these are always bees wax or not? I have noticed when you search for Beeswax candles online sometimes kosher companies turn up. It would be worth looking into if you need someplace local to buy beeswax candles. I’m going to try to remember next time I meant the store in person!
Leila says
Melanie, the ones I have here — the short white ones — are beeswax! I’m not sure what percentage, because one bit of info on their packaging says “made with 100% beeswax” which as anyone who as read Dorothy Sayers’ Murder Must Advertise knows, just means that there is beeswax in there. But on the description on amazon it says that they are 100% beeswax. However, they don’t smell like it.
Anyway, the reviews for them are good. I probably should have chosen the taller ones, but these will be fine for my purposes.
Diana says
Do you (or your readers) have any suggestions for how to celebrate Candlemas?
Lovely candles!!!
Leila says
Diana, if you can get to Mass, that would be great. Take your candles for a blessing (ask the priest afterwards if there was not a blessing built into time before Mass).
Click on the link in the post for more…
Candlemas is an amazing holy day that brings together many strands of the liturgical year (and groundhog’s day too has its roots in this feast). Talk about all these things, pray morning prayer together… have a nice dessert! Crepes are traditional… seedy cake… or “dishes with a little fire are bound to bring the Light of Christ to mind, such as Snowballs on Fire or Cherries Jubilee.” https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/candlemas-feast-light-and-hope/
Diana says
Thanks so much!! 🙂
Mrs. Bee says
Other suggestions:
* A candle-lit dinner
* Remembering the Presentation to the Temple by praying Simeon’s Canticle with its beautiful antiphon at bedtime – it’s always prayed at Compline, and it could serve as a hook to start praying Compline regularly as a family
* Remembering the Purification of Mary by learning/singing/listening to Marian chants/antiphons/motets: I could suggest the Ave Regina Caelorum, since it’s traditionally sung from Candlemas through the end of Lent. Or look up the Ave Vera Virginitas by Josquin des Prez, it’s one of my favorite hymns to Mary
Diana says
Mrs. Bee, thanks so much!! 🙂
Ken H says
I received the book today – the discount code worked for me when I tried it – Thanks a million!