A small action, with room for your own prayer
The candle entry opens the Catholic setting, where you can begin a votive candle. Write a first name and a few optional words, choose a mood if you wish, and decide whether to put your words in the shared prayer book. You may also light it without words. There is no need to explain a difficult situation to strangers.
Continue to the matchbox. Drag the match across the strip, or choose the alternative that strikes it for you. Then press and hold to light the wick. The candle is a digital symbol for your prayer, not a purchased offering or a promise of a particular answer. Afterward, you can sit for a reading or return to the church.
Catholic and Anglican settings use votive candles. In the Orthodox setting, you take a taper from the lamp and choose whether it is for the living or the departed. The Protestant setting uses a prayer card instead. Virtual candles are shown on the stand for up to 24 hours, with space limited to recent candles. Shared prayer words remain in the book for up to seven days.
- Use first names rather than identifying details.
- Check the sharing choice before continuing.
- Pause for a prayer in your own words, or stay silent.