Votive - Votives

The term 'votive' possibly comes from the Latin word 'votum' which means a vow or promise (or wish) to the gods generally in prayer (see University of Notre Dame Latin Dictionary). The phrase 'votive offering' or ‘votive deposit’ derives from votum and in this context means things dedicated to God. In the Catholic Church The Mass is offered on a set pattern, but a votive mass can be offered for a special occasion or circumstance.

Votive offerings in the spiritual sense occur outside the church. For example, the practise of leaving objects in sacred or spiritual places as an offering to the gods was common in ancient times. This would count as a votive offering. It is argued that it was this practise that carried over into the church in the idea of offerings.

The giving of the object over to a god or deity in this manner, bestows upon the object the quality of the object being ‘set apart’ or sacred. There were many different objects given-up in this manner including statues, animals, replicas of objects, jewels, and others. In Catholic, Orthodox and much Anglican worship, candles are often offered in this way. Thus there are two types of candles associated with this phrase are used widely in the church: votive candles and votive lights.

A further dimension to the offering of a candle is that the light of the candle has come to represent Christ hence the practice of bring twenty four hour candles. The light can also symbolise prayer, so that in the mind of the person lighting and offering the candle, the continuation of the flame is also a continuation of their prayer.

(Reference the Votives page on Wikipedia).