In keeping with the tradition, we will bless a representative number of candles for use in the church at the 9:30am Family Mass. Some of these candles will be used to give the blessing of throats on the Feast of Saint Blaise on February 3rd.
You may bring candles from home to be blessed as well. Blessed candles are called “sacramental.” According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), paragraph 1667 introduces sacramentals: “Holy Mother Church has, moreover, instituted sacramentals. These are sacred signs which bear a resemblance to the sacraments. They signify effects, particularly of a spiritual nature, which are obtained through the intercession of the Church. By them men are disposed to receive the chief effect of the sacraments, and various occasions in life are rendered holy.” Blessed candles, blessed medals, etc. are all objects which, having been blessed, confer blessings when they are used properly. (I.E., rosaries become sacramentals when blessed, and are used properly when you use them for praying; they are improperly used when they are worn for decoration.)
In the past, most Catholic homes had blessed candles around. In fact, some homes had “Sick Call Sets,” typically a large crucifix that would open up to let you store two blessed candles and holy water. The crucifix would fit into the base and you now had everything needed for a priest to give the Sacrament of the Sick. Many people like to burn blessed candles before icons or other pictures of saints; and there are “pious traditions” like burning blessed candles during severe storms, etc.