Burning Faith, Chartres, France. Votives are an age-old Catholic tradition in which a candle is lit to express or symbolize a wish, desire, or vow.

These days many churches have systems where you press a button or flip a switch and an "electric candle" (actually a plastic cylinder topped by a tiny bulb) lights up.

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I have a special place in my heart for churches that shun modern technology and still use actual candles as votives. Here at historic Chartres Cathedral, I found some of the most beautiful: banks of long tapers illuminating the dark interior with the desires of the faithful.