This isn't a terribly good photo as far as photos go, but I thought I'd put it up here in case anyone finds it useful - e.g., for a background for text or some other image.

Votives are an ancient tradition; there is evidence of votive offerings in ancient Palestine and Greece. In many Christian churches today, they take various forms, from milagros to votive candles. They represent prayers. The ancient idea is that the person making a petition can't spend the whole day in the church in prayer, so they light a candle, leave a note or other offering, or pin a milagro to a cross, to sacramentally represent their prayer and their own presence in God's house.

These votives are in the columbarium (repository for ashes of the deceased) at Grace Cathedral, San Francisco. That means people light these candles for their beloved dead, as prayers or as memorials. The large candle on top is a sanctuary lamp. Sanctuary lamps are kept lit near remains (and also near consecrated Sacrament, but the glass for those is generally clear).