7 candles

[jimmy]

I am curious. I have not thought of this until now, but are there 7 candles in all Roman Catholic churches that are representative of the menora in the old Jewish tradition. I know that each Byzantine Catholic Church has the 7 candles but do not know about the latin rite churches.

 

[Timidity]

jimmy:

I have not thought of this until now, but are there 7 candles in all Roman Catholic churches that are representative of the menora in the old Jewish tradition.

No.

 

[Brain]

no but we do keep a sanctuary lamp by the tabernacle, which is a kick-back.

 

[asquared]

what 7 candles? during Mass there are two candles, placed at the ambo and book of the gospels during proclamation of the Word, then moved to either side of the altar (or on the altar) during prepration for Liturgy of the Eucharist. There is also the candle near the tabernacle (wherever it is located) which is always lit when the Blessed Sacrament is there. During Eucharistic Exposition, more elaborate candelabras are used, with several candles on each. Other than the monstrance, they are the only thing allowed to be on the altar. I am at a loss to what you refer to as “7 candles”. The menorah is a symbol of the light of God, mostly associated with the Hanukkah celebration today, and a total of eight candles are lit during the 8-day celebration. They were originally the candelabrum used in the Temple worship.

 

[Deacon_Ed]

asquared:

what 7 candles? during Mass there are two candles, placed at the ambo and book of the gospels during proclamation of the Word, then moved to either side of the altar (or on the altar) during prepration for Liturgy of the Eucharist. There is also the candle near the tabernacle (wherever it is located) which is always lit when the Blessed Sacrament is there. During Eucharistic Exposition, more elaborate candelabras are used, with several candles on each. Other than the monstrance, they are the only thing allowed to be on the altar. I am at a loss to what you refer to as “7 candles”

In Byzantine churches there is always a seven-branched candlestick on or near the Holy Table. This is based upon the description of what was in the temple. This is also the reason our Holy Tables (altars) are square and always freestanding.

But, no, Latin Rite churches do not have seven-branched candlesticks. As noted, there are usually 2 for Mass. In the “good old days” when there was a high Mass (or a missa cantata or sung mass) there were six. It was only at the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament that a large number of candles came out.

Deacon Ed

 

[Crusader]

jimmy:

I am curious. I have not thought of this until now, but are there 7 candles in all Roman Catholic churches that are representative of the menora in the old Jewish tradition. I know that each Byzantine Catholic Church has the 7 candles but do not know about the latin rite churches.

7 individual candles are used during the high Mass in Latin. 6 for low Masses.

 

[Crusader]

jimmy:

I am curious. I have not thought of this until now, but are there 7 candles in all Roman Catholic churches that are representative of the menora in the old Jewish tradition. I know that each Byzantine Catholic Church has the 7 candles but do not know about the latin rite churches.

7 individual candles are used during the high Mass in Latin. 6 for low Masses.

For greater solemnity, my parish still places six candles up on the reredos in addition to the 2 by the altar.

 

[katolik]

7 individual candles are used during the high Mass in Latin. 6 for low Masses.

For greater solemnity, my parish still places six candles up on the reredos in addition to the 2 by the altar.

Since when does anyone have 6 candles for a TLM Low Mass?

 

[Crusader]

katolik:

Since when does anyone have 6 candles for a TLM Low Mass?

We sometimes have 8 for the Novus Ordo Mass – 6 on the reredos and 2 at the altar. Then again I would consider all Novus Ordo Masses to be “high” Masses…

 

[katolik]

Crusader:

We sometimes have 8 for the Novus Ordo Mass – 6 on the reredos and 2 at the altar. Then again I would consider all Novus Ordo Masses to be “high” Masses…

Novus Ordo Masses have no distinction between high and low…

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

The GIRM #117 indicates that at least two, but four, six candles are used for various Masses on Sunday and Holy Days. When a Bishop celebrates Mass seven should be used

 

[chicago]

Actually, ideally there would be seven candles before the tabernacle and altar. However, it usually isn’t the case in practice. Some older Churches will maintain this tradition. Fr. George Rutler touched upon this in a series he did for EWTN a few years ago. The New York parish church which he used to help illustrate the things he was reflecting upon included seven candles.

 

[Bruised_Reed]

What about the four Gospel candles?

 

[DominvsVobiscvm]

7 individual candles are used during the high Mass in Latin. 6 for low Masses.

As usual, you don’t know what the heck you’re talking about.

In the Tridentine Mass, six candles are lit at Solemn High Mass, four or six at High Mass, and only two at Low Mass.

At a Pontifical Low Mass, four candles are lit.

During Exposition and/or Benediction, twelve candles are lit.

The only time a seventh candle is used is at a Pontifical Solemn High Mass (although there are some exceptions, like a Requiem Mass, in which ase there is no seventh candle).

In the Missa Normtiva, there is no requirement as to how many candles must be lit at Mass, except that there should be at least two lit.

In keeping with the spirit of post-Vatican II liturgical abomination–I mean, reform!–different parishes do different things, whatever the priest or “liturgical minister” (usually a habitless, man-eating, feminazi nun) wants to do.

 

[katolik]

DominvsVobiscvm:

As usual, you don’t know what the heck you’re talking about.

In the Tridentine Mass, six candles are lit at Solemn High Mass, four or six at High Mass, and only two at Low Mass.

At a Pontifical Low Mass, four candles are lit.

During Exposition and/or Benediction, twelve candles are lit.

The only time a seventh candle is used is at a Pontifical Solemn High Mass (although there are some exceptions, like a Requiem Mass, in which ase there is no seventh candle).

In the Missa Normtiva, there is no requirement as to how many candles must be lit at Mass, except that there should be at least two lit.

In keeping with the spirit of post-Vatican II liturgical abomination–I mean, reform!–different parishes do different things, whatever the priest or “liturgical minister” (usually a habitless, man-eating, feminazi nun) wants to do.

For the Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament can’t there be more than 12 candles on the altar? I have seen pictures of altars with the Blessed Sacrament exposed which had at least 30 candles on it.

 

[DominvsVobiscvm]

As I noted, twelve candles are what is traditional, and I believe mandated before 1969.

In the current Missal (the Missa Normativa), there are no requirements regarding the number of canles to be used at liturgical services; just a note that there should be at least two.

 

[khkhk]

Just curious, is there any connection between 7 candles, and the book of Revelation? I know that Revelation talks a lot about the number 7, so I thought there might be a connection…

 

[grandma]

In the new GIRM, the candle issue is resolved. Two are absolutely required , four or six may be used and seven candles are to be used when the Bishop celebrates a stational Mass. At the cathedral where I used to be D. of L it. ., we had three candles on each side of the main altar and added a seventh on the upper left corner of the altar (as you look out at the faithful) when the Bishop celebrated. This did not count in the candles by the Ambo when the Gospel was read. Grandma

 

[jimmy]

khkhk:

Just curious, is there any connection between 7 candles, and the book of Revelation? I know that Revelation talks a lot about the number 7, so I thought there might be a connection…

The reason why I asked was because I was at a Byzantine Liturgy and afterward the priest spoke about Revelation and the Liturgy. In revelation chapter 1 it mentions how Christ is dressed and it mentions that beside him is 7 golden candle sticks. The priest said that in each Byzantine Church there is the 7 branched candle. It also mentions these 7 candles in chapter 4 of Revelation. I asked the question because I wanted to see if there was also a connection with the latin rite.

Thanks to everyone for your answers.