Umm, isn’t before the opening prayer pretty much the same thing as after the opening hymn? Doesn’t it go opening hymn/procession and then “In the name of the Father…” So the advent candles would go right in between those.According to the USA’s Book of Blessings:
“1513 When the Advent Wreath is used in church, on the Second and succeeding Sundays of Advent the candles are lighted either before Mass begins or** immeadiately before the opening prayer;** no additional rites or prayers are used.”
(Book of Blessings, Liturgical Press, Minnesota, 1989, ISBN 0-8146-1875-8, page 573.)
So after the opening hymn is the wrong time, in the USA. It should be after the Penitential Rite or Rite of Blessing and Sprinkling Holy Water.
On the First Sunday of Advent the wreath is blessed and the candle is lighted after the General Intercessions (i.e. Prayer of the Faithful).
As far as I know, this only applies to the USA. I do not know of any other countries with this in their Book of Blessings.
The Opening Prayer is after the penitential rite in Advent. (If the Gloria is said, then it’s after the Gloria. But since we’re talking about Advent there would be no Gloria.)Umm, isn’t before the opening prayer pretty much the same thing as after the opening hymn? Doesn’t it go opening hymn/procession and then “In the name of the Father…” So the advent candles would go right in between those.
Hmm, I’m not sure exactly when after the hymn it occurs. I was only there for the last two Sundays of Advent, since I was on my Christmas Break from college at that time.According to the USA’s Book of Blessings:
“1513 When the Advent Wreath is used in church, on the Second and succeeding Sundays of Advent the candles are lighted either before Mass begins or** immeadiately before the opening prayer;** no additional rites or prayers are used.”
(Book of Blessings, Liturgical Press, Minnesota, 1989, ISBN 0-8146-1875-8, page 573.)
So after the opening hymn is the wrong time, in the USA. It should be after the Penitential Rite or Rite of Blessing and Sprinkling Holy Water.
On the First Sunday of Advent the wreath is blessed and the candle is lighted after the General Intercessions (i.e. Prayer of the Faithful).
As far as I know, this only applies to the USA. I do not know of any other countries with this in their Book of Blessings.
why wouldn’t it be allowed?During Advent, after the opening hymn, my parish invites one of the 2nd graders that is preparing to make First Communion, to come up and light the candle(s) of the Advent Wreath. The Advent Wreath is placed on the elevated area that holds the Altar and the chair for the Priest. It’s next to the Priest’s chair, which is next to the Altar. The Wreath stays lit during the Mass.
Is this allowed?
??? Mass starts with the Entrance Hymn not the Opening Prayer.why wouldn’t it be allowed?
altar servers, who often are children themselves. commonly light the candles, so what is different here?
before the opening prayer is before Mass.
It’s a tradition of the home moved into the church in the last few decades. Like you, I never saw them when I was a kid, in fact, I don’t think I’d ever seen one until about 20 years ago. If I never saw one again I wouldn’t miss it.There weren’t any Advent Wreaths when I was a kid so when the proper to light it is less of a concern than whether it’s a true Catholic tradition or not. I’m not necessarily against it, I just question whether it should be on or above the altar versus to the side (given that it’s not sacred nor indicative of the sacred, such as the tabernacle candles). Know what I mean?