Altar Candles

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GwenL said:
You are entitled to your opinion. However, “lucifer” simply means “light-bearer” in Latin. Also, using such a term generates some amazing catechetical discussions among the altar servers. Most people think that Lucifer = Satan (ooo…icky…bad) and they never investigate further. The term lucifer appears in Sacred Scripture (in the Vulgate) and was used to mean “morning star” or “light-bearer” for many centuries before “lucifer” came to mean Satan.

Even in this latter usage, Lucifer is the name of the highest angel in heaven BEFORE he fell. This can lead to some very good discussions with young people about choices between good and evil, choices to sin, and turning from the light to the dark (as did Lucifer when he fell). Also, this answers a typical adolescent question: “how could a good God have created Satan?” Of course, God created Lucifer, and Lucifer choose to rebel against God.
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The fact remains that Holy Church has no official name for the candle bearers other than “acolyte” or “altar server”. If she had decided to call them “lucifers” then I would accept her wisdom, but I can’t accept yours alone.
 
Elizium23 said:
The fact remains that Holy Church has no official name for the candle bearers other than “acolyte” or “altar server”. If she had decided to call them “lucifers” then I would accept her wisdom, but I can’t accept yours alone.
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As I said, you are entitled to your opinion, and I have not asked you to accept mine. You may choose to call the candle bearers at your parish whatever you wish. I will continue to call our lucifers exactly that, since our rector calls them such.
 
smndtupidisaftr said:
The parish I’m at has two altar candles and that’s it. Even the tabernacle candle is electric. There are some for special occasions, but it’s rare.
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Actually, I think it is forbidden to use electric for the tabernacle candle. I think that one is required to be wax or oil.
 
YoungTradCath said:
Actually, I think it is forbidden to use electric for the tabernacle candle. I think that one is required to be wax or oil.
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Yep. While Canon Law only says “a lamp” (#940), GIRM 2010 says…
316. In accordance with traditional custom, near the tabernacle a special lamp, fueled by oil or wax, should shine permanently to indicate the presence of Christ and honor it.
 
So I looked checked it out the other day. It certainly is an electric candle, and this church seems to love them because they decorated the church with them for Christmas. Kind of cheesy in my opinion, but definitely nothing wrong with decorating with them. How big of a deal is an electric candle for the tabernacle? I’m sure they do it because of fear of a fire, but I don’t see churches being burned down constantly, so what’s the point?
 
smndtupidisaftr said:
I’ll have to go again to make sure, but it sure seemed that way.
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In many places insureregulations forbid unattended candles, this is not recent since 30 years ago I attended a parish with six candles on the altar…they were attended. The sanctuary lamp could not be attended 24/7 so it was electric.

They do make candle light bulbs that look like flickering candles and that is what we had, from the distance of the nave you can’t tell the difference.
 
At my church we have 4 candles at every Mass - probably would have more but we were only able to salvage 4 candles holders following Katrina and since they are expensive to purchase or to have them redone we will remain at 4. Our candle for the tabernacle is on the wall - I personally would like it to be closer to the tabernacle but it has been there for many years. The 4 are liquid candles and all other candles in the church are wax (no beeswax) candles. We were not able to salvage our colored Altar cloths so we only have white - do have purple and red but not enough to really cover the Altar so it is taped to the front to give the appearance. Hopefully 2013 we will be able to purchase some proper material and make the proper color Altar cloths.
 
my church we have 8 candles at every Mass 2 on the alter and 6 behind the alter.
 
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