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Bonnie
Guest
Our priest lit the first candle before Mass and skipped the blessing. Is it optional?
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If it was not the first Advent Mass of the weekend, the blessing of the wreath may have taken place at a previous Mass.
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Bonnie
Guest
It was the first mass, and the only one in this parish. I don’t know if he blessed the wreath at the other parish this morning.
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Neofight
Guest
So what if it wasn’t…gonna cancel Advent?
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Bonnie
Guest
No need to get nasty - I was simply asking.
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tawny
Guest
I have my wreath by my shrine. I light it during my morning, evening & night prayers.
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peter26
Guest
At my parish, the wreath was blessed with Holy Water at the Vigil Mass, then again with incense this morning (yeah I go to both, I’m not the only one who does 
).
).
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Gorgias
Guest
Yes, it is optional. The blessing of the Advent wreath appears in the Book of Blessings, not the Roman Missal. It is not a required part of the Liturgy of the 1st Sunday of Advent.
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Neofight
Guest
Not meaning to get nasty, but one doesn’t usually ask for the sake of asking…but to give you the benefit of the doubt, let’s assume it is required and not optional…what then?
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Gorgias
Guest
Then Bonnie asks, “I wonder why they skipped a required rite?” But… it isn’t required, and therefore, there’s no problem here.
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Bonnie
Guest
Except I wouldn’t have asked here - there would be no point because only Fr. S would know the answer to that question!Then Bonnie asks, “I wonder why they skipped a required rite?” But… it isn’t required, and therefore, there’s no problem here.
But I am happy that the shortcut he took was an authorized one.
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Cor_ad_Cor
Guest
The Advent wreath itself is not part of the liturgy of Mass at any time. The same is true of the blessings and candle lighting. It’s not an “abuse” to include, but definitely not required, since it’s not in the rubrics at all.
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Bonnie
Guest
It’s in the missalette, tho. That’s why I wondered when Father didn’t do it.
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Cor_ad_Cor
Guest
Hmmm… I don’t have my copy of the Roman Missal here, but I’ll double-check it tomorrow. I’m going on memory of a conversation in my parish 2-3 years ago.
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DeniseNY
Guest
No need to explain yourself!
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pianistclare
Guest
My 2 cents:
It’s always best to believe that the men who went to seminary know what they are doing.
Be at peace.
It’s always best to believe that the men who went to seminary know what they are doing.
Be at peace.
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Bonnie
Guest
I am. Actually, I thought he forgot to do it. But since it’s optional, I’ve got no problem with him not doing it.My 2 cents:
It’s always best to believe that the men who went to seminary know what they are doing.
Be at peace.
But I think it’s funny that this thread has gone on for 15 replies now. All I wanted was a yes or no answer to my question, but for some reason people think I’m upset about it.
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Gorgias
Guest
It’s not in there.
The only place it shows up is in the Book of Blessings, in which it’s mentioned that it ‘may’ occur (and if so, then only on the 1st Sunday of Advent).
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Cor_ad_Cor
Guest
Thank you. Always nice to know my memory hasn’t completely failed!
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Phemie
Guest
Going off on a tangent:
In our parish they choose a family to light the proper candle at each Sunday Mass. So the beginning of Mass becomes focused on the Advent wreath with a mini ceremony with prayer. I always thought those prayers were for use in the home and that, other than the blessing on the First Sunday of Advent, the candles were to be lit before Mass.
In our parish they choose a family to light the proper candle at each Sunday Mass. So the beginning of Mass becomes focused on the Advent wreath with a mini ceremony with prayer. I always thought those prayers were for use in the home and that, other than the blessing on the First Sunday of Advent, the candles were to be lit before Mass.
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