Candles during Mass

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Is the following done in any of your parishes? A priest at this parish that I sometimes go (not my normal parish) started something new. The candles on the altar are not lit when mass starts. Instead, two small candles by the pulpit are the ones that are lit. After the homily, they are turned off and then the candles at the altar are lit and are blown out right after communion. The priest said that this signifies that first we have Jesus in the Word, and then He comes to us on the altar. After communion we should have Jesus in our hearts so that’s where the light of Christ should be; in our hearts. Do any of you know if this is allowed? I always thought that the candles on the altar were to be lit in preparation for the mass and remain lit until mass was over; however, some candles or torches can be carried to the pulpit while the Gospel is proclaimed. Any thoughts?
 
The two Churches I attend don’t do this. I wonder if it could be in the category of a liturgical abuse?
 
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TobyLue:
Is the following done in any of your parishes? A priest at this parish that I sometimes go (not my normal parish) started something new. The candles on the altar are not lit when mass starts. Instead, two small candles by the pulpit are the ones that are lit. After the homily, they are turned off and then the candles at the altar are lit and are blown out right after communion. The priest said that this signifies that first we have Jesus in the Word, and then He comes to us on the altar. After communion we should have Jesus in our hearts so that’s where the light of Christ should be; in our hearts. Do any of you know if this is allowed? I always thought that the candles on the altar were to be lit in preparation for the mass and remain lit until mass was over; however, some candles or torches can be carried to the pulpit while the Gospel is proclaimed. Any thoughts?
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Well I am sure it is not an abuse.
After all according, to current thinking in the American RC Church

If The GIRM does not forbid it by name, Then it must be allowed!
Find you A good TLM and let the “crazies” have the rest.
Thats what I did, And I am A convert from Fundamentalism.
Suffered in silence for years, under one Silly egomaniac who the Bishop Foisted upon us for a pastor.
I think this Man dreamed up stuff in his sleep, and then did A “Trial run” at Sunday Mass. Abuses too numerous to mention here. If you called Him out on these silly games he played with the Liturgy, His reply would always be “I am just like Christ in the Gospel and you people are persecuting me!”
Old Boy caught me in the wrong mood on my last Sunday in that Liturgical “Hell hole”
When I took Him to task on Altar Girls (This was 1992)
He gave his standard reply.
My reply “The only paralell I find for you in the Gospel, Father. Is not Christ. But rather that Empty House, that having been swept clean, then becomes the habitation of wandering Devils”
See ya!! Sho wouldn’t wanna be ya!
 
Oh how nice! :rolleyes:

But he has forgotten one thing. Jesus is not only present in His word and in the Eucharist, Jesus is the Priest, the Lamb and the Altar of sacrifice.

He’d be better off using one big spotlight like they do in hollywood so that he could rapidly move between all the above. This would save him the bother of having to blow out and relight.

:mad:

And if ya really wanna tick him off then give him the following:
For mystical reasons the Church prescribes that the candles used at Mass and at other liturgical functions be made of beeswax (luminaria cerea. – Missale Rom., De Defectibus, X, I; Cong. Sac. Rites, 4 September, 1875). The pure wax extracted by bees from flowers symbolizes the pure flesh of Christ received from His Virgin Mother, the wick signifies the soul of Christ, and the flame represents His divinity. Although the two latter properties are found in all kinds of candles, the first is proper of beeswax candles only. It is, however, not necessary that they be made of beeswax without any admixture. The paschal candle and the two candles used at Mass should be made ex cera apum saltem in maxima parte, but the other candles in majori vel notabili quantitate ex eadem cera (Cong. Sac. Rit., 14 December, 1904). As a rule they should be of white bleached wax, but at funerals, at the office of Tenebrae in Holy Week, and at the Mass of the Presanctified, on Good Friday, they should be of yellow unbleached wax (Caerem. Episc.). De Herdt (I, no. 183, Resp. 2) says that unbleached wax candles should be used during Advent and Lent except on feasts, solemnities, and especially during the exposition and procession of the Blessed Sacrament. Candles made wholly of any other material, such as tallow (Cong. Sac. Rit., 10 December, 1857) stearine (Cong. Sac. Rit., 4 September, 1875), paraffin, etc., are forbidden. The Cong. Sac. Rit. (7 September, 1850) made an exception for the missionaries of Oceania, who, on account of the impossibility of obtaining wax candles, are allowed to use sperm-whale candles. Without an Apostolic indult it is not allowable, and it constitutes a grievous offense to celebrate Mass without any light (Cong. Sac. Rit., 7 September, 1850), even for the purpose of giving Holy Viaticum, or of enabling the people to comply with their duty of assisting at Mass on Sundays and holy days (St. Lig., bk. VI, n. 394). In these, and similar cases of necessity it is the common opinion that Mass may be celebrated with tallow candles or oil lamps (ibid.). It is not permitted to begin Mass before the candles are lighted, nor are they to be extinguished until the end of Mass. If the candles go out before the Consecration, and cannot be again lighted, most authors say that Mass should be discontinued; if this happens after the Consecration, Mass should not be interrupted, although some authors say that if they can possibly be lighted again within fifteen minutes the celebrant ought to interrupt Mass for this space of time (ibid.) If only one rubrical candle can be had, Mass may be celebrated even ex devotione (ibid).

Taken from New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia newadvent.org/cathen/01347a.htm
 
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Fergal:
Taken from New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia newadvent.org/cathen/01347a.htm
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The source used, has a copyright date of 1907. I could be wrong, but the part about continuing or discontinuing the Mass if the candles go out seems a bit superstitious. Is there a more current source available?
 
At our Sunday Mass in Spanish, altar servers hold two special candles, one on each side of the ambo, while the priest or the deacon read the Gospel. Then, after the Gospel, the altar candles are lit. I really think this is a great way to show respect to the “Word of God.” Our bishop has no problem with this.
 
We are creating a symbolism this is unneccesary. The altar candles serve as a reminder to the faithful of the early church, which used candles for light as they celebrated Mass in the catacombs “on the bones of the martyrs”.The only candle that symbolized the presence of Christ is the Sanctuary lamp, which is lit only when the Blessed Sacrament is present in the tabernacle.

Adam
 
Dear friend

What you have posted is not normal practice. The candles are lit at the Altar immediately prior to Holy Mass. At the reading of the Gospel by the Priest the Altar Servers carry candles and stand either side of the Priest at the Lectern. The candles on the Altar should not be extinguished until Mass had ended and the Priest has left the Altar.

I would ask the Priest by who’s authority has he taken such actions as they are not the norm at all. If you receive no adequate reply to this (I have a feeling you won’t , it’s seems to be by the Priests own authority) you can then seek recourse to your Bishop.

The Holy Mass does not end with the receipt and indwelling of God in the Eucharist, although it does swoop to a close soon after, but after the Eucharist is a time to realise we are one with Christ, who is Priest, Altar and Sacrifice and as such so we are intimately united with our Eucharistic Lord, it is a time of light and praise and no candles should be extinguished. We are united to the One Truine God, the Altar, the Priesthood of Jesus and each other in Jesus.

Your Priest is not helping his Parish by his actions. He is focusing the Mass purely on the faithful and not on the Divine interaction with the faithful and the faithful’s offering to God in, through and by the Priest, another Christ. At worst his actions are misleading to the real meaning of the Holy Mass and at best they are a vain hope to draw the faithful into the beauty of the most Holy Prayer of the Mass. There is no need for such actions as your Priest has taken, the Holy Mass stands alone as the Most High of Prayers in, by and through Christ Jesus.

God Bless you and much love and peace to you

Teresa
 
Yes.Candles are lit before the Holy Mass,keep lit diring the Mass,and are out after the Mass is finished.🙂
 
It sounds like some priests have a lot of time on their hands to be thinking these variances, such as this non-standard lighting and putting out of candles. :banghead:

Kathie :bowdown:
 
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