Candles for Scripture readings?

[PTD]

In our parish they light candles on both sides of the lecturn prior to the time of the readings. After the priest has said the Gospel and offered the sermon, then they extinguish those candles, and light the candles on the Altar. I am guessing this practice started after Vatican II, when they wanted to emphasize the Word as the presence of God. Obviously the candles on the Altar are required, but are candles for the readings now required, prohibited, or optional? I never had a second thought about them until I volunteered to lead the Childrens LIturgy of the Word, and found that when we lead the children to another room, we were asked to set up candles there, too, since we do the “readings” there.
Many thanks for your attention!

 

[John_Lilburne]

The use of candles for the reading of the Gospel is only mentioned briefly in two places in the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM, approved for the USA, which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html ):
“133. If the Book of the Gospels is on the altar, the priest then takes it and goes to the ambo, carrying the Book of the Gospels slightly elevated and preceded by the lay ministers, who may carry the thurible and the candles. Those present turn towards the ambo as a sign of special reverence to the Gospel of Christ.”
“175. … The deacon signs himself with the Sign of the Cross and responds, Amen. Having bowed to the altar, he then takes up the Book of the Gospels which was placed upon it. He proceeds to the ambo, carrying the book slightly elevated. He is preceded by a thurifer, carrying a thurible with smoking incense, and by servers with lighted candles.”

In n. 175 it sounds as though the candles are compulsory, but n. 133 makes it clear that they are optional.

The main purpose of the candles seems to be for the procession. So having candles already in place is not correct.

They are only mentioned for the Gospel, not the other Scripture readings. The Gospel is given special respect, as described in GIRM:
“60. The reading of the Gospel is the high point of the Liturgy of the Word. The Liturgy itself teaches that great reverence is to be shown to it by setting it off from the other readings with special marks of honor: whether the minister appointed to proclaim it prepares himself by a blessing or prayer; or the faithful, standing as they listen to it being read, through their acclamations acknowledge and confess Christ present and speaking to them; or the very marks of reverence are given to the Book of the Gospels.”

There is nothing to suggest lighting the altar candles later in the Mass. The GIRM has things like:
“117. The altar is to be covered with at least one white cloth. In addition, on or next to the altar are to be placed candlesticks with lighted candles: …”.
So they are not to be lit during the Mass.