Candles on the Altar

[Pious]

I was at my sisters parish for Mass and the only candles that were burning on the Altar were two, but they were placed side by side on the end by the Epistle side of the Altar, and on the Gospel side they had the Paschal candle burning.

At the back next to the tabernacle they had six candles but they were not burning.

I thought someone had moved the candle over to light it and forgot to move it back, but when I mentioned it to my sister she said that is were it normaly is and it depends on preference and that is how it is set up on the Altar at the local school.

I thought the candles had to be burning at the Gospel and Epistle side of the Altar

 

[Phemie]

The GIRM only says that you need at least 2 candles on or next to the altar. Their placement is not mentioned.

 

[bpbasilphx]

Actually, throughout history, the number and placement of candles has varied according to taste, local custom, and alll sorts of criteria.

Dom Gregory Dix in his magnum opus THE SHAPE OF THE LITURGY mentioned that examples of using any number of candles between 2 and 20 (except 17 and 19) could be found.

 

[Pious]

That is interesting; I am so used to seeing at least two candles on either side of the Altar.

 

[ddd86]

It’s an interesting subject and a one I like to take notice of when I go to different parishes. Across the last 15 years or so in our parish we’ve had 3 parish Priests all with different views on the candles.

At first we had two freestanding candles either side of the altar leaving the altar free of anything. Then we went to two on one side of the altar itself and a posy of flowers on the other side. Now we have two candles on either side of the altar.

However, as mentioned it does only state in the GIRM that at least two candles be on or around the Altar. The particular placement of the candles isn’t mentioned.

Here is a photo of the Sanctuary of The Cathedral of the Assumption, Carlow, Ireland, with three freestanding candles at one side of the Altar. A strange looking arrangement and not to my particular taste but is still licit according to the GIRM.

 

[AmbroseSJ]

It’s an interesting subject and a one I like to take notice of when I go to different parishes. Across the last 15 years or so in our parish we’ve had 3 parish Priests all with different views on the candles.

At first we had two freestanding candles either side of the altar leaving the altar free of anything. Then we went to two on one side of the altar itself and a posy of flowers on the other side. Now we have two candles on either side of the altar.

However, as mentioned it does only state in the GIRM that at least two candles be on or around the Altar. The particular placement of the candles isn’t mentioned.

Here is a photo of the Sanctuary of The Cathedral of the Assumption, Carlow, Ireland, with three freestanding candles at one side of the Altar. A strange looking arrangement and not to my particular taste but is still licit according to the GIRM.

What a beautiful cathedral you have! The candles, though seemingly lopsided, do seem tasteful at least. In my parish there is a virtual orgy of lopsidedness. Everything is done as lopsided as possible. First off the candles are pushed way to the back of the sanctuary, far off to one side and not even near the altar. They put a colorful “banner” on the central liturgical altar way off to one side. Everywhere you look there is this lopsided theme. Apparently the purveyors of liturgical "style’ are affirming the modernity and beauty of lopsidedness, whenever possible.

Today I attended a sister parish in our “cluster.” To my horror, aside from the usual tasteless lopsideness, they put a two tone gauzy fabric of gold and white around the larger than life shoulders of Christ Crucified hanging above the sanctuary, where it drapes down in huge graceful buntings to be looped back up upon the back wall of the Sanctuary.

In my view, not only does this effeminize and sissyfy the most important Icon in the Catholic Church, but it reduces the crucifix to a large decorative hook for liturgical tastelessness. I’ve often seen this idea (especially after Easter) on an empty cross, but never on the main crucifix over the main altar! :ehh:

Usually I am envious of that church because they at least have a crucifix in their sanctuary. My regular church has no such thing. The processional crucifix that is carried up to the sanctuary before mass is then placed behind a pillar outside of the sanctuary.

I’m afraid the pastors are either to afraid to confront such bad taste, or even outright violations of the GIRM, or they are in ignorance or take no interest in the effect such “decorating” has.

 

[Spirithound]

Dom Gregory Dix in his magnum opus THE SHAPE OF THE LITURGY mentioned that examples of using any number of candles between 2 and 20 (except 17 and 19) could be found.

Ah…darn those prime numbers!