Crucifix and 6 candles ON the altar

[zagjames]

When the Mass is celebrated in front of the Blessed Sacrament, at least 12 candles are to be lit…

In front of the Blessed Sacrament in a Monstrance? Or in the Tabernacle. I assume you mean the first, right?

 

[Ahlman]

Does anyone have a picture of the high altar in S:t Peter’s without a cross on it? When was the altar cross returned?

 

[Spiller]

In front of the Blessed Sacrament in a Monstrance? Or in the Tabernacle. I assume you mean the first, right?

Yes, with the Blessed Sacrament exposed…

 

[John_Lilburne]

I think Spiller is giving wrong answers in posts #18 and #23. Exposition does not take place during Mass. For exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 4 or 6 candles are used.

“1104 For exposition of the blessed sacrament with a monstrance, the following are to be prepared:
a. Upon the altar or, in accord with the particular situation, near it:
… four or six candles; …”
(Ceremonial of Bishops, Liturgical Press, 1989, ISBN 0-8146-1818-9, page 297.)

Code of Canon Law, canon 941 §2: “Exposition of the blessed Sacrament may not take place while Mass is being celebrated in the same area of the church or oratory.” (The Code of Canon Law: New revised English Translation, HarperCollins Liturgical, 1997, ISBN 000599375X, page 215).

What should happen? From the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) approved for the USA, which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html :
“316. In accordance with traditional custom, near the tabernacle a special lamp, fueled by oil or wax, should be kept alight to indicate and honor the presence of Christ.”

 

[Spiller]

I think Spiller is giving wrong answers in posts #18 and #23. Exposition does not take place during Mass. For exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 4 or 6 candles are used.

“1104 For exposition of the blessed sacrament with a monstrance, the following are to be prepared:
a. Upon the altar or, in accord with the particular situation, near it:
… four or six candles; …”
(Ceremonial of Bishops, Liturgical Press, 1989, ISBN 0-8146-1818-9, page 297.)

Code of Canon Law, canon 941 §2: “Exposition of the blessed Sacrament may not take place while Mass is being celebrated in the same area of the church or oratory.” (The Code of Canon Law: New revised English Translation, HarperCollins Liturgical, 1997, ISBN 000599375X, page 215).

What should happen? From the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) approved for the USA, which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html :
“316. In accordance with traditional custom, near the tabernacle a special lamp, fueled by oil or wax, should be kept alight to indicate and honor the presence of Christ.”

I am sorry John Lilburne but you are incorrect. Not 1 in 1000 Catholics on CAF would be aware that the Mass was (at least in the past) licitly celebrated in front of the Blessed Sacrament but that doesn’t mean it never happened and that at least 12 candles was required when celebrating the Mass in that manner. From newadvent.org/cathen/05713a.htm:

*"…Another custom which seems to have been very prevalent in Germany and the Netherlands, before the close of the fifteenth century, was the practice of exposing the Blessed Sacrament during the time of Mass, apparently to add solemnity to the Holy Sacrifice thus offered. Numerous papal permissions for such Exposition will be found in the “Regest” of Pope Leo X. (See e.g. 3 Nov., 1514; 20 Nov., 1514, etc.) This practice is still a very favourite one in Belgium, though it seems directly to contravene the spirit of many directions in the official “Caeremoniale Episcoporum” prescribing that the Blessed Sacrament should, when possible, be removed from the altar at which High Mass is to be celebrated (Caer. Episc. I, XII, 8-9). Before the Council of Trent, the abuse of such frequent expositions, in Germany and elsewhere, seems to have been very much checked, if not entirely eliminated…" *

I used to have a couple of photos of the Mass being celebrated in front of the exposed Blessed Sacrament (there were two levels of six candles each on the high altar with several monstrances interspersed between the candles, but I cannot find them. I will continue to search.

 

[japhy]

Actually, the seventh candle is not added for a bishop but an archbishop.

I thought it was simply the diocesan bishop, as per GIRM 117.

 

[AJV]

I am sorry John Lilburne but you are incorrect. Not 1 in 1000 Catholics on CAF would be aware that the Mass was (at least in the past) licitly celebrated in front of the Blessed Sacrament but that doesn’t mean it never happened and that at least 12 candles was required when celebrating the Mass in that manner. From newadvent.org/cathen/05713a.htm:

*"…Another custom which seems to have been very prevalent in Germany and the Netherlands, before the close of the fifteenth century, was the practice of exposing the Blessed Sacrament during the time of Mass, apparently to add solemnity to the Holy Sacrifice thus offered. Numerous papal permissions for such Exposition will be found in the “Regest” of Pope Leo X. (See e.g. 3 Nov., 1514; 20 Nov., 1514, etc.) This practice is still a very favourite one in Belgium, though it seems directly to contravene the spirit of many directions in the official “Caeremoniale Episcoporum” prescribing that the Blessed Sacrament should, when possible, be removed from the altar at which High Mass is to be celebrated (Caer. Episc. I, XII, 8-9). Before the Council of Trent, the abuse of such frequent expositions, in Germany and elsewhere, seems to have been very much checked, if not entirely eliminated…" *

I used to have a couple of photos of the Mass being celebrated in front of the exposed Blessed Sacrament (there were two levels of six candles each on the high altar with several monstrances interspersed between the candles, but I cannot find them. I will continue to search.

In the past it was allowed, but now it is not (though I believe those communities which celebrate Masses according to 1962 missal still have them on occasion).

About the picture: could the additional monstrances have been reliquaries? It would be very strange to have Exposition using multiple monstrances.

As for pictures there are some here, here(Anglican) and here,

 

[Spiller]

In the past it was allowed, but now it is not (though I believe those communities which celebrate Masses according to 1962 missal still have them on occasion).

About the picture: could the additional monstrances have been reliquaries? It would be very strange to have Exposition using multiple monstrances.

As for pictures there are some here, here(Anglican) and here,

Those are great pics!

I don’t see the photo I recall. There were definitely multiple monstrances, four if memory serves.

 

[Lepanto]

I thought it was simply the diocesan bishop, as per GIRM 117.

When there is a 7th candle, is there some protocol in terms of symmetry? In other words, is it acceptable to have 3 candles on one side of the altar and 4 on the other? Or should the 7th candle go in the center?

 

[japhy]

When there is a 7th candle, is there some protocol in terms of symmetry? In other words, is it acceptable to have 3 candles on one side of the altar and 4 on the other? Or should the 7th candle go in the center?

I don’t know of any protocol, but I’d center it if only for aesthetics. Centering it would connect it (visually) to the crucifix, thus signifying the bishop as the shepherd of his flock as Jesus is the head shepherd.

 

[Catholicben]

When there is a 7th candle, is there some protocol in terms of symmetry? In other words, is it acceptable to have 3 candles on one side of the altar and 4 on the other? Or should the 7th candle go in the center?

Not sure if there is officially, but I think the 7th is usually in the center. I’ve never seen it done any other way.
http://yankehome.com/7 candles.jpg

 

[JesuXPIPassio]

When there is a 7th candle, is there some protocol in terms of symmetry? In other words, is it acceptable to have 3 candles on one side of the altar and 4 on the other? Or should the 7th candle go in the center?

Seventh candle in the middle and higher than the other ones.

 

[JesuXPIPassio]

Who is the bishop or cardinal in that picture? I’m trying to figure out why there’s no seventh candle, but I suppose if he is the retired bishop or a visiting bishop or cardinal the seventh wouldn’t be proper.

Actually there still should be a seventh candle in those instances but just isn’t supposed to be lit (though I don’t know if the Cardinal is not a Bishop).

 

[JesuXPIPassio]

The “hermeneutic of continuity”. The GIRM says the candles can be on the altar (not only near it). Same with the crucifix. That’s how the altar was decorated before 1969. When Mass is celebrated facing the people, the presence of the candles and the crucifix on the altar helps direct the priest’s attention to the altar rather than the people, and reminds the people that their focus should be on the altar as well (not the priest). It’s a spiritual ad orientem posture.

If it’s a Bishop and there is a seventh candle, should the Crucifix be facing the people or the priest? (A double-sided Crucifix would be obscured by the candle on one side.)

 

[FrancisB]

*"…Another custom which seems to have been very prevalent in Germany and the Netherlands, before the close of the fifteenth century, was the practice of exposing the Blessed Sacrament during the time of Mass, apparently to add solemnity to the Holy Sacrifice thus offered. Numerous papal permissions for such Exposition will be found in the “Regest” of Pope Leo X. (See e.g. 3 Nov., 1514; 20 Nov., 1514, etc.) …" *

If “numerous papal permissions” were needed, it was clearly not the normal practice. This sounds like an old indult that has long since expired. Not that I object to it, but I don’t think from this quote we should think of this practice as normative.

The six candles and the crucifix on the altar, however, were for centuries, and I think the connection with the menorah in the Temple services is likely the root of it. I hope we see more of this. Where I attend mass, they have the lit candles and the crucifix on the high altar, as though they were going to say an old high mass, but then they use a different altar for the service itself.