Mass Without Candles

[rayrondini]

Since the Feast of the Immaculate Conception is a Holy Day of Obligation, the university parish held a Mass in one of the residence halls in order to make it convenient for students to fulfill their obligation. There is, however, a rule at the university, as there is at most, that there are not to be candles used in the buildings.

So, though I don’t think the absence of candles invalidates the Mass, I wonder if this practice is advisable or not. I know the GIRM says that there need to be at least 2 candles at any celebration and 4 or even 6 at more solemn celebrations (GIRM 117). However, this Mass being located where it was drew over 60 students who may have not otherwise come. I try to give great attention to detail when it comes to liturgical norms but this one I’m just torn on.

Should the Mass (particularly solemnities) be celebrated in venues like this if candles cannot be used, given the apparent success, or not? Are the candles important enough?

Thanks!

 

[Jordan_Francis]

Personally, though candles are highly important to me (I pray using them every night at my shrine in my room)…I think the most important thing is getting people, especially students, there.

Is this event hosted by a University Chaplaincy? I would put in a request that permission for candles be used when it is an event like this under the supervision of a chaplain, on the grounds of religious reasons. Maybe the university would make an exeption for a Mass and other religious celebrations that require it- which would still not permit individuals to use them on a whim.

Nobody is waving them around and they are only lit in plain sight as long as there are people there watching them- it wouldn’t seem unreasonable to me, anyways.

 

[Brunis]

Hi rayrondini, its an interesting topic to discuss. Well… I have also the same thought as Jordan Francis shared in his post.

 

[bpbasilphx]

And why was it necessary to have the Eucharistic Liturgy in a residence hall?

Was there no chapel on campus or near by?

Did it really result in more students coming to mass?

Or did it rather prove something that I’ve said:

There are people who will walk twenty miles over broken glass to get to church–and there are others who, if you held the Liturgy in their living rooms would disappear into the kitchen to make coffee and stay there till it was over.

And others who, if you liturgized in their bedrooms, would cover up their heads till you were through.

One old priest talked about ringing the bell for Vespers, and people on their porches across the street from the church would cross themselves piously and stay put.

 

[venite_adoremus]

Dispensing with the candles was probably advisable, and priests are given instruction on when and where this is so. Another case of when it is advisable to dispense with candles is when the Eucharist is taken to the sick in hospitals where oxygen is being dispensed and open flames present a hazard.

But this begs the larger question. Why was it inconvenient for campus ministry to have Mass at its own center? Was there not, rather, a political or social statement of some sort being made by having the Mass at a residence hall? Why not in the student union building? Why not in open air at a central gathering plaza? Methinks your campus pastoral staff needs to re-assess what is considered a “proper place.”

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Since the Feast of the Immaculate Conception is a Holy Day of Obligation, the university parish held a Mass in one of the residence halls in order to make it convenient for students to fulfill their obligation. There is, however, a rule at the university, as there is at most, that there are not to be candles used in the buildings.

So, though I don’t think the absence of candles invalidates the Mass, I wonder if this practice is advisable or not. I know the GIRM says that there need to be at least 2 candles at any celebration and 4 or even 6 at more solemn celebrations (GIRM 117). However, this Mass being located where it was drew over 60 students who may have not otherwise come. I try to give great attention to detail when it comes to liturgical norms but this one I’m just torn on.

Should the Mass (particularly solemnities) be celebrated in venues like this if candles cannot be used, given the apparent success, or not? Are the candles important enough?

Thanks!

The Mass would not be invalid without candles, but the priest should not have celebrated Mass under the circumstances, if he knew before hand that candles would not be permitted.