Paschal candle question

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SAVINGRACE

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First of all I hope you are all enjoying or enjoyed a Happy and reflective Easter. I did here down under. 😃

I have a question regarding our Saturday night Mass. After moving to this regional town 3 months ago, I joined this parish and love it. The parishioners and Priest are fantastic and so welcoming!! We all get along, however we had an incident this past Saturday night Mass.

One of the ladies from the Parish council who is very active in our parish life and events was responsible for setting up and organising the schedule for the Mass etc. she got into trouble from another parishioner about the Paschal candle.

I was talking to her in the foyer after Mass when he interrupted and was quite loud and sounded very annoyed. He demanded to know why she decided that the Paschal candle be placed on a stand in the corner between the side of the altar and the baptismal font. He kept insisting that it should have been in the sacristy and how dare she hide Jesus away like that.

I’m ashamed to say I had no idea what he was talking about. Is this what they call liturgical abuse, is that what he was inferring? :confused:
 
The candle should be placed near the Ambo during the whole Easter Season then moved near the Font.
 
Joannm said:
The candle should be placed near the Ambo during the whole Easter Season then moved near the Font.
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Oh…he does have a valid point then. The Paschal candle was near the font the whole time. :(I’m not sure what the implications are.

Thank you.
 
Shame that the gentleman thought he would berate her in front of other people, that’s completely unnecessary. The priest would have said something if he felt things were out of place, surely?
 
The parishioner was right, the paschal candle should be in the sanctuary (not the sacristy) during the Easter Season. However, after a private, quiet discussion with the sacristan he should have taken his concerns to the pastor. He should not have dressed her down in front of others.

According to the USCCB -

18.Where is the paschal candle placed during Easter Time?
The paschal candle has its proper place either by the ambo or by the altar and should be lit at least in all the more solemn liturgical celebrations of the season until Pentecost Sunday, whether at Mass, or at Morning and Evening Prayer. After Easter Time the candle should be kept with honor in the baptistery, so that in the celebration of Baptism the candles of the baptized may be lit from it. In the celebration of funerals the paschal candle should be placed near the coffin to indicate Christ’s undying presence, his victory over sin and death, and the promise of sharing in Christ’s victory by virtue of being part of the Body of Christ (see Order of Christian Funerals, no. 35). The paschal candle should not otherwise be lit nor placed in the sanctuary outside Easter Time.
 
Isca said:
Shame that the gentleman thought he would berate her in front of other people, that’s completely unnecessary. The priest would have said something if he felt things were out of place, surely?
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Yes, he was out of line doing it so publicly. Our Priest did intervene and took them both away to discuss further in private.

The whole experience made me realise how little I understand about the Liturgy and the ritual processes and order.
 
Mary_Ellen said:
The parishioner was right, the paschal candle should be in the sanctuary (not the sacristy) during the Easter Season. However, after a private, quiet discussion with the sacristan he should have taken his concerns to the pastor. He should not have dressed her down in front of others.

According to the USCCB -

18.Where is the paschal candle placed during Easter Time?
The paschal candle has its proper place either by the ambo or by the altar and should be lit at least in all the more solemn liturgical celebrations of the season until Pentecost Sunday, whether at Mass, or at Morning and Evening Prayer. After Easter Time the candle should be kept with honor in the baptistery, so that in the celebration of Baptism the candles of the baptized may be lit from it. In the celebration of funerals the paschal candle should be placed near the coffin to indicate Christ’s undying presence, his victory over sin and death, and the promise of sharing in Christ’s victory by virtue of being part of the Body of Christ (see Order of Christian Funerals, no. 35). The paschal candle should not otherwise be lit nor placed in the sanctuary outside Easter Time.
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He did say sanctuary (sorry). Our Priest sorted it out privately. Does USCCB apply in Australia?

Thank you.
 
We all have a lot to learn. Prayers for the lady and the uh, gentleman who could have been more tactful, and praise for the priest who was in the right place at the right tinge to remind them to “mind their manners.” 🙂
 
Isca said:
Shame that the gentleman thought he would berate her in front of other people, that’s completely unnecessary. The priest would have said something if he felt things were out of place, surely?
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I agree with Isca.

I used to help out in my last parish. One of my last pastors used to ask me to help ready the church for Mass and would also ask me and some others to help clear up afterwards. He would instruct us on what to do, as to where to put things.

It’s too bad that this man was unkind when talking to this woman. When trying to talk to someone, it costs nothing to be kind.
 
SAVINGRACE said:
He did say sanctuary (sorry). Our Priest sorted it out privately. Does USCCB apply in Australia?

Thank you.
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No, the USCCB mandates do not apply in Australia, though your bishops’ conference does have its own website which you can search for similar directives. I didn’t find anything in the GIRM but that the Paschal Candle must be made of wax.
 
Mary_Ellen said:
No, the USCCB mandates do not apply in Australia, though your bishops’ conference does have its own website which you can search for similar directives. I didn’t find anything in the GIRM but that the Paschal Candle must be made of wax.
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Thank you. Will check for the Australian Bishops conference now.
 
Mary_Ellen said:
No, the USCCB mandates do not apply in Australia, though your bishops’ conference does have its own website which you can search for similar directives. I didn’t find anything in the GIRM but that the Paschal Candle must be made of wax.
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It is not in the GIRM (not everything is) but in the Circular Letter Concerning the Preparation and Celebration of Easter Feasts from the Vatican.

“The paschal candle should be prepared, which for effective symbolism must be made of wax, never be artificial, be renewed each year, be only one in number, and be of sufficiently large size, so that it may evoke the truth that Christ is the light of the world. It is blessed with the signs and words prescribed in the Missal or by the conference of bishops. (88)”
 
The *Exsultet *even refers to God’s servants, the bees, whose labors provided the very wax the candle is made of. 😉
 
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