Question about altar candles

[s.cono]

Specifically, must they be lit during the mass? Tonight’s vigil mass got started about 10 minutes late for some reason. No one lit the four altar candles before hand. Might have been an oversight, but the entire mass was held without the candles being lit. I don’t recall ever seeing this happen before. The mass is still valid, yes?

 

[Fauken]

The Mass is still valid, but they’re supposed to be lit.

 

[Usige]

The Mass is still valid, but they’re supposed to be lit.

Yep. I have twice had the dubious “honor” of having father grab me as the processional gets started to tell me “when we get to the sanctuary please get a taper and light the altar candles”.

 

[s.cono]

Thanks for the reply. That’s good to know. A couple of other oddities. The mass’s intention was not announced, I think it was an unintentional oversight. It just seemed weird as everything was a little off. Even the beautifully singing soprano cantor hit a clinker tonight. Not complaining. I was really just curious about the candles.

 

[Divine3]

Valid mass — too bad no one in the pews prayed for the courage (and if they smoked had a match or lighter ) just went up there and lit the candles – or looked for an usher or someone in charge – Oh well, next time, could happen any place—

 

[Usige]

A couple of other oddities. The mass’s intention was not announced, I think it was an unintentional oversight. It just seemed weird as everything was a little off.

It almost takes a concerted effort to invalidate the Mass so try not to be concerned if things are just a little out of kilter.

Often times it starts out with something small that ends up being a distraction that then leads to other things being off. From personal experience there are just days where it seems like nothing lines up right and the more I focus on what got messed up, the more likely I am to mess something else up.

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

There are often so many little things happening in the last 5-10 minutes before Mass, it can happen. Too bad no one caught it.

The mass’s intention was not announced,

Some places never do this; it’s not required.

 

[Phemie]

In our parish the intention is never announced at Mass. It’s published in the bulletin and that’s as far as it goes.

 

[phil19034]

Which set of altar candles are you referring to?

For example: at my parish we have the free standing Vatican II altar, and the older East facing “high altar” (where our tabernacle is).

Both altars have candles on them but the parish rarely lights on candles on the high altar - only lighting them for Christmas, Easter and Holy Thursday.

So did you meant candles on the altar being used or another altar?

 

[s.cono]

Which set of altar candles are you referring to?

The ones on the main altar which the priest faces such as in this example. I guess it’s the free standing Vatican II altar.

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

 

[MaryTeri]

If Mass was late and candles not lit, it sounds like someone didn’t show up and others had to set up quickly. THings get missed then

 

[s.cono]

Yes, indubitably. I think confessions ran late, and then a cue was missed. The priest made a comment about there being no organ music as the procession began. I believe the organist was waiting for the candles to be lighted, and the lights to be raised. I forgot to mention that the lights in the church were still dimmed. This is probably why the organist didn’t begin playing the entrance hymn.

 

[Titivillus]

It almost takes a concerted effort to invalidate the Mass so try not to be concerned if things are just a little out of kilter.

Aside: And it’s a good thing on this Trinity Sunday weekend. (I have been told by more than one priest that they dread this feast as it is too easy to accidentally preach material heresy )

 

[TomH1]

The mass is still valid, yes?

In a sense the question is not relevant. It’s whether the Eucharist is confected validly that matters. Not lighting the candles would not have any effect on the validity of the Eucharist.

I suspect it is a rare occurrence. It happened once when I was a server (a long time ago). I think it happened simply because everyone just assumed everyone else had done it. After Mass, the priest didn’t reprimand us, as we anticipated, but introduced changes. Previously, we sort of mucked in and did everything. After that occasion the priest ensured we each had responsibility for something. I’ve never seen it happen since.

The mass’s intention was not announced

Never happens at our parish. The intention is always listed in the bulletin. I know a priest can apply a Mass for more than one intention and sometimes the intentions are known to him only.

 

[Usige]

Aside: And it’s a good thing on this Trinity Sunday weekend. (I have been told by more than one priest that they dread this feast as it is too easy to accidentally preach material heresy )

During his homily, our pastor told a story about how he had been a deacon for 4 months when the priest leaned over during the first reading to ask what he was preaching about the Holy Trinity.

He promised me he’d let me know a day or two in advance before asking me to preach on it. It made me think of my Trinitology instructor telling us he’d throw us out of the sanctuary if we gave a homily like “The Trinity is a mystery and we can never fully understand it so let’s talk about other things”.

 

[Dovekin]

Could the priest read from the missal? See what he was doing? That is the primary purpose of the candles.

Secondarily, the candles act like a spotlight, focussing attention on the significant action. They might be carried to the ambo for the reading of the gospel, but usually they highlight the altar, an important symbol of Christ during Mass.

With modern lighting, candles are still in the rubrics but not really functional.