red candle?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sheeniac
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
That’s not a very good way of telling if you’re in a Catholic Church since most Episcopal Churches also have a Sanctuary Lamp or Candle.
 
I noticed a red sanctuary lamp in a Lutheran church at a wedding a few weeks ago. I’ve been wondering, “Why???”
Deborah
 
Many Confessional Lutherans and High Church Episcopalians hold a strong belief in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist and, therefore, feel it’s completely appropriate to have a lamp signifying the Divine Presence
 
I was in one nearby parish which had a purple sanctuary lamp to match the decor, but they also had a second lamp (also purple) hanging over the Gospel book. This is an annoyance still found in places in the Pacific Northwest – the tabernacle placed to one side of the altar and the Gospel book or lectionary on the other side, each with its own sanctuary lamp. When I asked the priest what the second candle was for, his response was something like “Haven’t you heard? The Word and the Eucharist are equal now!” I was tempted to ask him whether, when they run out of Hosts in the tabernacle, he would tear a page from the lectionary and eat it.
 
Cavaille-Coll said:
I was in one nearby parish which had a purple sanctuary lamp to match the decor, but they also had a second lamp (also purple) hanging over the Gospel book. This is an annoyance still found in places in the Pacific Northwest – the tabernacle placed to one side of the altar and the Gospel book or lectionary on the other side, each with its own sanctuary lamp. When I asked the priest what the second candle was for, his response was something like “Haven’t you heard? The Word and the Eucharist are equal now!” I was tempted to ask him whether, when they run out of Hosts in the tabernacle, he would tear a page from the lectionary and eat it.
Click to expand...
That one is not in the General Instruction of the Missal. I wish you had ask him that question. I would ask him that many on Catholic Answers would appreciate a reference so the other 1.2 billion Catholic can comply with the teachings of the Church. Seriously, please pass this by him.
 
Our priest just replaced our red candle with a white one. I know red isn’t required, but to me it’s more distinctive and stands out in a church that probably already has lots of white candles. That red glow is hard to miss.

I was told the ‘white’ went better with our decor.

Personal preference issue, I know, but I miss the tradition and symbolism (the blood of Christ) of the red.
 
tradcathconvert said:
Good post, Ken. And let’s not forget another forgotten tradition, the tabernacle veil. We are fortunate to still have them to use at our Indult Mass where I am in charge of the altar boys.
Click to expand...
What is a tabernacle veil? I know about the chalice veil, but I have never heard of a tabernacle veil.
 
apparently the sanctuary can hve up to 33 "presence"candles, must always be an odd number and most churches boast one or far fewer than 33.👍
 
Marian candles are often in a blue glass votive holder. Candles for the altar must be of pure wax (there are a lot of rules for these).

The tabernacle being central (the church being God centred) is draped in a veil of the appropriate liturgical colour, and the priest has a KEY to open the tabernacle or so it is where I attend Mass.
 
Melanie01 said:
apparently the sanctuary can hve up to 33 "presence"candles, must always be an odd number and most churches boast one or far fewer than 33.👍
Click to expand...
Why an odd number? A church near me uses two… One is the “official” sanctuary light, while the other one is placed near the tabernacle when it runs low… (That way the candle will never die out overnight)
 
kleary said:
Well it is probably like a new parish here in our Diocese. They claim they have built their “parish center” first instead of the Church and they do not reserve the Blessed Sacrament due to this fact. Then again they have two priests there and have two communion services every week in place of daily Mass.

Pray for the Church…most especially Benedict XVI. He has A LOT of errors to correct since the liberals have wreckovated the Church!

Ken
Click to expand...
If they are not reserving the MBS anywhere, then where in the world are they getting it for the twice a week communion services?
 
I have seen in the past quite a few Lutheran churches that have always red hanging lamps.

But Lutherans either pour out down the drain, or on the ground the “left overs” from the chalice and little glasses. And put the left over hosts back in the box with unconsecrated ones. The ones that use raised bread instead of hosts will throw it out, or throw it on the ground for the birds. Apparently Lutherans who beleive in the real presence think it is temporary only, and Jesus leaves after the service is over with.

Then why do Lutherans have sanctuaury lamps when they don’t reserve the Most Blessed Sacrament?

Are there any Lutherans here who can answer this?
 
That tabernacle picture is beautiful. Unfortunately, I have never been in a church that has a veil on it like that. My church is one of the modern style ones, built in 1969. Our tabernacle is off to the side, built into the wall, kind of looks like a bank vault only with a red cross on it. My prior parish had tabernacle on side altar with white lacey material in front of it but no liturgical colors. Although all churches I’ve been in have candles by tabernacle. My church has red candle on wall and two white pillar candles by tabernacle.
 
LilyM said:
I’ve also seen a thread on here referring to the fact that some Protestant churches will also have a red lamp burning somewhere near the altar.
Click to expand...
Pax tecum!

Yes, this is correct. My friend is Lutheran and at his church there is a red sanctuary candle. I asked him why they have it, since they do not have tabernacles in their churches, and he said that it was just a traditional thing that was kept in most churches after the Reformation and that’s why they continue having a sanctuary candle today.

In Christ,
Rand
 
lak611 said:
What is a tabernacle veil? I know about the chalice veil, but I have never heard of a tabernacle veil.
Click to expand...
Under the old Code of Canon Law the tabernacle or its door were required to be covered with a veil. This veil could be either white or of the color of the office of the day. On All Souls’ day, funerals, and other such times when black vestments were used, the veil would be purple not black.

Under the 83 Code of Canon Law the veil requirement was dropped although it is still optional and not illegal in any sense.

It came about from the old Jewish tradition of having a veil or curtain surrounding the Ark of the Covenant or the Holy of Holies.
 
palmas85 said:
Under the old Code of Canon Law the tabernacle or its door were required to be covered with a veil. This veil could be either white or of the color of the office of the day. On All Souls’ day, funerals, and other such times when black vestments were used, the veil would be purple not black.

Under the 83 Code of Canon Law the veil requirement was dropped although it is still optional and not illegal in any sense.

It came about from the old Jewish tradition of having a veil or curtain surrounding the Ark of the Covenant or the Holy of Holies.
Click to expand...
Thank you, you are right. We put the tabernacle veil, with the color of the day, on when setting up for Mass, and take it down afterwards.
Chatter163, thank you for the great picture.
 
Sheeniac said:
My friend said that he was taught (in Catholic school) that the one way to know that you’re in a Catholic Church is from the red candle near the alter.

After discussing this, we checked our parish and saw no red candle.

Any (name removed by moderator)ut as to whether the Sister was correct many years back, and what changed?

Thanks, Juli
Click to expand...
Um, many Lutheran parishes also have a red candle burning near the altar as well. Two parishes I attended had them. Now that I’m a Catholic, the parish I attend has the tabernacle front and center behind the altar with four sanctuary lamps on either side (2 on the right and 2 on the left) with another hanging from the ceiling to the left).
 
I was just taught in my RCIA class that when the Eucharist is in the tabernacle that you will know because of a red light or a red candle will be close by. I do know that this is true in my church.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top