sanctus candle

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When do you light the sanctus candle if you use one in low mass?
 
eelpis said:
When do you light the sanctus candle if you use one in low mass?
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At the end of the Sanctus or little later e.g. at the Memento. I think I read that in some places it was done at the Hanc igitur- however, since in many places it is now customary to ring the bell at that point, it would not be feasible to do so. At all events before the Qui Pridie
 
Thanks, where do you put it when it’s lighted: on the epistle side of the altar?`the credence? or on the steps?
 
eelpis said:
Thanks, where do you put it when it’s lighted: on the epistle side of the altar?`the credence? or on the steps?
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A few rubricians do make allowance for the Sanctus candle to be at the credence, but I think most do not. The best place, they say, is either in a wall bracket on the Epistle side, or on “in piano” i.e. the sanctuary floor before the altar steps.

For more solemn feasts they say, two candles should be lit, one at the Epistle side and one at the Gospel side. The reason for this is because previously, there was a very strict rule that for low Masses of priests who did not have prelatial privileges, only one server was allowed. The exception was if it was an occasion of solemnity like a special feast or a parochial Sunday Mass (This rule was often flouted). On more solemn feasts two servers were allowed. The Sanctus candle was placed on the Epistle side of the altar because that was where the server was kneeling. Thus for occasions of solemnity (= two servers), it was recommended that there be two candles.
 
Just one more question AJV.:o

Why did the santus candles become disused?
 
I’ve never even HEARD of a “sanctus candle” until today.
 
eelpis said:
Just one more question AJV.:o

Why did the santus candles become disused?
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I don’t know. Most of the English ceremonial manuals (right from the the 19th century) seem to indicate that they are virtually extinct in the English speaking world. Likewise, if I remember correctly the first edition (and subsequent ones) of the Baltimore Ceremonial for the USA does not cover it for the low Masses of priests. Some of the earlier French tracts say that the custom was there in some churches in France and Belgium. I’ve read a couple of non-ceremonial works that make a mention of it being there in Spain. In Rome, apparently, only one church staffed by the Lazarists observed the custom * I’ve read several letters in some of the journals of the Liturgical Movement (Liturgical Arts, Orate Fratres) which speak of pastors or it being sen in certain monasteries reviving this custom, but apparently not on very wide scale.

(I’m referring to the use of sanctus lights for priests’ low Masses - for Pontifical Masses and High Masses they were mandated and done. )
  • Which is logical, I suppose, since they were [and still are] very active in liturgical issues. The famous Ephemerides Liturgicae is their publication and they and can count several well known figures (like the infamous Bugnini) in their ranks.
 
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