Why Seven Candles at Episcopal Masses?

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My dad and I went to another parish for the anticipated Sunday Vigil Mass late this afternoon. The pastor mentioned that when a bishop, archbishop, cardinal or the Holy Father celebrates Mass, seven candles are used. Evidently, last weekend, he told the faithful that six were used, but, he was corrected.

He and I both came to the conclusion that seven were used because of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. I added that since the Bishop has the fullness of the priesthood, it may also have something to do with that (along with seven being an ancient biblical number of perfection).

He and I both suspect that there is probably another reason. I know that seven figures into the early Church because there were seven deacons (of whom St. Stephen is one).

So, japhy, Thurifer2, Manfred, Bro Rich, Brendan, Deacon Cameron, puzzleannie, Sarabande and Alex V, what’s the reasoning behind the seven candles? I figured I would try to get the answer for the priest (since he is also a friend of mine–it’s not my PV, by the way).

I’ll try to look as well, but, if anyone knows the answer, I would be much obliged.
 
This should help:

Menorah (Temple) - the seven-branched candelabrum, one of the oldest symbols of the Jewish people and used in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.

(1) At a pontifical high Mass, celebrated by the ordinary, seven candles are lighted. The seventh candle should be somewhat higher than the others, and should be placed at the middle of the altar in line with the other six.

newadvent.org/cathen/01347a.htm

Exodus 25:31-40 lists the instructions for the construction of the menorah used in the temple:
31 And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made, even its base, and its shaft; its cups, its knops, and its flowers, shall be of one piece with it. 32 And there shall be six branches going out of the sides thereof: three branches of the candlestick out of the one side thereof, and three branches of the candle-stick out of the other side thereof; 33 three cups made like almond-blossoms in one branch, a knop and a flower; and three cups made like almond-blossoms in the other branch, a knop and a flower; so for the six branches going out of the candlestick. 34 And in the candlestick four cups made like almond-blossoms, the knops thereof, and the flowers thereof. 35 And a knop under two branches of one piece with it, and a knop under two branches of one piece with it, and a knop under two branches of one piece with it, for the six branches going out of the candlestick. 36 Their knops and their branches shall be of one piece with it; the whole of it one beaten work of pure gold. 37 And thou shalt make the lamps thereof, seven; and they shall light the lamps thereof, to give light over against it. 38 And the tongs thereof, and the snuffdishes thereof, shall be of pure gold. 39 Of a talent of pure gold shall it be made, with all these vessels. 40 And see that thou make them after their pattern, which is being shown thee in the mount.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menorah_%28Temple%29
 
A lot of authors say that the seven candles on the altar are taken from the seven processional candles carried in Papal Masses.

Dix says (in The Shape of the Liturgy) that carrying 7 candles might have been inspired by the account in the Apocalyse to “give a Christian turn to the old secular emblem. The bishop is is the earthly represntative of Christ as the Eucharist is the earthly manifestation of heavenly worship and the adaptation would easily suggest itself” There doesn’t seem to be any indication why he thinks in this way.

Likewise Atchley says "
The number of the seven candles borne before the pope was probably derived from the Book of the Revelation. One cannot help noticing a similarity between the heavenly worship therein described and parts of the ceremonial of solemn mass at Rome. We are told of a 'throne set in heaven, and one sat on the throne : . . . and round about the throne were four and twenty seats ; and upon the seats I saw four and twenty presbyters sitting clothed in white raiment . . . and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne. . . . And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book ’ : and under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the Word of God/ Angels and the elect clothed in white robes ’ stand about the throne, singing to God and the Lamb. Unlike the Churches of the East, the Church of Rome and the Western Church as a whole accepted the Apocalypse as canonical from the first.
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The number seven also plays in with the original seven ecclesiastical ‘districts’ linked to Pope St. Fabian*. They had seven bishops, deacons, subdeacons.

In the commentaries of the Middle Ages it was common to link them to Temple worship, or with the “sevefold priestly virtue” r the seven angels or the Holy Spirit or his seven gifts. I was just transcirbing a part of Amalarus’ exposition and he mentions some of these

There is a paper by E. Bishop with some interesting information- although it is regarding 6 candles, there is also information on the usage of 7 candles. See here
  • Liber Pontificalis: “…he was bishops in the time of Maximus and Africanus to the second of Decius and that of Quadratus. He divided the regions among the deacons and created seven subdeacons to watch over the seven notaries…”
 
A lot of authors say that the seven candles on the altar are taken from the seven processional candles carried in Papal Masses.

Dix says (in The Shape of the Liturgy) that carrying 7 candles might have been inspired by the account in the Apocalyse to “give a Christian turn to the old secular emblem. The bishop is is the earthly represntative of Christ as the Eucharist is the earthly manifestation of heavenly worship and the adaptation would easily suggest itself” There doesn’t seem to be any indication why he thinks in this way.

Likewise Atchley says "
The number of the seven candles borne before the pope was probably derived from the Book of the Revelation. One cannot help noticing a similarity between the heavenly worship therein described and parts of the ceremonial of solemn mass at Rome. We are told of a 'throne set in heaven, and one sat on the throne : . . . and round about the throne were four and twenty seats ; and upon the seats I saw four and twenty presbyters sitting clothed in white raiment . . . and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne. . . . And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book ’ : and under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the Word of God/ Angels and the elect clothed in white robes ’ stand about the throne, singing to God and the Lamb. Unlike the Churches of the East, the Church of Rome and the Western Church as a whole accepted the Apocalypse as canonical from the first.
Click to expand...
The number seven also plays in with the original seven ecclesiastical ‘districts’ linked to Pope St. Fabian*. They had seven bishops, deacons, subdeacons.

In the commentaries of the Middle Ages it was common to link them to Temple worship, or with the “sevenfold priestly virtue” or the seven angels or the Holy Spirit or his seven gifts.

There is a paper by E. Bishop with some interesting information- although it is regarding 6 candles, there is also information on the usage of 7 candles. See here
  • Liber Pontificalis: “…he was bishops in the time of Maximus and Africanus to the second of Decius and that of Quadratus. He divided the regions among the deacons and created seven subdeacons to watch over the seven notaries…”
 
AJV and Catherine, thank you so much. Sorry for not including you in the original brain trust I cited. You guys are awesome!!!

I am going to send the information to the priest. Hopefully, this will set things straight.

Incidentally, I’m watching the replay of the Papal Baptismal Mass (Sistene Chapel), and, there are only six candles. But, interestingly enough, the Holy Father is celebrating the Liturgy of the Eucharist ad orientisium-sp?).

Now, the priest mentioned that six candles were used for a Pontifical Mass; however, at the Cathedral, we used six candles during solemnities (Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, Holy Days of Obligation and High Mass at 11:30AM Sunday). What about the six candle issue, then?
 
benedictgal said:
Incidentally, I’m watching the replay of the Papal Baptismal Mass (Sistene Chapel), and, there are only six candles.
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I think there were 7 candles used. It looked to me like one was behind the altar cross.
benedictgal said:
But, interestingly enough, the Holy Father is celebrating the Liturgy of the Eucharist ad orientisium-sp?).
Click to expand...
“ad orientem” means facing east. However, in the Sistine chapel facing the altar means that the Pope was actually facing “ad occidentem” - or facing west.

You could still say that he was celebrating ad orientem in that he was facing “liturgical east”. Or, a better term in this situation would be “versus Deum” - facing God as opposed to “versus populum” - facing the people.

James
 
James0235 said:
I think there were 7 candles used. It looked to me like one was behind the altar cross.

. .
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You are probably right. As I recall, in another recent Papal mass there was a seventh larger candle that obscured the altar cross.
 
Re the number seven, I can only offer that Biblically it is the number of earthly perfection: the days of Creation, the seven deacons for earthly service, the seven sacraments to aid us through life, the seven gifts of the Spirit, etc.
 
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think that the seventh candle is only used when a bishop says Mass in his own diocese (everywhere for the Pope because of his universal jurisdiction). So, for example, if the Archbishop of Newark happened to be invited to Omaha to say Mass, he would not have a seventh candle on the altar.
 
James0235 said:
Here is a picture of the 7th candle. It is in the center behind the crucifix.

James
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Mea culpa on that one. I should have looked a lot closer. I was just so excited that he was facing “liturgical east” as you put it.

Incidentally, Emer McCarthy, the Vatican Radio analyst made such a ballyhoo about the Holy Father “breaking with tradition” and not using the portable wooden altar, and, instead, celebrating Mass from the Sistene Chapel high altar. I’m shooting off a friendly email reminding her that the use of the wooden altar was actually the break with tradition, as V-II never did away with the celebrant using the “liturgical east” posture.

By the way, thanks to all of you for your help. Y’all are the brain trust on matters like this.
 
A few months ago I served Confirmaiton Mass I cannot for the life of me remember where I heard about the 7th Candle But it was my assumption that the 7th Candle was specific to a confrimation Mass. Ie recieving the H.S. and it seven gifts represented by the 7 candles. However I am thinking I am wrong. There was 7 candles present thought…I know because I was the one who lit them.
 
From what I understand also is that the menorah is the correct answer to this question.

During a normal mass the 6 candles are placed on the altar with 3 on each side, the candles are lit from the middle out, on a High altar that has a tabernacle built in and there is the Eucharist in the tabernacle then only 6 candles are lit, but when the bishop comes to pray mass in his diocese the tabernacle is emptied and the 7th candle is placed.

I was told that the the middle candle on a menorah is the one that is used to light all the other candles, but since Jesus is the light of the world the 7th candle is no longer needed, but since the tabernacle is empty when the bishop comes then they place the 7th candle on the altar near the crucifix and it should be placed higher than the other candles
 
Laudatur Iesus Christus.

Thank you for this thread. It is useful to notice these details and to re-kindle the symbols that speak to us during the Mass, if we are aware of them.

It might be useful in considering the difference between six candles and seven candles to consider chapters one and four of the Book of Revelation. Generally, as I understand it, in Biblical usage the number seven represents completeness, or more precisely “a complete series” of things.

If we take the Book of Revelation to be a handbook for understanding the Mass, then one should note that Christ appears to St. John in the midst of “seven golden lampstands,” (Rev. 1:12). These lamps are identified with the Churches to which Christ addresses His critiques and encouragement in the “penitential rite” beginning in chapter 1: “As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the seven lampstands are the seven churches,” (Revelation (RSV) 1:20).

Taking up this imagery, and remembering that seven is a symbol of completeness, it makes sense that a Bishop offers Mass on behalf of the entire Diocese, thus seven candles representing all of the Churches of the Diocese, and similarly the Pope offers Mass on behalf of the entire Church, seven candles representing all of the individual Churches in the Universal Church.

Extending this logic, when a priest offers Mass, the six candles represent “the rest of the Churches” to which the Sacrifice of the individual Church is being joined.

One should note, however, that the General Instruction for the Roman Missal does not specifically mandate this imagery in the Pauline form of the Holy Mass. Only a minimum of two candles are required by the GIRM, doubtless evoking the image and prayerful intention of the fire of sacrifice: “on or next to the altar are to be placed candlesticks with lighted candles: at least two in any celebration, or even four or six, especially for a Sunday Mass or a holy day of obligation," (GIRM (2003) 117). Using fewer than six candles weakens the reference to Revelation, but given the bishops’ use of seven candles, the image is available to those who have “eyes to see,” even if two or four candles are used, though requiring more presence of mind to remember the broader context.

The image of the seven Churches is transformed further, in the Book of Revelation, when St. John describes the Heavenly Throne and Altar: “Seven flaming torches burned in front of the throne, which are the seven spirits of God," (Revelation (NAB) 4:5). (Again, it is important that “seven” here be taken to represent, not separate or distinct spirits, but a complete series, sufficient for the purpose.) This serves to remind one that the Church is not only a gathering of people addressing themselves to God (lamps burning before the Altar), but the Churches are “spirits of God,” or to paraphrase, “breathed from God,” and therefore receive their life from Him.

Whether two, four, six, or seven candles are used, the plurality of candles reminds us that each of our offerings is joined to the offerings of the whole Church, and ultimately to the Heavenly and perpetual Offering administered by Christ, the eternal High Priest, before the Heavenly Throne. They also remind us, if we keep the Book of Revelation in mind, that each individual Church is a part of God’s continued spirit in the world.

I hope these reflections are helpful.

Spiritus Sapientiae nobiscum.

John Hiner
 
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