| Question Title | Posted By | Question Date |
|---|---|---|
| Candle Lighting & Incense | Brittany | Tuesday, November 30, 2004 |
Question: What are the purposes of lighting candles and incense? Are there any CCC references to these traditions? (I know the lighting of the candles is in prayer, but is there more depth to the explanation?) Thank you! God Bless, Brittany |
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| Question Answered by Mr. Jacob Slavek
Dear Brittany, Candles and incense are signs that add dignity and beauty to the Liturgy. As you said, candles are a sign of prayer. They are also a sign of keeping vigil and of the risen Christ (The Paschal candle) and a sign of light, Christ the light. Incense is a sign of offering and of prayer rising to God. The Catechism doesn't say much about Candles and incense, so I would recommend checking the Catholic Encyclopedia which is available on-line. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/ Simply look up "candle" and "incense". Mr. Slavek Footer Notes: (a) A Eucharistic Minister is clergy (Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion). Laity are Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and should never be called Eucharistic Ministers. (b) There is no such Mass called the Novus Ordo. The Current Mass is the Roman Missal of 2000, or the Oridinary Form of the Mass. The Tridentine Mass is the Roman Missal of 1962, or the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. Please refrain from using the term, Novus Ordo. Thanks. (c) The titles of Acolyte and Lector belong exclusively to the Installed Offices of Acolyte and Lector, who are men (only) appointed by the Bishop. These roles performed by others are Altar Servers and Readers, respectively. |
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