| Question Title | Posted By | Question Date |
|---|---|---|
| Lighting of candles before Mass | Chas | Saturday, January 10, 2009 |
Question: Mr. Slavek It has always been my understanding that candles should be lit and placed on the altar before mass starts. This priest I know starts by lighting two candles on the ambo before mass and none on the altar. After the homily, he then has the ambo candles extinguished and at that time the candles at the altar are lit. He then extinguishes the candles right before he comes down from the altar during the recessional hymn. He says that the reason for it is to bring attention first to the word being explained through the Gospel, then the focus switches to the Eucharist, and then for all the people to take the word with them after mass. Is this allowed? |
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| Question Answered by Mr. Jacob Slavek
Dear Chas, No, this personal innovation is not called for in liturgical documents. The priest may have the servers bring lit candles to the ambo for the Gospel only, not the entire Liturgy of the Word. However there must always be lit candles on the altar for the entire celebration. 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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