Altar Candle
In the Roman Catholic Church
In the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church, candles are required to be placed on or beside the altar, at least for the celebration of Mass.
Symbolism
To the three elements of a lit altar candle, some writers attached a symbolism related to Jesus Christ: the beeswax or other material symbolizing his body, the wick his soul, and the flame his divinity.
Regulation
For celebration of Mass, it is required that “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. If the Diocesan Bishop celebrates, then seven candles should be used, except if he is outside the boundary of his jurisdiction”.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, complex rules governed the composition and number of candles to be used at Mass. Lighted candles of the correct composition (beeswax, with no more than a minimal admixture of other material, and usually bleached) were considered so essential that, if before the consecration they happened to go out (quenched, for instance, by a gust of wind) and could not be relit within fifteen minutes, the celebration of Mass had to be abandoned, and some writers maintained that even if the candles could be relit within that time, Mass should in any case be begun again from the start. Some of these rules were formulated only in the second half of the nineteenth and the beginning of the twentieth century. The Roman Missal of the time continued to indicate merely that on the altar there should be “at least two candlesticks with lit candles” with a centrally placed cross between them (Rubricae generales Missalis, XX – De Praeparatione Altaris, et Ornamentorum eius). There is also a rule given in the same section of the Roman Missal – and still included even in the typical 1920 edition – that “a candle to be lit at the elevation of the Sacrament” should be placed with the cruets of wine and water to the Epistle side of the altar.
Eastern Orthodoxy
In the Eastern Orthodox Church, either candles or oil lamps are prescribed for use on the Holy Table (altar). Traditionally, in the Orthodox Church only pure beeswax candles may be offered in an Orthodox church. These may be plain or bleachedn some places, bleached beeswax candles are reserved for the Paschal season (Easter).
There will often be a matched pair of candlesticks to either side of the tabernacle, which are lit at any time the Holy Doors in the Iconostasis are opened. In the Slavic practice, these candlesticks usually hold a single large candle; in the Greek practice, these may be five-branch candlesticks. Additionally, in the Slavic practice, there is usually a large seven-branch candlestick directly behind the Holy Table.
A Sanctuary lamp (usually oil, but sometimes wax) will also be placed either on the Holy Table, or suspended above it. Traditionally, this lamp should be kept burning perpetually.
Some Orthodox Churches have adopted the habit (borrowed from Uniate practice) of placing a lit candle on a stand to the side of the Holy Table around the time of the Epiklesis.
Other Christian Churches
This section requires expansion.
Candles are also placed on the altar in other liturgical rites of other Christian Churches.
Lutheranism
Arthur Carl Piepkorn, in a liturgical directory entitled he Conduct of the Service, stated that the normal Lutheran practice was to use two candles on the altar:
It is proper to light the altar candles for all services. The Lutheran use is to have two single beeswax candles, set near the extremities of the altar, either on the gradine or as close as possible to the back of the mensa, if there be no gradine. Six candles is a Counter-Reformatory Roman use. Candelabra as substitutes for the two single candles are a Protestant sentimentality. The Epistle candle is lighted first; the Gospel candle last; they are extinguished in reverse order. Lighting with a match held in the hand is not reverent:xtinguishing with puffs of breath from bloating cheeks is even less so. Use a lighter and snuffer. The lights may be lit by the officiant if there be no one to assist him, or by a choirboy, or by a server appointed for the purpose. In any case the individual performing this task should be decently vested. New candles should be started before the service, or they may cause embarrassing difficulties.
Anglicanism
In Anglicanism, candles are used frequently in churches. Percy Dearmer, author of The Parson’s Handbook, states that English use supports no more than two lights on the altar.
The use of a row of six candlesticks on the altar, or on a shelf or gradine behind it, is pure Romanism, and a defiance of the Ornaments Rubric, as of all other authority in the Church of England. From the beginning of the thirteenth century to the end of the nineteenth every declaration on the subject has mentioned the two lights on the altar only, and to this ancient and universal use of two lights, at the most, every known representation bears witness. Any one within reach of a large picture-gallery can verify this for himself; in the National Gallery, for instance, there are many illustrations of great interest in the Flemish, German, and Italian rooms and among the drawings of the Arundel collection. The evidence of the inventories, directories, &c., is practically the same. Now the instinct which led the church in the great ages of architecture and craftsmanship to use altar lights in this way was a true one; for an altar with two candlesticks upon it is more majestic and more beautiful than an altar with more than two. Furthermore, a row of candles hides the reredos or upper frontal, which ought to be one of the richest and most lovely things in the church. . . .
He points out, however, that English and north European sanctions the use of other candles near the altar, e.g., there were “very often two Standards on the pavement” and “one very beautiful method was to have sconces for candles on the top of the four poles that sometimes stood at the four corners of the altar to carry the riddels.” He concludes:
A church may therefore have (1) two lights on the altar; (2) two standards on the pavement, or four if the sanctuary is large enough (as is seldom the case) for their comely arrangement without overcrowding; (3) other lights near but not behind the altar (preferably two or four on the rods or pillars for the riddels) for use on the principal feasts; (4) others hanging from the roof in candelabra.”
Some Methodist churches will use candles similar to the Anglican way. Some Anglo-Catholics prefer to use six candles, imitating the use of Roman Catholic Church.
See also
Worship
Religious symbolism
References
^ “General Instruction of the Roman Missal” (PDF). Catholic truth society. 04 2005. pp. 17. http://www.catholic-ew.org.uk/liturgy/Resources/GIRM/Documents/GIRM.pdf. Retrieved 2007-02-13.
^ a b Schulte, A.J. (1907), “Altar Candles”, The Catholic Encyclopedia, 1, New York: Robert Appleton Company, http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01347a.htm, retrieved 2007-02-13
^ “Missale Romanum” (PDF). 1920-07-25. http://www.nocturnale.de/pdf/Missale/Missale.pdf. Retrieved 2007-02-13.
^ The Rev. Dr. Arthur Carl Piepkorn, he Conduct of the Service, CSPS 1965 (Revised Edition)
^ Percy Dearmer, The Parson’s Handbook (1907 ed.), pp. 9697.
^ Ibid., p. 99.
^ Ibid., p. 100.
^ Ibid., p. 100.
External links
Altar Candles article from The Catholic Encyclopedia
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Order of Mass in the Roman Rite
Forms
Pre-Tridentine Mass Tridentine Mass (extraordinary form) Mass of Paul VI
Types
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Introductory Rites
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Liturgy of the Word
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Liturgy of the Eucharist
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Participants
Acolyte altar server (female) bishop boat boy cantor choir crucifer deacon Extraordinary minister of Holy Communion laity (Eucharistic Congress) lector priest subdeacon usher
Objects
Alb ambo altar altar bell altar candle altar candlestick altar crucifix altar rails aspergillum ciborium collectarium collection basket corporal chalice chasuble Credence table cruet dalmatic episcopal sandals evangeliary flabellum funghellino headcover holy water humeral veil incense (use) kneeler lavabo lectionary (revised) liturgical book mantilla manuterge misericord music pall pallium Paschal candle paten piscina processional cross pyx Roman Missal Roman Pontifical sacramental bread (wafer) sacramental wine (or mustum) sacramentary sanctuary lamp stole surplice tabernacle thurible triple candlestick tunicle vestment (pontifical) votive candle vimpa water
Concepts & Actions
Antiphon Blood of Christ Body of Christ church etiquette closed communion commemoration Communion and the developmentally disabled Communion under both kinds Crucifixion of Jesus (atonement) ecclesiastical Latin Eucharistic discipline Eucharistic fast First Communion General Instruction of the Roman Missal genuflection grace (ex opere operato) Host desecration infant communion In persona Christi intercession of saints intinction Koinonia the Last Supper liturgical colours liturgical year (proper) Melchizedek priesthood Order of Mass prayer (effects of prayer) Ordines Romani Real Presence reserved sacrament responsory Sign of the Cross Sunday (Lord’s Day) viaticum
Related
Agape feast benediction of the Blessed Sacrament Catholic liturgy Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments Council of Trent church music (Mass) Corpus Christi (feast) Ecclesia de Eucharistia Epiousios Eucharistic adoration Eucharistic miracle Eucharistic theology Fourth Council of the Lateran historical roots of Catholic Eucharistic theology Holy Day of Obligation Liturgical Movement Missale Romanum Mysterium Fidei (encyclical) origin of the Eucharist Pope Pius XII Liturgy Reforms Pro multis Quo Primum Roman Catholic theology Sacraments of the Catholic Church sacristy Summorum Pontificum traditionalist Catholic Tra le sollecitudini Vatican II (Sacrosanctum Concilium) Year of the Eucharist
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Order of the Divine Service in Lutheranism
Books and hymnals
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Preparatory Service
Entrance hymn and Trinitarian formula (know as the Invocation) Penitential Rite (Confiteor and Declaration of Grace)
The Service of the Word
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The Service of the Eucharist
preface (sursum corda) sanctus (Hosanna) Anaphora (Epiclesis) Words of Institution (Sacramental Union) Memorial Acclamation Lord’s Prayer sign of peace / pax (elevation) Agnus Dei Distribution nunc dimittis postcommunion Benedicamus Domino Benediction Dismissal ite missa est
Participants
Acolyte bishop cantor choir crucifer deacon elder laity lector Pastor (or Priest) usher
Objects
Alb altar altar bell altar candle altar cloth altar crucifix altar rails ciborium collection basket chalice chasuble dalmatic Geneva gown holy water humeral veil incense (use) kneeler liturgical book music Paschal candle paten piscina processional cross sacramental bread (wafer) sacramental wine sanctuary lamp stole surplice thurible tunicle vestment votive candle
Lutheranism Portal
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