Wednesday Liturgy: Follow-up: Lighting the Easter Candle
ROME, MAY 5, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Answered by Legionary of Christ Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum university.
Pursuant to our comments on the non-use of the Easter candle during exposition (see April 21), a reader from Scotland added an interesting explanation for which I am grateful. He wrote: "I thought you might be interested in my understanding of why the paschal candle is nor lit during exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in the extraordinary form: I was always told that, as the candle represents the Risen Lord and the Sanctissimus is the Risen Lord, it was not right for the symbol to be used in the presence of the reality."
Several readers also inquired as to how to proceed when a parish has two churches or at least other spaces for celebrating Mass during Eastertide and other seasons. As we wrote on April 11, 2006, only one candle may be used during the Easter vigil. But it should be possible to simply bless any extra candles required for other chapels after the vigil is over and subsequently set it up in the other church or chapel without ceremony before the first Easter Mass. These candles may be smaller but should have the grains of incense.
The norms in force for the extraordinary form did not require a new paschal candle every year but only that it should be replaced when notably consumed. For commodity's sake, one was also allowed to bless a smaller candle for the vigil and then expose a larger one for Eastertide, provided that it had been blessed at least once.
In the present rite the candle used for the Easter Vigil should be new. In places where the vigil has not been celebrated, such as weekday and convent chapels, I think it is legitimate to continue using previously blessed Easter candles if still in decent condition. If necessary and possible, the inscription of the current year may be adjusted.
Pursuant to our comments on the non-use of the Easter candle during exposition (see April 21), a reader from Scotland added an interesting explanation for which I am grateful. He wrote: "I thought you might be interested in my understanding of why the paschal candle is nor lit during exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in the extraordinary form: I was always told that, as the candle represents the Risen Lord and the Sanctissimus is the Risen Lord, it was not right for the symbol to be used in the presence of the reality."
Several readers also inquired as to how to proceed when a parish has two churches or at least other spaces for celebrating Mass during Eastertide and other seasons. As we wrote on April 11, 2006, only one candle may be used during the Easter vigil. But it should be possible to simply bless any extra candles required for other chapels after the vigil is over and subsequently set it up in the other church or chapel without ceremony before the first Easter Mass. These candles may be smaller but should have the grains of incense.
The norms in force for the extraordinary form did not require a new paschal candle every year but only that it should be replaced when notably consumed. For commodity's sake, one was also allowed to bless a smaller candle for the vigil and then expose a larger one for Eastertide, provided that it had been blessed at least once.
In the present rite the candle used for the Easter Vigil should be new. In places where the vigil has not been celebrated, such as weekday and convent chapels, I think it is legitimate to continue using previously blessed Easter candles if still in decent condition. If necessary and possible, the inscription of the current year may be adjusted.
posted by Chipi Buenafe at
9:07 AM
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