Altar Candles?

[Mysterium_Fidei]

Hello all,

At my church we have two candles on the altar. During Christmas and Easter we have two candelabras with five candles each. In the past I think we used these candelabras at each Mass.

I've seen churches that have more or less. How many candles does your altar usually have? How many are customary?

God bless,
Anglican Crusader

[Aymn27]

Hello all,

At my church we have two candles on the altar. During Christmas and Easter we have two candelabras with five candles each. In the past I think we used these candelabras at each Mass.

I've seen churches that have more or less. How many candles does your altar usually have? How many are customary?

God bless,
Anglican Crusader
In the RCC there are two on the altar. The Paschal candle is near the ambo and lit also. Growing up - when I was an altar server, we had two candelabras during Christmas also, but as I recall (and I may be incorrect as this was some 20+ years ago) they were like a menorah with nine (I think that's correct) candles. I've heard the two is symbolic of the two natures of Christ, have you heard anything different or possibly why the candelabra? Interesting.

[svdbygrace]

The Church I attend has a total of 8 Altar Candles (6 on the High Altar... which contains the Reserved Sacrament, and the Altar Cross, and 2 on the Low Altar, where the Eucharist is celebrated). Generally the 6 Candles on the High Altar are light during every service, and the 2 Candles on each side of the Lower Altar are light during the Eucharististic part of Worship (during Altar Preparation).

Counting was way off. Looked at a picture from Easter, and we only have 8 Altar candles, not ten. :blush: I think I need to go back to Grammer School and learn how to do addition again.

[gtsecc]

6 flanking the cross
2 for reading the missle
1 sanctuary candle
1 Paschal candle

[Father Rick]

On our altar now are 2 candles...

The OLD way (amongst Romans anyway) was 6 candles on the altar when the bishop was not present and 7 when he was. You may remember some of the old candlesticks that held 3 candles each with 2 candlesticks (total of 6 candles) on the altar.

[Aymn27]

On our altar now are 2 candles...

The OLD way (amongst Romans anyway) was 6 candles on the altar when the bishop was not present and 7 when he was. You may remember some of the old candlesticks that held 3 candles each with 2 candlesticks (total of 6 candles) on the altar.
AAHH!! yes...I remember that now that you say it!! That lighter thingie would almost burn out before we could light all the candles, LOL..

[benedictine]

my ECUSA parish:

6 at the cross
2 on altar
1 at lectern
1 at pulpit
1 Paschal Candle
1 Presence Lamp

my Anglican Parish:
3 large on altar
2 small on altar
1 presence lamp
1vtive candle on a small side altar dedicated to Our Lady of Walsingham

[Bonifatius]

We ( C of E ) have:

6 on the high altar
none on the altar
1 Paschal candle
1 Presence Lamp at the tabernacle
and then there is a small Menorah with 7 candles - but it is not lit at all services

[SirTimothy]

We 'ave two on the Altar. One Paschal. And some off on the side that I've only ever seen used for Tenebrae.

Timothy

[Mysterium_Fidei]

When you guys refer to a 'high altar', do you mean the main altar of the church or the shelf above the main altar?

[svdbygrace]

I am refering the the shelf above the main Altar. (At least I was told this was the High Altar? :scratch:). The "Shelf" contains the tabernacle where the Reserved Sacrament is kept... (built below the shelf, above the Altar below) the "Lower Altar" is built into the High Altar, or "shelf". On the shelf is the Altar cross, and 3 candles one both sides. Again, I could be wrong but that's what I was told it was, some this is also something I would like to know. :)



When you guys refer to a 'high altar', do you mean the main altar of the church or the shelf above the main altar?

[Mysterium_Fidei]

I am refering the the shelf above the main Altar. (At least I was told this was the High Altar? :scratch:). The "Shelf" contains the tabernacle where the Reserved Sacrament is kept... (built below the shelf, above the Altar below) the "Lower Altar" is built into the High Altar, or "shelf". On the shelf is the Altar cross, and 3 candles one both sides. Again, I could be wrong but that's what I was told it was, some this is also something I would like to know. :)






Thanks very much for clarifying it. I always thought that the main altar was called the 'High Altar' to distinguish it from other altars in the church (Like in different chapels) This is coming from a former Roman Catholic perspective though, I think the terminology is different.

[gtsecc]

In my parish there are 2 shelves above the main level of the altar.
Our tabernacle is on the first one, and the cross is on the top one.
Do the levels have names?

[Mysterium_Fidei]

In my parish there are 2 shelves above the main level of the altar.
Our tabernacle is on the first one, and the cross is on the top one.
Do the levels have names?

I think they'd just be called shelves, actually. Perhaps simply referred to as part of the altar. Again, this is more Roman Catholic terminology.

[Albion]

I think they'd just be called shelves, actually. Perhaps simply referred to as part of the altar. Again, this is more Roman Catholic terminology.

The "shelf" is the reredos, or part of the reredos -- the backdrop behind the altar. Historically, two or none at all were the number of candles actually upon the altar. When it became the style to have more and more candles for various reasons, the practice was to put then on this "shelf" so to keep the number technically correct, although from the pews it is hard to notice the difference.

It was the Vatican that started the use of the row of 6, but in many Roman Catholic churches these days, the number has gone back to 2 or 0 that are actually upon the altar (as opposed to free standing nearby). It's another example of her catching up to the Reformation's reforms but a few centuries late.

[thejesusfish90]

Lol, We have no alter candles, but then again we dont really have an alter either... The closest we have is a plain (but kind of nice looking) table with an embriodered cloth covering it, Is there any connection in the anglican and the Roman catholic (/Orthodox?) practice of lighting candles (from what I have heard (which is likely to be incorrect) one lights a candle to waft the prayers to heaven?), or is it just a carry over from the RCC.... Are they all alight every sunday, or do some of them serve specific purposes?.... lol, clearly Im quite in the dark about this....:P

YBIC

Chris

[Fish and Bread]

It was the Vatican that started the use of the row of 6, but in many Roman Catholic churches these days, the number has gone back to 2 or 0 that are actually upon the altar (as opposed to free standing nearby). It's another example of her catching up to the Reformation's reforms but a few centuries late.

What's wrong with having a lot of candles? I get that two can serve the symbolic purpose of Christ being fully man and fully God, but since zero is considered an equally acceptable number, what's wrong with six or more? It seems like more a matter of people's personal decorative preferences than anything intregal to the faith. Frankly, I'd rather the RCC have adopted reforms like giving the laity a role in the church governence or adopting salvation through faith and kept the candles. ;)

John

[Mysterium_Fidei]

The "shelf" is the reredos, or part of the reredos -- the backdrop behind the altar. Historically, two or none at all were the number of candles actually upon the altar. When it became the style to have more and more candles for various reasons, the practice was to put then on this "shelf" so to keep the number technically correct, although from the pews it is hard to notice the difference.

It was the Vatican that started the use of the row of 6, but in many Roman Catholic churches these days, the number has gone back to 2 or 0 that are actually upon the altar (as opposed to free standing nearby). It's another example of her catching up to the Reformation's reforms but a few centuries late.

Thanks very much! I wasn't exactly sure what to call them.

[alban]

In my church there are more than i dare count!

[Albion]

What's wrong with having a lot of candles? I get that two can serve the symbolic purpose of Christ being fully man and fully God, but since zero is considered an equally acceptable number, what's wrong with six or more? It seems like more a matter of people's personal decorative preferences than anything intregal to the faith. Frankly, I'd rather the RCC have adopted reforms like giving the laity a role in the church governence or adopting salvation through faith and kept the candles. ;)

John

I don't think that there's any magic to it one way or another, but two or none are the historic norm. The main reason for not filling the table with extras like flower pots and excess candles is that it is supposed to be a table, or altar if you wish, not a display case for everything we find religiously meaningful. The Holy Table is the focus of something in particular.

[Mysterium_Fidei]

Starting next Sunday;

10 Candles flanking the Cross on the Reredos shelf
2 on the altar
2 standing beside the altar.