Comments on: The red candle near the altar

By: barb

barb — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 01:44:53 +0000

Who can lit the red candle if the priest is in the hospital????

By: Mark Szewczak

Mark Szewczak — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:38:12 +0000

Resonding to LauraS: When I visited the Basillica of St. Peter in Rome, the Blessed Sacrament was reserved in a side chapel and not at the main altar. It was a few years ago and I do not know if that is still the case. For me it is important that the Lord is reserved somewhere in the church if possible.

By: LaunaS

LaunaS — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 06:29:42 +0000

Erika, I agree it doesn’t feel quite right that the tabernacle is no longer behind the altar. That’s one of the things I love about Daily Mass on EWTN.

However, I was under the impression that the Church is going in the direction of having a separate chapel for the Blessed Sacrament (completely removed from the sanctuary) for the purpose of improving the sense of reverence and intimacy. Matt – can you clarify?

Thanks for this post!

By: Artie

Artie — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:28:07 +0000

Some people may find this a bit extreme, but I will not belong to a Parish that does not have a crucifix on the altar or at least visibly present hanging behind the altar during mass.

Some may not know this but it is a requirement. The risen Jesus Christ is great but not appropriate for Mass.

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia..

a crucifix must be placed on the altar during Mass. To this rule there are two exceptions:

* when the Crucifixion is the principal part of the altarpiece or picture behind the altar. (We advisedly say the principal part of the altarpiece or picture, for if the picture represents a saint, e.g. St. Francis Xavier holding a crucifix in his hand, or St. Thomas kneeling before the cross, even if the cross be large, such a picture is not sufficient to take the place of the altar-crucifix — see Ephem. Lit., 1893, VII, 408) and

* when the Most Blessed Sacrament is exposed.

By: Erika

Erika — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 23:39:34 +0000

I think it’s a shame when churches remove the tabernacle from behind the altar, or worse yet, from the sanctuary itself. I wonder if those churches still have the red candle lit?

By: B.W.A.D.

B.W.A.D. — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 22:25:13 +0000

Very good post. Though, whenever the candle is not lit, or during the Triduum when Christ is not present in the tabernacle, I still usually reverence (by bowing, typically) the altar out of respect for the Holy Sacrifice that takes place daily upon it.

By: Brian Walsh

Brian Walsh — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 21:48:15 +0000

I think most people think they are genuflecting to the altar or maybe just the front of the Church… For much of my life I had no idea.

Also, what is up with the half committed genuflection? You know the people that just kneel down only half way or less to the floor due to laziness… like a little curtsy. It looks silly!

By: Brian Walsh

Brian Walsh — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 21:47:11 +0000

I think most people think they are genuflecting to the altar or maybe just the front of the Church… For much of my life I had no idea

Also, what is up with the half committed genuflection? You know the people that just kneel down only half way or less to the floor due to laziness… like a little curtsy. It looks silly!