It seems last Thursday’s Get Fed caused a certain amount of confusion among our readers!
To review, we stated in that article that the Paschal Candle, the symbol of the Risen Christ, is extinguished during the Mass of Ascension Thursday, since that day commemorates Christ’s departure from the earth.
This is certainly true.
The Ascension of Christ by Pietro Perugino
But some readers wrote to us, wondering if this was really the case. The rubrics of the Roman Rite Mass instruct that the Paschal Candle is to remain lit until Pentecost, and many of you may have seen it lit at your parishes well after Ascension Thursday.
Yes, that’s also true.
Wait, what? How? Who’s right?
Both are right. In the Extraordinary Form of the Mass (the Latin Mass), the Paschal Candle is extinguished on Ascension Thursday, and the person who came up with that Get Fed topic happens to be a Latin Mass goer!
In the Ordinary Form, the Paschal Candle usually remains lit through Pentecost Sunday.
So both are right, and you might see both depending on where you attend Mass!
Want to find out more about the Latin Mass? Have you ever wanted to attend a Latin Mass, but weren’t really sure if you’d know what was going on? Dive into The Latin Mass Explained. Following the structure of the Mass, Msgr. George Moorman explains what happens and why, enabling the reader to more fully engage and participate while also gaining an appreciation for this traditional form of the Holy Mass. Available today at The Catholic Company!
