Catholic Convert Question

Self ^ | 12.25.07 | self

[bboop]

New Catholic question about Midnight Mass. We are recent converts from Protestant church(es). I loved that our Catholic church was having a Midnight Mass, with carols, as I have always loved these. Coming out at midnight, the whole world is still — it makes me think of the night Christ was born.

I have attended many midnight services over the years, but they ALL had a candles-only part of the service, usually we would sing Silent Night. It was probably at the end of the service. Didn’t matter which denomination the church was, or non-denom.

Is this not done in the Catholic church, then? Or was it just our (lovely) church which did not do this? The service was beautiful, but it was Not Right!! :)

[Theoden]

I think it depends on the individual parishes and priests. We went to midnight Mass last night and we sang Silent Night at the end but we did not use candles. I’ve also been to ones in the past where we did have candles at the beginning of the Mass.

[maryz]

I'm a cradle Catholic, and I've never seen anything like that at Midnight Mass. Sounds lovely, and we do have something like that at the Easter Vigil. Does your parish have a liturgy committee you could finagle your way onto? ;-)

Maybe you could talk to your pastor: I don't think it could be incorporated into the Mass, but most churches I've known usually have a half hour or so of carols before Christmas Mass. Maybe that could be done in a candlelit church, with lights on for Mass -- and Christ the Light of the World!

That was just a thought -- there are people here who know way more about what's done or not done and why. Christmas might not be the day to ask -- people are mostly involved with the festivities (or for parents, maybe trying to sneak in some extra sleep after putting together toys!). I'm on my way out to our family dinner even as we speak . . .

BTW, Merry Christmas!

[kosta50]

I'm a cradle Catholic, and I've never seen anything like that at Midnight Mass. Sounds lovely, and we do have something like that at the Easter Vigil

Nothing in the liturgy is done "for effect." The reason there are candles at the Paschal (aka "Easter") liturgy is because the Light of Christ illuminated the whole world when He resurrected.

The liturgy (both East and West) begins with a single candle (Christ) and from that candle all other candles are lit. It is a profound symbolism and at the same time literal truth being expressed in the divine (holy) liturgy of the Catholic and Apostolic Churches.

I attended the morning divine liturgy today and the Silent Night was sung after the service. Prior to the service is the liturgy of the hours and popular songs are not included.

[bboop]

Thanks. I think I will look into the liturgy committee. We did carols before the service, and maybe Silent Night and candles would disrupt the Mass format. We did have candles at Easter.

Just trying to figure out which things are Protestant, which are things that the Protestants have borrowed from the Catholic church and I would find there too.

[353FMG]

“The liturgy (both East and West) begins with a single candle (Christ)..”

The celebrant intones “Lumen Christe” three times, every time in a higher pitch.

[vladimir998]

It was always done at my Latin Mass parish. ?

[vladimir998]

Maybe I’m thinking of Easter Vigil?

[Tax-chick]

Easter Vigil.

My parish had a candlelight segment during the Christmas Eve (7:00 p.m.) Mass in the main sanctuary, but not in the “overflow” Mass in the hall, which I attended. Father said the Fire Marshal turned up at an earlier Mass and threatened to clear the building because of the crowds, so they couldn’t have candles at all!

[kosta50]

Thank you for that detail.

[kosta50]

Just trying to figure out which things are Protestant, which are things that the Protestants have borrowed from the Catholic church and I would find there too

Of course. But do remember that the Catholic Church is a communion of almost two dozen different church traditions (both eastern and western).

[Ann Archy]

Never been to a Mass like that.

[Coleus]

Hi, we've never used candles as a parish for Midnight Mass; however, the choir did process down the isle this year with lit candles singing O Come all Ye Faithful.   The Catholic Church, although universal, is comprised up of people from many cultures all over the world and some parts of the traditions are a little different from parish to parish.   If you recall, it was Pope John Paul II who initiated the big Christmas Tree in St. Peter's Basilica as well as decorating St. Peter's with so many Poinsettias for Christmas.   I'm sure that with a German Pope, this new tradition will continue.  The only time when the parish uses candles during mass is at the Saturday Evening Easter Vigil Mass when the Pascal Candle is lit.  Welcome to the church!

 

 

[narses]

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[NYer]

Is this not done in the Catholic church, then? Or was it just our (lovely) church which did not do this? The service was beautiful, but it was Not Right!! :)

Like Theoden and maryz, I have never experienced anything like that except at the Easter Vigil Mass. Prior to attending Midnight Mass last night, I watched live coverage of the Vigil Mass from the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC. The Church, as you described, was in total darkness except for candles held by those in attendance. It began with the Proclamation of the Birth of Christ From The Christmas Martryology, again something I had never experienced before. If the tradition you describe is prevalent in certain Protestant churches, perhaps some of the Catholic Churches are now 'borrowing' it to embellish their liturgies. I have seen this in the RC Diocese of Albany where certain parishes now celebrate the Anglican tradition of 'Lessons and Carols'.

Our Midnight Divine Liturgy began with the singing of Silent Night as Father processed up the aisle carrying the infant Jesus to place in the creche. We had candles burning in the windows but the Church was fully illuminated. It was, as always, a beautiful liturgy.

[livius]

First of all, Merry Christmas!

As for Silent Night, I think it should be done and - prior to the Novus Ordo - it was not uncommon for people to sing it at the end of Mass. The author was a Catholic and it has always had a big place in Catholic musical devotion.

Why don’t you write a letter to the pastor and say that you’d like to hear Silent Night at Midnight Mass. It’s the best-known hymn in the world, btw.

[bboop]

Yes, I might talk to the priest with my (yet another great) idea of how to fine-tune our really lovely church. hahah. Sure he’ll be happy to hear from me, once again....

[livius]

LOL! You have to keep after them. The squeaking wheel, etc...

Also, things are changing a lot in the Church right now, at least in part due to pressure from converts (not to mention our great Pope). Sometimes it’s like the Gospel story of widow who kept bugging the judge - he just got tired of listening to her and gave in!

[Tax-chick]

Is “Silent Night” a popular song with Spanish speakers? We’re looking for something to do at our Spanish Mass next Sunday.

Also, do you know of a Missal in Spanish? We’ve got photocopied pages, and it’s so hard to read with my bifocals! I’d be willing to pay for a good, clear book - even one for children - with the standard Mass parts in Spanish.

[ReignOfError]

“Stile Nacht” was written by a German priest whose organ was broken. That is to say, his church’s organ was broken. So he wrote a simple carol that could be accompanied by a guitar.

Many churches close their Christmas ceremonies with “Silent Night” just because it’s such a simple, quiet and solemn carol. My college held an annual ceremony of lessons and carols — it was a Methodist school, but the ceremony was based on the Anglican.

The ceremony closed with “Silent Night” sung with the accompaniment of a single guitar out in the vestibule. By candlelight in an otherwise unlit church. It was a denouement from the big pageantry, and you could not walk out into the cold night without that simple and beautiful melody lingering in your mind.