The Use of the Pontifical Candle

De instrumento luminis

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Antiquissimus est usus liturgicus de cereo ante pontificem ferendo, ut facilius legat, frequenter enim ecclesiæ carebant luce nec sine cereo poterat episcopus orationes legere (Jus Pontificalium by Msgr. Joaquim Nabuco, 1956). [Translation: The liturgical practice of holding a candle before the Bishop so as to make it easier for him to read, since churches were frequently dark, is a very ancient practice).

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The hand-candlestick, called by Rubrics and ceremonials bugia, palmatoria or scotula, is a low candlestick, with a long handle. It is held near the book by one of the attendants of the Prelate whenever the latter reads or sings something from the book (Costume of Prelates of the Catholic Church by Abel Nainfa, 1909).

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Scotula confici debet ex metallo, et si fieri possit ex argento; scotula inaurata SRE cardinalibus reservatur. Instrumentum hoc fabricetur veluti sustentaculum candelæ cum pede ample et sine hasta, et cum manubrio longo cum quo facile portari possit a suo ministro (Jus Pontificalium by Msgr. Nabuco). [Trans.: The pontifical candle must be of metal, silver is possible. The golden one is reserved to the Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church. It should have a handle with a wide "foot" in order to make it easier for the candle-bearer to carry it.]

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According to the Ceremonial, it should be made of gold or gilt silver for Cardinals and Patriarchs, and of silver for all other Prelates; but this distinction is ever hardly observed in practice (Costume of Prelates of the Catholic Church by Abel Nainfa).

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Candela adhibetur ad thronum sive ad faldistorium quoties prælatus aliquid e libro legere debet, nam librifer et candelifer semper pergunt bini nec ab invicem separantur (Jus Pontificalium by Msgr. Nabuco). [Trans.: The candle is used at the Throne or at the Faldstool as often as the Prelate has to read something from the book. This is why the book-bearer and the candle-bearer always walk together].

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In hodierno jure liturgico instrumentum luminis in usum personalem est privilegium prælatitium, licet nonnunquam etiam canonicis concedatur (Jus Pontificalium by Msgr. Nabuco). [Trans.: According to current liturgical law, the Bugia is a personal prelatical privilege of the Bishop; sometimes it its use is granted to Canons].

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Usus instrumenti luminis toto anni tempore permittitur, etiam in officiis defunctorum, Feria Sexta Majori tantummodo exclusa, CE, II, 25, n. 13; D. 4257, 6 (Jus Pontificalium by Msgr. Nabuco). [Trans.: The use of the Bugia is allowed throughout the whole year, even for Masses of the Dead, except on Good Friday].

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The Pope does not make use of the hand-candlestick; the Bishop Assistant at the Pontifical Throne, who acts as candle-bearer to the Pope, holds instead an ordinary wax candle (Costume of Prelates of the Catholic Church by Abel Nainfa).

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