Читать книгу A Manual for Acolytes - Dennis G. Michno - Страница 13

After the celebrant finishes the prayer in the sacristy the candles are extinguished.

1 Take the candle lighter, go to the center of the altar and reverence. The candles are extinguished in the reverse order from the way they were lighted. Those on the main altar should be extinguished first.a. If there are two candles, the one on your left as you face the altar is extinguished first. Go to the center, bow, and extinguish the other.b. If there are six or more candles on the altar, start with the one on the left farthest from the center and work toward the center. Then bow, and start with the one on the right farthest from the center and work toward the center.c. All other candles are extinguished after those on the main altar.d. During the Fifty Days of Easter, if the Paschal Candle does not burn at all times, it should be extinguished last.e. During Advent, it is traditional to extinguish the candles on the Advent Wreath last.

2 After all of the candles (except the Sacrament lamp) have been extinguished, come back to the center, reverence the altar, and return to the sacristy. Put the candle lighter in its place and remove your vestments.

3 If two servers are assigned to extinguish the candles, the procedure is the same. After reverencing the altar together, begin with the candles on either end, farthest from the center, and work towards the center. After the altar candles have been extinguished, other candles are extinguished (remember, the Paschal Candle is last during Eastertide!). The servers come to the center, reverence the altar and return to the sacristy.

4 Important notes on extinguishing candles:a. Be sure to check the inside of the extinguisher, making sure that there is no residue of wax. If there is, clean it out before extinguishing the candles. Old wax can easily melt and create a messy blotch of wax and soot falling on altar linens or vestments.b. When extinguishing candles, the purpose is not to drown them in their own wax, but rather to cut off the oxygen. Therefore, do not plunge the extinguisher down over the top of the candle, but rather hold it gently over the flame until the candle is out.c. After extinguishing each candle turn the snuffer up. This will keep melted wax from spilling on the altar linen.d. If for some reason you must blow the candles out rather than using an extinguisher, be careful. Place your hand behind the flame—otherwise wax will fly all over the place!