Q: I am pastor of a beautiful historic church. The former high altar, is the base for a substantial tabernacle. 

My predecessors kept this altar fully adorned with candle sticks and altar cloths. The same is true of the former side altars which now house the statues of BVM and Sacred Heart. 

I keep these former altars simple. For  important feasts and solemnities I will have flower arrangements to adorn the tabernacle and before the statues. But other than that, flowers, candles,  and adornments, adorn the altar of sacrifice and draw your attention there. 

One of my classmates disagrees with me and thinks I should have candles and altar cloths in the other altars. When I ask why, since we are not going to celebrate at those former altars, his response is that it looks nice. Did we have the same liturgy teachers?!?!

Any thoughts?

==

A: Take a look at GIRM 117. It calls for candlesticks on or next to the altar. It does not mention them anywhere else.

I’ve seen many churches where candles flank the tabernacle, which, in my view, draws too much attention to the tabernacle during Mass, when our attention is to be focused on the altar. The tabernacle is supposed to be off the altar (GIRM 315), which strengthens the view that candles do not belong with it.

I’ve also seen many, many churches with candles at the ambo. The GIRM never calls for them there. It’s not the altar table.

Your instincts are correct. There’s only one altar, and that should be clear by the decor inside the church.