Q: I appreciate your answers to Liturgical questions on your blog. It gives me confidence in my role as Liturgy coordinator in the parish when I know the answers and improves my knowledge when I don’t. For as long as I can remember we have been lighting the Paschal candle at weekday Masses during the Easter Season. This came up for discussion recently and has thrown some doubt as to whether it should be lit or not during the week. I cannot find a definitive answer in my liturgical resources.
Thank you for the great gift you are to the Church world wide. I was fortunate to attend an R.C.I.A. Conference here in Australia where you were the Keynote speaker and learnt so much.
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A: Thanks for your comments on my blog.
The last rubric in the missal at the end of the Easter Vigil says “The paschal candle is lit in all the more solemn liturgical celebrations of this period.” The Circular Letter concerning the Preparation and Celebration of the Easter Feasts says “The paschal candle has its proper place either by the ambo or by the altar and should be lit at least in all the more solemn liturgical celebrations of the season until Pentecost Sunday, whether at Mass, or at Morning and Evening Prayer” (99).
So, yes, the candle should be lighted for daily mass throughout the 50 days.