The Lenten Cross

We are all familiar with the Advent wreath. A new candle gets lit on each Sunday of Advent as we get closer to Christmas. This year, thanks to one of our talented wood-working members, we will be introducing the Lenten Cross. Rather than lighting a candle each week, we will omit lighting one each week as we draw closer to Good Friday. The rudimentary chart below indicates the colors of the candles as they will appear on the cross. This “countdown to Good Friday” will also assist the congregation in knowing what colors they should expect to see adorning the lectern, pulpit, and altar (known as the paraments) every week during Lent.

The extinguishing of candles sequence will move from bottom to top, then left to right. The first candle to be left unlit will be the bottom violet one, and the last to be put out will be the scarlet (red) one on the horizontal beam of the cross.

The first three Sundays/Wednesday in Lent use violet paraments. Then, right in the middle of the season just as it is in Advent, we get a “rejoice” Sunday, hence the rose/pink candle. On this Laetare Sunday, only the rose/pink candle, as well as the left violet and right scarlet candles will remain lit. When the chancel is adorned in rose/ pink, that should be the indicator that a ramping up of the Lenten season is coming. For, beginning with the next Sunday known as Judica (Lent 5), both crucifixes will be veiled. When only the two horizontal candles remain lit, we omit more of the celebratory ceremonies in the liturgy. The “Alleluias” went away in Pre-Lent (the Gesima Sundays), the Gloria in Excelsis went away on Lent 1, and now even the Gloria Patris are omitted.

I pray the addition of the Lenten Cross will enhance your appreciation for the Lenten season, and also assist the Altar Guild in knowing what paraments with which to adorn the chancel. Perhaps you might even dress according to the color of the day! In closing, here is a very simple plan of execution for the acolytes & Altar Guild:

Ash Wednesday, 1st Sunday in Lent, & 1st Wednesday in Lent: ALL candles lit from bottom to top; then left to right. The scarlet candle should be the last to be lit. Reverse order to extinguish.

2 nd Sunday in Lent & 2nd Wednesday in Lent: the bottom violet candle is NOT lit; the rest are in same order as above (and likewise throughout the rest of the season).

3 rd Sunday in Lent & 3rd Wednesday in Lent: the bottom TWO violet candles are NOT lit.

4 th Sunday in Lent & 4th Wednesday in Lent: all three vertical violet candles are NOT lit.

5 th Sunday in Lent & 5th Wednesday in Lent: only the two horizontal candles (one violet and one scarlet) are lit. All crucifixes are veiled; omit all Gloria Patris from liturgy.

Palm Sunday & Maundy Thursday: only the scarlet candle is lit; to be extinguished during the reading of Psalm 22 as the Altar is stripped on Maundy Thursday. The Lenten Cross should also be removed from the chancel as part of the ceremony.

In Christ, Pastor Hromowyk