Servers light and extinguish the altar candles and pavement lights using the candle lighter/snuffer.

On Sunday mornings, the 8am servers light the candles and they remain lit until after the 11:15 mass, when they are extinguished by the servers.

Light the candles about fifteen minutes before mass.

Extinguish the candles after the Invocation of the Saints, as the Organ Voluntary begins.

Extinguish the lighter by pulling the lighted taper down into the brass tube, then immediately pushing it back out. DO NOT let the hot taper remain in the tube or it will stick to the inside.

NEVER extinguish the candles by mashing down on them with the snuffer. The bell of the snuffer should be lowered over the flame but not so far as to touch the candle stick. When the bell surrounds the flame it will starve it of oxygen and the flame will go out. Pushing down bends the wick and damages the candle.

In season, light and extinguish the Advent, Christmas and Paschal candles after all of the others.

On Sundays with two servers

Candles will ordinarily be lighted and extinguished by two servers, both for gracefulness, speed, and the convenience of avoiding remembering which side has to be done first. On Sunday mornings, the candles are lighted before the 8am mass and generally remain burning until the end of the 11:15 mass.

To light the candles:

1. Walk in together

2. Genuflect at the center of the footpace,

3. Divide, and light the candles closest to the tabernacle and work OUTWARDS (that is, spread the light of Christ).

4. Genuflect together at the center of the footpace.

5. Continue then with the pavement lights.

6. Genuflect on the pavement, and exit to the vestry.

To extinguish the candles:

1. Walk in together.

2. Genuflect at the foot of the altar.

3. Step up to the altar and extinguish the outer candles first and work INWARDS. Keep the snuffer over the candles, NOT over the altar linens.

4. Meet in the middle and genuflect.

5. Extinguish the pavement lights last.

6. Genuflect on the pavement, and exit to the vestry.

On Sundays with one server

To light the candles:

1. Genuflect in the center of the footpace.

2. Begin on the Epistle side (right), lighting first the candles closest to the tabernacle, working OUTWARDS.

3. Come to the center and genuflect.

4. Light the candles on the Gospel side (left), beginning with the candles closest to the tabernacle, working OUTWARDS

5. Come to the center and genuflect.

6. Light the pavement lights, beginning with the Epistle side, then go to the center, genuflect, and last light the Gospel side.

7. Come to the center, genuflect, and return to the vestry.

To extinguish the candles:

1. Genuflect in the center of the footpace.

2. Begin on the Gospel side, moving INWARDS. Keep the snuffer over the candles and bring it back to the left around the altar, NEVER let it pass over the altar linens.

3. Go the center, genuflect.

4. Extinguish the candles on the Epistle side, starting with the outer candles, moving inwards. Again, bring the snuffer back across the top of the candles and around the side of the altar.

5. Last, extinguish the pavement lights, first the Gospel side and then the Epistle side.

At weekday masses

1. Only light the two mass candles (on the ends)

2. First light the Epistle side and then the Gospel side.

3. Extinguish first the Gospel side and then the Epistle side.