Luzernar

The Luzernar (also called Lucernar (ium) or light celebration , from Latin lucerna , oil lamp , lamp ') is a worship element that consists in the ritual lighting of the light when it gets dark.

Origin and meaning

The Luzernar was already part of the early Christian liturgy in early monasticism and an essential part of the cathedral vespers in the Eastern and Western church tradition. An evening cult of light was widespread throughout the ancient Mediterranean; Judaism knows the lighting of the Sabbath candles with a blessing on Friday evenings and on certain festivals.

In the light symbolism of the New Testament , the light that breaks into the evening darkness and overcomes it stands for Jesus Christ : "As light conquers darkness, so Christ conquers the darkness of sin and death." Christ is light (cf. Joh 12.46 EU , 2 Kor 4.6 EU ).

The rite of lighting the light included accompanying and interpretative prayers such as a prayer of thanks about the light (ἐπιλύχνιος εὐχαριστία epilýchnios eucharistía ). The Christ hymn Phōs hilarón ( Greek Φῶς Ἱλαρόν) dates from the second century and is still part of the evening prayer today. It ends with the cry: "Christ, Son of God, Bringer of Life: the whole earth praise you." Sometimes an incense offering was part of the evening light liturgy. Other names for Luzernar were λυχνικόν Lychnikón “celebration of light” or Hora incensi “hour of burning (of incense)”.

With the increasing shaping of the prayer life of the congregations by the monastic choir prayer of the monastic type according to the Rule of Benedict , the use of the Lucerne in the Latin Church declined, even if the evening Vespers kept the name "Lucerne" for a long time. In the Roman rite , the Lucerne is only preserved in the light celebration of the Easter Vigil: the consecrated Easter candle is lit and carried into the church as a symbol of the risen Christ in a solemn procession and praised in the song of the Exultet .

Current practice

Lucerne people know the evening services of all Christian denominations. In the course of the liturgical renewal, the Lucerne is again used more frequently as a liturgical element in the Roman rite . All services that begin in the dark can be opened with a Lucerne. The church praises Christ as the light of the world. The Luzernar is particularly recommended in the Advent season with the advent of the Advent wreath , in the Christmas season and when the candles are consecrated on the feast of the Presentation of the Lord .

Possible sequence in the Roman rite

Entry with the procession candle
Liturgical greeting (nurse call)
Light hymn " Phos hilaron "
Light thanksgiving

The entry can either take place in such a way that everyone gathers in the church and awaits the entry of the deacon or priest and all liturgical services with the processional candle into the dark church. Alternatively, all participants in the service can take part in a procession of lights . When the procession has reached the chancel , the celebrant places the candle on a large candlestick . All other candles in the chancel , in the nave and the candles of the believers are lit with the light of this candle. Accompanied by acolytes with candles, the deacon or the priest comes to the ambo and sings the thanksgiving there. The church answers with amen . This ends the rite of light. The candles of the believers burn until the end of the evening service.

literature

Achim Budde: Lucernarium. In: Real Lexicon for Antiquity and Christianity . Volume 23, Hiersemann, Stuttgart 2010, ISBN 978-3-7772-1013-1 , Sp. 570-596
Guido Fuchs: Lucernar . In: Walter Kasper (Ed.): Lexicon for Theology and Church . 3. Edition. tape 6 . Herder, Freiburg im Breisgau 1997, Sp. 1080 .

Individual evidence

↑ Guido Fuchs: Lucernar . In: Walter Kasper (Ed.): Lexicon for Theology and Church . 3. Edition. tape 6 . Herder, Freiburg im Breisgau 1997, Sp. 1080 .
↑ When the lights were lit and brought in every evening at dusk, it was seen in ancient culture not only as a useful process, but as a meaningful act, both in the home and in the liturgy of the temple and community with religious ceremonies was connected. The light that shone in the darkness of the nightfall was greeted with shouts like “good”, “amiable” and “friendly”. From: German Liturgical Institute Trier (ed.): Luzernar - Lichtdank am Abend. 2001.
↑ Liborius Olaf Lumma : Liturgy in the rhythm of the day. A brief introduction to the history and practice of the Liturgy of the Hours. Regensburg 2011, p. 36.
↑ Guido Fuchs: Lucernar . In: Walter Kasper (Ed.): Lexicon for Theology and Church . 3. Edition. tape 6 . Herder, Freiburg im Breisgau 1997, Sp. 1080 .

[1] Guido Fuchs: Lucernar . In: Walter Kasper (Ed.): Lexicon for Theology and Church . 3. Edition. tape 6 . Herder, Freiburg im Breisgau 1997, Sp. 1080 .

[2] When the lights were lit and brought in every evening at dusk, it was seen in ancient culture not only as a useful process, but as a meaningful act, both in the home and in the liturgy of the temple and community with religious ceremonies was connected. The light that shone in the darkness of the nightfall was greeted with shouts like “good”, “amiable” and “friendly”. From: German Liturgical Institute Trier (ed.): Luzernar - Lichtdank am Abend. 2001.

[3] Liborius Olaf Lumma : Liturgy in the rhythm of the day. A brief introduction to the history and practice of the Liturgy of the Hours. Regensburg 2011, p. 36.

[4] Guido Fuchs: Lucernar . In: Walter Kasper (Ed.): Lexicon for Theology and Church . 3. Edition. tape 6 . Herder, Freiburg im Breisgau 1997, Sp. 1080 .