CEROFERARY. – He is the one who, in solemn functions, carries the lit candle on the candelabrum. Anciently, as a sign of special honor, the *c.* preceded the dignitaries of the Roman Empire, then the solemn papal and episcopal processions in general when they went to church for the solemn celebration of Mass. The seven acolytes who, together with the thurifer subdeacon, with lit torches preceded the pope in the procession to the altar during solemn pontifical stational Masses had the same significance.
From Innocent III it is known that the ordinary *c.* were two; only on great solemnities, seven: “Two candles with incense are carried... but on greater solemnities seven candelabra are borne before the Pontiff” (*De Sacro Altaris Mysterio*, I, 8). The *Ordo Romanus* of the 14th century no longer mentions more than two candelabra for the same papal procession.
Upon reaching the altar, the *c.* would place themselves at the sides or behind the altar and hold the candelabra, or else set them on the ground. At present, two *c.* with candelabra are prescribed at Solemn Mass and Solemn Vespers in the third class, as well as in processions at the sides of the parochial cross. At least two lit candles are also required to accompany the Blessed Sacrament.