At the showing of the host and the chalice after the consecration. (8 inches) from the bowl; about 30 cm. Incense was also offered as part of the religious ceremonies in the surrounding pagan religions. Thats the name for the server who carries the thurible the censer in the procession at Mass. Secure them by the thumb, so that the swinging bowl of the thurible may be directed and controlled easily. But in those cases where a bishop presides but does not concelebrate, he is incensed after the concelebrants. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. During funeral Masses, the priest at the final commendation may incense the coffin, both as a sign of honor to the body of the deceased which became the temple of the Holy Spirit at Baptism and as a sign of the faithfuls prayers for the deceased rising to God.The, Why do we use incense in worship? All those who receive the incensation do so from a standing position. Lev 23:18. Being a priest does not confer some sort of magical immunity to incense. No. When burned over charcoal, the incense produces a sweet smelling aroma. But where did it come from and why do we use it?The use of incense in religious worship started more than 2,000 years before Christianity even began. The one incensing should take care to carry out this function with grave and graceful mien, not moving head or body while swinging the censer, holding the left hand with the top of the chains near the chest and moving the right arm back and forth with a measured beat.. [5] In the Revelation of John, incense symbolises the prayers of the saints in heaven the golden bowl full of incense are the prayers of the saints (Revelation 5:8, cf. Why do Catholic priests swing incense? - deechristophermagic.com | Irondale, AL 35210 |. It appears the altar of incense was a reminder for the high priest to intercede for Israel. Try an Orthodox church. According to CatholicCulture.org, myrrh is a gum resin used as an ingredient in incense and oil of the sick. 4 The Use of Incense During Mass An officiant may use incense at several points during a Roman Catholic Mass. Father William Saunders Why do priests use incense at Mass? The smoke of burning incense is interpreted by both the Western Catholic and Eastern Christian churches as a symbol of the prayer of the faithful rising to heaven. The earliest documented history of using incense during a Catholic sacrificial liturgy comes from the Eastern branch of the Church. Incense was a highly valuable commodity in ancient times. Is incense a Catholic thing? The usage of incense adds a sense of solemnity and mystery to the Mass. Then I got a small supply of pure frankincense from an Orthodox supply house and she realized that was what she had been smelling all along. Pursuant to ourApril 10article on swings of the thurible two readers from Ireland had further comments. A thurible is a metal censer in which incense is burned during religious services. In the liturgies of Sts. The grace and skill of using the thurible depends first of all on how the chains are held when incensing a person or thing. [5] In the Revelation of John, incense symbolises the prayers of the saints in heaven - the "golden bowl full of incense" are "the prayers of the saints " ( Revelation 5:8, cf. The priests would burn the incense over charcoal producing a sweet-smelling aroma. . This should be done, however, only at the beginning of the celebration, after the incensation of the altar. My copy of the "Vidi Aquam" actually has water spots all over it, I got nailed every year with what seemed like quarts of holy water. Very good liturgy. The grace and skill of using the thurible depends first of all on how the chains are held when incensing a person or thing. Roman Catholic Incense The most common ingredient used is frankincense, although this may change from church to church. (e.g., Exodus 30: 1):For burning incense you shall make an altar of acacia wood The use of incense in Jewish worship continued long after the beginning of Christianity and was a definite influence in the Catholic Churchs use of it in liturgical celebrations. and now here he is Catholic. What Is The Significance Of Incense At A Catholic Funeral? Why does the Catholic Church burn incense? Incense was also used at the Benedictus and Magnificat during Lauds and Vespers about the 13th century, and for the exposition and benediction of the Blessed Sacrament about the 14th century. Exodus 30:1-10), which was placed in front of the veil to the entrance of the meeting tent where the ark of the convenant was kept. Fr. Exodus 30:1-10), which was placed in front of the veil to the entrance of the meeting tent where the ark of the covenant was kept. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. At the time of the early Church, the Jews continued to use incense in their own Temple rituals, so it would be safe to conclude that the Christians would have adapted its usage for their own rituals. Catholics believe that when the body dies, the soul goes to heaven, purgatory or hell. Incense, in the form of pebbly grains or powder, is taken from what is called a "boat", and usually blessed with a prayer and spooned onto the coals. Herodotus, the Greek historian, recorded that it was popular among the Assyrians, Babylonians and Egyptians. Religious use of incense - Wikipedia When Charlie gets the incense going, we in the choir are thankful that the new windows (that open a lot easier and wider than the old ones) were put in behind us. A gift of incense was something to be prized. What does it mean that the Bible was divinely inspired? The visual imagery of the smoke and the smell reinforce the transcendence of the Mass linking Heaven with Earth, allowing us to enter into the presence of God. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". . The smoke symbolizes the prayers of the faithful drifting up to heaven: The Psalmist prays, Let my prayer come like incense before you; the lifting up of my hands, like the evening sacrifice (Psalm 141). More smoke is good because the people in back can see the smoke and also smell the incense. The usage of incense adds a sense of solemnity and mystery to the Mass. Over the last 50 years many Catholic traditions have been . In the Old Testament God commanded His people to burn incense (e.g., Exodus 30:7, 40:27, inter alia). Incense is noted in the Talmud, and the Bible mentions incense 170 times. Our priest sings this at every service during Lent as well. The use of incense in Jewish temple worship continued well after the establishment of Christianity and certainly influenced the Catholic Churchs use of incense in liturgical celebrations. As an additional wrinkle the thurifer/altar server was blind and was being led by another altar server with one hand on his shoulder, the other swinging this large smoking thurible . (Aumsville, Ore.) A. A thurible, a type of censer, is used to contain incense as it is burned. The trading of incense and spices provided the economic basis for the famed 1,500-mile-long Middle Eastern Incense Route, which flourished from the third century BC to the second century AD. Christianity[edit] The Catholic tradition employs incense in worship, contained within a thurible. In Exodus, Chapter 30, the Lord instructs Moses to build an altar of incense. Incense is an aromatic substance which is the resin from certain trees. Gradually, its usage was extended to the incensing of the celebrant and assisting clergy. A reader in Alexandria. It also symbolizes the prayers of the faithful. . Questions may be sent to Father Kenneth Doyle at [emailprotected] and 30 Columbia Circle Dr., Albany, New York 12203. What are the origins of the May Crowning? How is a double swing of the thurible made? That symbolism is seen in Psalm 141:2: Let my prayer be incense before you; my uplifted hands an evening offering. Incense is also mentioned in the New Testament Book of Revelation (8:4) as an image of the worship offered to the Almighty in heaven: The smoke of the incense along with the prayers of the holy ones went up before God from the hand of the angel. The use of incense was common in Jewish worship and carried over into Christian practice. Related Articles. How do you light a prayer candle? Nm 7:13-17). The practice is rooted in the earlier traditions of Judaism in the time of the Second Jewish Temple. This incense shall be treated as most sacred by you (Ex 30:34-36). Thurification or incensation is an expression of reverence and of prayer, as is signified in Sacred Scripture (cf. [3] The smoke of burning incense is interpreted by both the Western Catholic and Eastern Christian churches as a symbol of the prayer of the faithful rising to heaven. Incense is offered by the priest or deacon during the services. during solemn processions such as the feast of the Presentation, PalmSunday, and Corpus Christi. The GIRM specifies: 276. Many churches use frankincense, myrrh, a frankincense and myrrh blend, or even copal resin. The purpose of incensing and the symbolic value of the smoke is that of purification and sanctification. The Lord instructed Moses to build a golden altar for the burning of incense (cf. My wife was raised Roman Catholic and she told me she used to wonder why all Roman Catholic Churches smelled the same. The smoke of incense is symbolic of sanctification and purification. This might have been inspired by the Roman practice of using incense for magistrates and the book of Statutes. Hence, Fish on Fridays and "Fish Friday" (among many other religious holidays) was born. The altar is incensed by single swings. Why do priests swing incense? - Quora Ancient Incense The first recorded use of incense for worship is from Egypt around 2400 B.C. Hindus have also used incense in worship from ancient times. A Christian may still burn incense if he wishes to, but should consider 1 Samuel 15:22, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? This shows that obedience to God should be our priority as Christians. Incense is understood as symbolizing the sanctifying grace of the Holy Spirit and the prayers of the Saints rising to heaven. thurible, also called censer, vessel used in the Christian liturgy for the burning of aromatic incense strewn on lighted coals. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. The smoke of burning incense is interpreted by both the Western Catholic and Eastern Christian churches as a symbol of the prayer of the faithful rising to heaven. Why do priests swing incense? It also symbolizes the prayers of the faithful. The purpose of incensing and the symbolic value of the smoke is that of purification and sanctification. The smoke symbolizes the prayers of the faithful drifting up to heaven: the Psalmist prays, "Let my prayer come like incense before you; the lifting up of my hands, like the evening sacrifice" (Psalm 141). Some of our most power filled moments are marked with smells and bells. Incense was also used at the Benedictus and Magnificat during Lauds and Vespers about the 13th century, and for the exposition and benediction of the Blessed Sacrament about the 14th century. We often forget the intercessory prayer ministry of Jesus as our high priest. It is commonly used as a noun to describe aromatic matter that releases fragrant smoke when ignited, to describe the smoke itself, and as a verb to describe the process of distributing the smoke. Sometimes the priest sprinkles holy water on the casket and burns incense to honor the dead. Grew up in an old-fashioned Latin Mass RCC which was almost a cathedral! During funeral Masses, the priest at the final commendation may incense the coffin, both as a sign of honor to the body of the deceased which became the temple of the Holy Spirit at Baptism and as a sign of the faithfuls prayers for the deceased rising to God. Then they move on to heaven. Incensing the Easter Candle | EWTN 10 The word incense is derived from the Latin incendere, which means to burn. The most prevalent ingredient in the incense used in Roman Catholic incense is frankincense; however, the primary ingredient used in incense may vary from parish to parish. However, many Catholic priests choose not to use incense at Mass, and the people of many parishes have forgotten the uses and meaning of incense in worship. The smoke of burning incense is seen as a symbol of the prayer of the faithful rising to heaven by both the Western Catholic and Eastern Christian churches. In our new church, the choir sings from the choir loft/gallery at the rear of the church, so we don't get any holy water at all . The following are incensed with two swings of the thurible: relics and images of the Saints exposed for public veneration. It was the most entertaining part. To make a single swing, it is swung once and then lowered, except when incensing the altar, when these single swings are made continuously as the celebrant walks around it. However, the sign of incense rising is achieved only if the grain or powder is evenly arranged on burning coals. The priest may also incense the Crucifix and the Paschal Candle. Yes, it is safe to burn incense at home, as long as you do it safely so it does not catch anything on fire. In ancient times incense was used to drive demons away! Its use adds a feeling of solemnity to the Mass. Why do priests use incense at Mass? - Catholic Straight Answers Father Nahas used this thurible to burn frankincense, a natural, aromatic resin from Boswellia trees. For us, the use of incense is biblical and liturgical. Priests may also burn incense at funerals around the coffin to represent our prayers to heaven for the deceased person, and also to commemorate that this person's body was holy as a temple of the Holy Spirit. Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual The priest, having put incense into the thurible, blesses it with the sign of the Cross, without saying anything. Regards. Christian ritual books as early as the seventh century mark the use of incense in church services on Good Friday. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. How does the thurifer swing his thurible in procession? Where does it come from?A reader in Alexandria. Is there anymeaningabout this grading? The altar is incensed by single swings. He took his place at the altar of incense and was given large amounts of incense to deposit on the altar of gold in front of the throne, together with the prayers of all Gods holy ones. I think the discomfort is more due to tightening up the throat in, FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson. Individual sticks of incense are then vertically placed into individual censers located in front of the statues or plaques either singularly or in threes, depending on the status of the deity or the feelings of the individual. during the singing of the Gospel canticle at solemn Morning or Evening Prayers. God even gives Moses a recipe for making the incense: Take these aromatic substances: storax, onycha and galbanum, these and pure frankincense in equal parts; and blend them into incense. (Revelation 8:3-4) INCENSE IN CHRISTIAN LITURGY From the Catholic Bible passages above in both the Old and the New Testaments, we can see that incense is an important part of the worship of God on earth, first by the Jews, and continued by the Christians. Invite good fortune through positive affirmations and ritual practices by burning the HEM Catholic Church Natural Masal Incense Sticks. Burning incense represents the prayers of the church rising towards Heaven. The burned incense may be intended as a symbolic or sacrificial offering to various deities or spirits, or to serve as an aid in prayer. Then raise the right hand to eye level (lower when censing an altar) and move the bowl backward and forwards towards the person or object, swinging it steadily and smoothly without haste by manipulating the chain. Too many Catholics simply went through the motions and did not understand what the different devotions and actions of worship meant. In the General Instruction of the Roman Missal incense may be used during the entrance procession; at the beginning of Mass, to incense the altar; at the procession and proclamation of the Gospel; at the offertory, to incense the offerings, altar, priest and people; and at the elevation of the Sacred Host and chalice of Precious Blood after the consecration. We only occasionally use incense at our Masses. Why do priests swing incense? - TeachersCollegesj The priests of pagan religions believed that the incense was a spiritual offering. The smoke was an intermediary substance between earth and air. The visual imagery of the smoke and the smell reminds us of the transcendence of the Mass which links heaven with earth, and allows us to enter into the presence of God. Please explain, especially with regard to its use at funerals. It's used to purify the coffin at funerals and to bless statues and images. In the liturgies of Sts. The church considers incense to be both purifying and sanctifying. Thurible - Wikipedia Why do we use incense in worship? | Simply Catholic Incense was also used in ancient China and plays a part in Buddhist, Shinto and Taoist ceremonies. To these official documents we may add the indications offered by Monsignor Peter Elliott in his excellent ceremonies book: 216. The Book of Exodus recounts the instructions to build an altar of incense to stand to the side of the altar of sacrifice (see 30:1-10). What happens if you swing the pendulum gently or swing it more forcefully? Herodotus, the Greek historian, recorded that it was popular among the Assyrians, Babylonians and Egyptians. The priest may also incense the Crucifix and the Paschal Candle. A: If incense is used at Mass the cross should always be incensed during all seasons of the year. Not only does the smoke symbolize the prayers of the faithful drifting up to heaven, incense actually creates the ambiance of heaven. It is an outward sign of spiritual realities, which is why it has its place in Christian liturgy.Jan 4, 2021. Why do Catholic priests swing incense? Like the monstrance on the altar and the tabernacle on the wall, the incense has roots in antiquity. During funeral services and memorial services (Panikhida), the censer is swung almost continuously. Light your white candle in a quiet place where you can pray without distractions. Otherwise, we would put the Eucharist on the same level as the celebrant and this is clearly not the case. When the chance came to abandon the old ways many priests set them aside in an attempt to simplify Catholic worship and make it more accessible for the people. Why do Catholic priests swing incense? - The ABC of Faith Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The Jewish offering of incense continued throughout the Old Testament period first in the tabernacle, and then in the Temple in Jerusalem. And as you received the ram sacrificed by Abraham, And from Aaron's hands Sweet perfume from distant lands. frankincense 84-98) adds further details. Hence the thurible is raised, swung twice toward the object or person incensed, and then lowered. Incense is offered by the priest or deacon during the services. posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its The visual imagery of the smoke and the smell remind us of the transcendence of the Mass which links heaven with earth, and allow us to enter into the presence of God.4 Jan 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZ_ndLcxuFg, https://www.goodcatholic.com/holy-smokes-why-do-catholics-use-incense/, https://www.britannica.com/topic/thurible, https://texancultures.utsa.edu/object-incense-burner/, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3pi-hWgyQI, https://classroom.synonym.com/what-are-the-ingredients-in-the-incense-at-catholic-mass-12083766.html, https://www.britannica.com/art/incense-burner, https://reedshandmadeincense.com/blog/incense/what-incense-is-burned-in-catholic-church/, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_use_of_incense, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7qHvuuppFk. .<< sniff >> For the Easter Triduum we are downstairs, because we lead the procession of the Blessed Sacrament from the Tabernacle to the Chapel of Repose . When burned over charcoal, the incense produces a sweet smelling aroma. From the angels hand, the smoke of the incense went up before God, and with it the prayers of Gods people.In the General Instruction of the Roman Missal incense may be used during the entrance procession; at the beginning of Mass, to incense the altar; at the procession and proclamation of the Gospel; at the offertory, to incense the offerings, altar, priest and people; and at the elevation of the Sacred Host and chalice of Precious Blood after the consecration. What is the smell of Catholic incense? The incense does primarily represent prayers rising to heaven, but it is also used to bless/sanctify things in a special way. Why do Catholic priests kiss the altar? In placing incense in the thurible, the amount used ought to be governed by such factors as the size of the church. Most indications regarding how to incense are contained in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal and in the Ceremonial of Bishops. Say a prayer in silence. At a funeral Mass, as well as symbolizing the prayers of the congregation directed toward heaven, incensing the casket honors the body of the deceased, which through baptism became a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. The use of incense within the liturgies continued to be developed over many years into what we are familiar with today. There are two kinds of swing or ductus. To make a double swing, the thurible is swung twice at the person or object to be incensed and then lowered. Although the official documents cited above do not specifically mandate the double swing, mentioned by Monsignor Elliott it does describe the mode of incensing which is practically universal custom, in which each ductus consists of two ictus, or swings. The use of both resins originated on the Arabian Peninsula. There is no reason to suppose that the practice has been abrogated. During funeral services and memorial services (Panikhida), the censer is swung almost continuously. They like being thurifer because they get to wear the more ornate lace surplice, and they know thurifer is the most complicated job and is reserved for the older, more experienced boys. Numbers 7:13-17). so we get well and truly censed. Incense also creates the ambiance of heaven: The Book of Revelation describes the heavenly worship as follows: "Another angel came in holding a censer of gold. The resin primarily comes from the Commiphora myrrha tree, although other members of the Commiphora family also provide it. Striking or breaking the coals with the spoon does nothing but dislodge the grains and swinging a thurible which does not produce smoke is ridiculous.. Bow your head in quiet solitude. There is already a mention of this in Tertullian (A.D. 160-220), and there is quite a body of evidence of its use for this purpose in early Christianity. Zechariah was troubled by what he saw and fear came upon him.Incense is a sacramental, used to sanctify, bless, and venerate. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". | Simply CatholicOur altar boys practically fight for the honor of being the thurifer. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Censers of terra-cotta or metal were widely used in Egypt, in the ancient Middle Eastern civilizations, including the Jewish, and in the classical world. The priest incenses the offerings with three swings of the thurible or by making the sign of the cross over the offerings with the thurible, then going on to incense the cross and the altar.. For example, in the Eastern Rites at the beginning of Mass, the altar and sanctuary area were incensed while Psalm 50, the Miserere, was chanted invoking the mercy of God. As specified in No. at exposition of the Blessed Sacrament when the monstrance is used. | EWTN WHY IS INCENSE USED DURING MASS?Father William SaundersWhy do priests use incense at Mass? We used to spike it with pot when I was a kid. During the Divine Office, the antiphon for Benedictus or Magnificat should not be repeated until the completion of the incensation. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Ps 141 [140]:2, Rev 8:3). 219. Incense also creates the ambiance of heaven: The Book of Revelation describes the heavenly worship as follows: Another angel came in holding a censer of gold. We incense people and things that we want to make and keep holy by our prayers. To these general indications for Mass, the Ceremonial of Bishops (Nos. As nouns the difference between censer and thurible is that censer is an ornamental container for burning incense, especially during religious ceremonies while thurible is a censer. The usage of incense adds a sense of solemnity and mystery to the Mass. Furthermore, for Catholics prayer is action, and that action becomes ever more present through the visual and sensory experience of incense. "They shall be as a burnt offering to the LORD, with their grain offering and their drink offerings, an offering made by fire for a sweet aroma to the LORD." This was developed in medieval Christian art. - Quora Answer (1 of 2): Besides the symbolism of the incense, there is the fact that it turns out that airflow stokes fires. In the Old Testament animal offerings were partially or wholly consumed by fire. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Incense is understood as symbolizing the sanctifying grace of the Holy Spirit and the prayers of the Saints rising to heaven. Perfumes may be added to thicken the smoke and make the fragrance even much better. 218. Exodus 30:1-10), which was placed in front of the veil to the entrance of the meeting tent where the ark of the covenant was kept.We do not know exactly when the use of incense was introduced into our Mass or other liturgical rites. Catholic Incense has Traditional Fragrance for Peace and Prosperity. According to New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia, not only is incense used to purify the objects that the priest envelops in its smoke, but the smoke from burning incense symbolizes the prayers of the Catholic faithful rising up to Heaven.