why do priests swing incense

(8 inches) from the bowl; about 30 cm. Gradually, its usage was extended to the incensing of the celebrant and assisting clergy. My Anglo-Catholic parish uses incense during Holy Week and the other usual notable Sundays, and we've got one altar server who fires it up whenever he serves because, frankly, he likes it. The usage of incense adds a sense of solemnity and mystery to the Mass. Luke, in the beginning of his Gospel, speaking about the birth of John the Baptist, writes:Then, when the whole assembly of people were praying outside at the hour of the incense offering, the angel of the Lord appeared to him standing at the right of the altar of incense. Why do we use incense? In addition tousing frankincense, some Roman Catholic parishes may use myrrh as the main or sole ingredient in their incense.29 Sept 2017. thurible, also called censer, vessel used in the Christian liturgy for the burning of aromatic incense strewn on lighted coals. 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. What are some examples of how providers can receive incentives? The priest incenses the altar because that is where the Sacrifice of the Mass takes place: the consecration of bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ, what we call The Eucharist. [6] A server called a thurifer, sometimes assisted by a boat bearer who carries the receptacle for the incense, approaches the person conducting the service with the thurible charged with burning bricks of red-hot charcoal. The purpose of incensing and the symbolic value of the smoke is that of purification and sanctification. Worshipers at the temples light and burn sticks of incense in small or large bundles, which they wave or raise above the head while bowing to the statues or plaques of a deity or an ancestor. Why do priests use incense at Mass? Please explain, especially with regard to its use at funerals. In Judaism, incense was included in the thanksgiving offerings of oil, grain, fruits and wine (cf. This is a visual connection to the use of incense in the Book of Revelation. . What Eucharistic miracle inspired the Feast of Corpus Christi? The usage of incense adds a sense of solemnity and mystery to the Mass. Questions may be sent to Father Kenneth Doyle at [emailprotected] and 30 Columbia Circle Dr., Albany, New York 12203. 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. 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. (12 inches) when incensing the altar and cross. Why do priests swing incense? .] This incense shall be treated as most sacred by you (Ex 30:34-36). 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. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, the resin has been supplemented to enhance the fragrance and produce a thicker smoke since ancient times. The earliest documented history of using incense during a Catholic sacrificial liturgy comes from the Eastern branch of the Church. What is the meaning of burning the midnight oil. The Book of Revelation describes the heavenly worship as follows: Another angel came in holding a censer of gold. A second mode was through the use of incense for funeral rites. . 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. [1] Incense use in religious ritual was either further or simultaneously developed in China, and eventually transmitted to Korea, Japan, Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines. The Jewish offering of incense continued throughout the Old Testament period first in the tabernacle, and then in the Temple in Jerusalem. What Is The Significance Of Incense At A Catholic Funeral? The almost universal practice with respect to the direction of incensing is moving counterclockwise, especially when incensing the altar. 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. Why does the Catholic Church burn incense? In addition tousing frankincense, some Roman Catholic parishes may use myrrh as the main or sole ingredient in their incense. Furthermore, if the custom of walking around the body in the casket/coffin still holds, should the body be circled counterclockwise, as was the former practice, or, as is commonly done by priests not formed in the previous style, clockwise?. McCloud. 217. If the altar is freestanding with respect to the wall, the priest incenses walking around it; b. 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. . The Eastern and Orthodox churches usually have their bishops from monasteries. There are some other ingredients they sometimes add as well, if they so choose to.23 Sept 2019, It is an outward sign of spiritual realities, which is why it has its place in Christian liturgy. What Incense Symbolizes in Christian Liturgy The smoke of incense is symbolic of sanctification and purification. .<< 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 . , three swings Incense is offered by the priest or deacon during the services. Nm 7:13-17). Why do Catholic priests use incense? Too make the smoke thicker and to enhance the fragrance, sometimes other perfumes are blended with the incense. (Psalm 141) Incense is prayer in action: As Catholics, we express our worship of Almighty God in words and gestures. In addition to the purification and symbolic purposes, the use of incense at the Elevation of the Eucharist gives a sense of our special reverence for the Eucharist, and the importance of the Eucharist to our prayer life, Why is incense used at Mass? Just as the angels offer incense as a sacrifice at the altar of God, so to do we offer our prayers and sacrifices upon Gods. Many churches use frankincense, myrrh, a frankincense and myrrh blend, or even copal resin. The demons were marked by a sulfurous stench, and the fragrant incense would drive them away; meanwhile, the beneficial gods would be appeased and grant the worshiper protection and prosperity. [4] This symbolism is seen in Psalm 141 (140), verse 2: Let my prayer be directed as incense in thy sight: the lifting up of my hands, as evening sacrifice. Incense is often used as part of a purification ritual. 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. Where does it come from?A reader in Alexandria. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. In the Old Testament God commanded His people to burn incense (e.g., Exodus 30:7, 40:27, inter alia). Using incense at the elevation of the Eucharist, bread changed into the Body of Christ is a stunning moment. Incense is understood as symbolizing the sanctifying grace of the Holy Spirit and the prayers of the Saints rising to heaven. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. This was developed in medieval Christian art. To these official documents we may add the indications offered by Monsignor Peter Elliott in his excellent ceremonies book: 216. Overall, although incense honors a sacred person or object, it is first and foremost a demonstration of reverence and homage toward God in which the ascending aromatic smoke represents the prayers of the Church rising to Gods throne. Who wrote the music and lyrics for Kinky Boots? Its use adds a feeling of solemnity to the Mass. My husband's very first encounter with a Very High Anglican church involved incense . 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. I've just gotten used to singing in clouds of smoke. Why do Catholic priests kiss the altar? This practice was later extended to the relics and tombs of martyrs and the dedication of churches. For example, footnote 75 states: The one incensing holds the top of the censer chain in the left hand, the bottom near the censer in the right hand, so that the censer can be swung back and forth easily. When we incense the Altar it also reconnects us to the original dedication of our church and to the angels and saints in heaven. . The gifts and the altar are first censed; then follows censing of the priest (three swings of the thurible), of the other clergy (single swing to the gospel side and another to the epistle side), the choir (single or triple swing to either side) and the congregation (a swing to the gospel side, another to the epistle . 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). The more-detailed protocols and the standardization of practice is, however, largely the product of much later ages. We do not know exactly when the use of incense was introduced into our Mass or other liturgical rites. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. At the Gospel procession and the proclamation of the Gospel itself; d. Musky, Earthy, a little bit of tang and a few sweet notes. Very classy. As it rises upward the imagery and smell convey the sweetness of Our Lords presence and it reinforces how the Mass is linked to Heaven and Earth, ending in the very presence of God.The smoke also symbolizes the intense faith that should fill us and the fragrance is representative of Christian virtue.The GIRM (General Instruction of the Roman Missal) permits the use of incense at several times during the Mass. We do not know exactly when the use of incense was introduced into our Mass or other liturgical rites. The pillar of smoke was a sign of Gods constant guiding presence to the people. All those who receive the incensation do so from a standing position. The use of incense is optional for most Masses. The smoke from the incense is symbolic of the mystery of God Himself. and at the elevation of the Sacred Host and chalice of Precious Blood after the consecration. 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. 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 . Straights Answers: Why Do Priests Use Incense? - Free Republic Direct your prayer to God, Allah, the angels, the universe, your higher self, or to whatever source from where you draw your spiritual strength from. Incense may be used if desired in any form of Mass: b. 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. About the thirteenth century, incense was also used at the Benedictus during Lauds and at the Magnificat during Vespers, and for the exposition and benediction of the Blessed Sacrament about the fourteenth century. Incense is an aromatic substance which is the resin from certain trees. For us, the use of incense is biblical and liturgical. The usage of incense adds a sense of solemnity and mystery to the Mass. [6] John Michael Quinn, Bishop of Winona-Rochester, swinging a thurible over the offering at Mass The responsibilities of a thurifer include: James and Mark, which in their present form originate in the fifth century, the use of incense is mentioned. Why do priests swing incense? - TeachersCollegesj at exposition of the Blessed Sacrament when the monstrance is used. The priest, having put incense into the thurible, blesses it with the sign of the Cross, without saying anything. then the processional hymn started, and here came the thurifer amid clouds of smoke. 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. During the Divine Office, the antiphon for Benedictus or Magnificat should not be repeated until the completion of the incensation.
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