Lance Carson
Incense is used in Catholic and Anglican churches to symbolise the prayers of the faithful rising to heaven. The practice is rooted in the earlier traditions of Judaism and the workings of a thurible are quite simple. The burning of incense is a prayer in itself and adds a sense of solemnity and mystery to the Mass. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal provides for the optional use of incense at any Mass and identifies several points at which incense can be used. The Ceremonial of Bishops adds further details, noting that only the bishop may put incense into the thurible while seated. The deacon incenses the bishop, then the concelebrants, then the people.
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What You'll Learn
Incense during the entrance procession
Incense is used in the entrance procession to symbolise the prayers of the faithful rising to God. The Roman Missal allows for the optional use of incense at any Mass, with the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) identifying five occasions when incense may be used during the celebration of Mass, including the entrance procession.
If incense is used during the procession, a thurifer (or deacon) places incense in the thurible before the procession and leads the procession, holding the smoking thurible. The thurifer may be accompanied by a boat boy or boat bearer, who carries a boat or container of incense with a small spoon to add grains as the thurible burns low. The thurifer swings the thurible at full length from his right hand, with his left hand carrying the boat against his breast.
On arrival at the altar, the bishop or priest presiding censes it either immediately after the introit or during the Gloria in excelsis Deo, if this is sung. The celebrant then imposes incense (places incense on the coals within the thurible) in the sacristy or in another location where the procession will actually begin. The thurifer opens the censer, holding the ring of the chain(s) in his left hand and the chain(s) close to the bowl of the censer in his right hand.
The use of incense during the entrance procession is also accompanied by the use of a processional cross and processional candles. The processional cross is always carried with the image of Jesus Crucified facing forward in the direction of the procession. The servers holding the candlesticks should be of the same height to be able to hold the two candles at the same height.
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Incense the altar
Incense is used to symbolise the prayers of the faithful rising to heaven and to create a solemn atmosphere. The smoke and smell of incense remind us of the transcendence of the Mass, linking heaven and earth and allowing us to enter the presence of God.
The altar is incensed by single swings. 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. The thurible is held in the right hand of the thurifer, who swings it at full length. In his left hand, he carries the boat against his breast, but his left hand rests flat on his breast if there is a boat bearer. The Roman Missal provides for the optional use of incense at any Mass and identifies several points at which incense can be used, including the entrance procession, the altar and its cross at the beginning of Mass, and during the offertory, to incense the offerings, altar, priest and people.
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) and the Ceremonial of Bishops are the relevant documents for the correct procedure for incensing the altar. The bread and wine are placed on the altar by the priest, who may then incense the gifts placed upon the altar, the cross, and the altar itself. The Ceremonial of Bishops also notes that only the bishop may put incense into the thurible while seated.
The customary rules governing the different forms of incensation are as follows: three double swings are made to incense the Blessed Sacrament, a relic of the Cross, images of Our Lord set up for veneration, the gifts on the altar, the altar cross, the Book of Gospels, the Easter candle, the celebrant (bishop or priest), a representative of the civil authority officially present at a celebration, the choir, the people and the body of a deceased person. Two double swings are made to incense relics or images of Our Lady and the saints set up for veneration.
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Incense the priest
Incense is used in Catholic and Anglican churches to symbolise the prayers of the faithful rising to God in heaven. The smoke and smell of incense create an atmosphere of solemnity and mystery, linking heaven and earth and allowing worshippers to enter the presence of God.
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal identifies several points at which incense can be used: during the entrance procession, at the beginning of Mass to incense the altar and its cross, 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.
The priest may also incense the Crucifix and the Paschal Candle. During funeral Masses, the priest may also incense the coffin, as a sign of honour to the body and as a symbol of the faithful's prayers for the deceased.
The burning of incense is a prayer in itself, an action that becomes more present through the visual and sensory experience it creates. The practice is rooted in the earlier traditions of Judaism and the Second Jewish Temple.
The thurible, or censer, is the vessel in which the incense is burned. It consists of a censer section, chains, a metal ring to lock the lid, and a removable metal crucible in which the burning charcoals are placed. The censer is swung back and forth, usually in a measured, graceful beat.
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Incense the offerings
Incense is used to symbolise the prayers of the faithful rising to heaven, as well as to create a solemn and mysterious atmosphere during Mass. The smoke and fragrance of incense are also symbolic of "cleansing and purification", as well as of "Christ's robe of righteousness" that covers the sin of humankind.
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) and the Ceremonial of Bishops outline the following guidelines for incensing the offerings:
- 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.
- The thurible is held in the right hand of the thurifer, who swings it at full length.
- The number of swings of the thurible when incensing persons or objects is specified in the GIRM: three double swings for the Blessed Sacrament, a relic of the Holy Cross, and images of the Lord.
- The deacon incenses the bishop, then the concelebrants, and then the people.
- The thurible is hung safely on a stand when not in use, as it remains hot for some time.
- The usage of incense is optional and may be forgone if deemed impractical.
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Incense the people
Incense is used in Catholic and Anglican churches to symbolise the prayers of the faithful rising to heaven. The smoke and smell of incense create an atmosphere of solemnity and mystery, linking heaven and earth and allowing people to enter the presence of God.
The use of incense is also rooted in the earlier traditions of Judaism, dating back to the time of the Second Jewish Temple. In Christianity, the use of incense is symbolic of "cleansing and purification", as well as its fragrance suggesting "Christ’s robe of righteousness" that covers the sin of humankind.
The process of incensing the people is usually carried out by a deacon if one is present. When there is no deacon, this task may be undertaken by an instituted acolyte or an altar server. The deacon incenses the bishop, then the concelebrants, then the people. The thurible is held in the right hand of the thurifer, who swings it back and forth. The thurifer should carry out this function with grace and skill, not moving their head or body while swinging the censer.
The Roman Missal provides for the optional use of incense at any Mass and identifies several points at which incense can be used:
- The entrance procession
- The altar and its cross at the beginning of Mass
- The procession and proclamation of the Gospel
- The offertory, to incense the offerings, altar, priest and people
- The elevation of the Sacred Host and chalice of Precious Blood after the consecration
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Frequently asked questions
The Roman Missal provides for the optional use of incense at any Mass. Incense may be used during the entrance procession, at the beginning of Mass to incense the cross and 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.
The burning of incense is a prayer in itself. The smoke symbolizes the prayers of the faithful drifting up to heaven. Incense also creates the ambiance of heaven. The fragrance is also said to suggest "Christ's robe of righteousness" that covers the sin of humankind.
The deacon incenses the bishop, then the concelebrants, then the people. The deacon holds the top of the censer chain in his left hand and the bottom near the censer in his right hand so that the censer can be swung back and forth easily.
