Katrina Rosales
Incense burners have been used in religious and spiritual ceremonies for centuries, with the word 'censer' being closely associated with divinity and religious ritual. In the context of churches, censers are often referred to as 'thuribles' and are used in important Catholic and Anglican ceremonies. A thurible is typically a metal container suspended on chains, which is swung back and forth to spread the fragrant smoke. The use of incense and thuribles in churches adds an extra layer of solemnity to the proceedings, creating a unique atmosphere that separates the sacred from the mundane.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Censer, Thurible |
| Other Names | Koro, Egōro, Dhunachi, Xianglu |
| Description | A vessel used for igniting incense, essentially an incense holder or incense burner |
| Design | Metal container, suspended on chains, with a bowl to contain hot coals and incense |
| Size | Similar to a coffee pot |
| Usage | Burned during important offices, processions, and important masses |
| Incense Type | Direct-burning, Indirect-burning |
| Incense Ingredients | Frankincense, Myrrh, Sandalwood, Agarwood, Thuja |
| Historical Usage | Used in ancient China, Seljuq period, Song Dynasty, Tang Dynasty |
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What You'll Learn
Incense burners are called censers or thuribles
Incense burners used in churches are called censers or thuribles. The word "censer" is used mostly in the context of religious or spiritual ceremonies, especially in Catholicism. Censers are vessels used for igniting incense, and they can be made from a variety of materials, including gold, silver, bronze, brass, ceramics, and porcelain. They can be either stationary or swinging.
In the Latin Church and its Latin liturgical rites, as well as in some other groups, the censer is often called a thurible. A thurible is typically a metal container suspended on chains, allowing it to be swung back and forth to distribute the fragrant smoke. The bowl of the thurible contains hot coals, and the incense is placed on top. The use of a thurible can add an extra layer of solemnity to religious proceedings.
The use of incense and thuribles varies among different Christian denominations. For example, Anglo-Catholic churches may use generous amounts of incense, while some middle-of-the-road Anglican churches may use incense sparingly for special occasions. In the Roman Missal, incense can be used at any Mass, including during entrance and gospel processions, and at the beginning and elevation of the Mass.
In addition to Christianity, incense burners are also used in other religious traditions. In mosques, for example, incense burners are an important part of rituals and weddings, but they do not have a specific liturgical use or design. In Japan, a censer called a koro is used in tea ceremonies, and a similar censer called an egōro is used by several Buddhist sects. Hindus traditionally use a censer called a dhunachi, which has a flared shape with a curved handle and an open top.
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They are often made of metal, suspended on chains
Church incense burners are called censers or thuribles. They are often made of metal, suspended on chains, and used during important Catholic Church offices, such as benedictions, processions, and important Masses. The chains allow the thurible to be swung back and forth, distributing the fragrant smoke. The most common type of incense used in Catholic churches is frankincense and myrrh, which were also two of the gifts presented to baby Jesus by the Three Wise Men.
Thuribles consist of a censer section, chains, and a metal ring around the chains to lock the lid of the censer section in place. They usually include a removable metal crucible for burning charcoal, although the charcoal can also be placed directly into the bowl section. The censer section is often made of metal, with gold, silver, and copper alloys like bronze or brass being common materials across multiple cultures. Silver, for example, was a popular material due to its antimicrobial properties and superior heat conduction capabilities.
In addition to the Catholic Church, other Christian denominations such as Anglican, Episcopal, and Greek Orthodox churches also use incense in their worship services. The use of incense in an Anglican church is a good indicator of how "high" or "low" the church is, with Anglo-Catholic churches using generous amounts of incense and more Reformed churches using it sparingly or only on special occasions.
Censers can also be used for more general, non-religious purposes, especially in non-European cultures such as China. In Buddhism, Taoism, Shinto, and Hinduism, for example, stationary censers are commonly used for burning incense sticks.
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They are used in Catholic, Anglican, and Orthodox churches
Incense burners used in Catholic, Anglican, and Orthodox churches are called censers or thuribles. The word "censer" is used mostly in the context of religious or spiritual ceremonies, especially in Catholicism. The burning of incense has been a prominent part of religious and spiritual ceremonies, and the censer has become closely associated with divinity and religious ritual. The censer is a vessel used for igniting incense, essentially an incense holder or burner.
Censers have historically been made from a range of metals, including gold, silver, and copper alloys like bronze or brass. Gold and gilded gold pieces were more common at the height of wealthy civilizations, such as the Tang dynasty palace in China. Silver was a popular material due to its antimicrobial properties and superior heat conduction. Bronze or brass was widely used across multiple cultures due to its affordability, durability, and ability to be cast into various patterns. Many beautiful incense burners are also made from cloisonne, a special type of metalwork with enamel inlay.
The use of incense in an Anglican church is a guide to its churchmanship, indicating how "high" (more Catholic) or "low" (more Reformed) it is. Anglo-Catholic churches may use generous amounts of incense, while some middle-of-the-road Anglican churches use it sparingly for special occasions. The number of points within the liturgy at which an Anglican church may use incense varies.
In the Catholic Church, incense is used at various times to add solemnity to the proceedings. The tradition of burning incense is centuries-old, with the aromatic smoke purifying the altar and symbolising the prayers of the faithful ascending to heaven. The most commonly used incense for Catholics is frankincense and myrrh, two gifts presented to baby Jesus by the Three Wise Men.
Thuribles are also used in Catholic, Anglican, and Orthodox churches. They are typically metal containers suspended on chains, allowing them to be swung to distribute the fragrant smoke. The Roman Missal, revised in 1969, permits the use of incense at any Mass, including during the entrance procession and at the beginning of Mass to incense the cross and the altar. The number of swings of the thurible to be used when incensing persons or objects is specified in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal.
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Incense represents prayers rising to God
The use of incense burners, also known as censers or thuribles, is prevalent in various religious traditions, including Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Taoism, Shinto, Hinduism, and Freemasonry. In the Latin Church and its Latin liturgical rites of the Catholic Church, as well as in some Anglican churches, the incense burner is often referred to as a thurible. It is a metal container suspended on chains, with a bowl containing hot coals or charcoal on which incense is placed. The thurible is then swung back and forth to spread the fragrant smoke.
In the Catholic tradition, incense is used during important offices, benedictions, processions, and Masses. The Roman Missal, revised in 1969, permits the use of incense at any Mass, including during the entrance procession, the Gospel procession, and the elevation of the host and chalice after consecration. Incense is also employed in the Offertory of the Mass to signify the Church's offering and prayer rising like incense before God.
Incense is mentioned in the Hebrew Scriptures and is imbued with symbolic significance. In Psalm 141:1, the psalmist expresses: "Let my prayer rise like incense before you; the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice." Similarly, in Revelation 5:8, St. John describes the elders holding "gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the holy ones." The clouds of incense are believed to represent cleansing and purification, with the sweet fragrance symbolizing Christ's robe of righteousness that covers our sins.
The use of incense in religious ceremonies is not limited to Christianity. In mosques, incense burners are an important part of rituals and weddings, although they do not carry a specific liturgical or religious design. In Japan, a censer called a koro is used in tea ceremonies, and an egōro is employed by several Buddhist sects. In Hinduism, a censer called a dhunachi is used for burning incense with coal or coconut husk. These censers come in various materials, including earthenware, brass, and silver.
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They are also used in non-Christian religions
Incense burners, also known as censers, have been used since ancient times across the world. They are used in a variety of religious and spiritual contexts, including in Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Shinto, and Gnostic Churches.
In mosques, incense burners are used during rituals and weddings, but they do not have a specific liturgical use or design. In the Middle East, religious groups such as the Copts and Syriacs use incense burners for ceremonial purposes.
Hindus traditionally use a censer called a Dhunachi, which is an earthen vessel with a flared shape, a curved handle, and an open top. It is used for burning incense with coal or coconut husk. In India, incense holders made of clay and metal are also used in Hindu religious ceremonies and festivals.
Buddhists in Japan and China use incense burners during ceremonies and rituals. The Japanese term for a censer is "Koro," and it is often used in Japanese tea ceremonies. A similar censer called an "egōro" is used by several Buddhist sects, usually made of brass with a long handle and no chain.
In Chinese Taoist and Buddhist temples, incense is used to scent the inner spaces, with thick coiled incense hung from the ceiling or placed on stands. The Chinese also use incense burners shaped like birds, animals, and mythological creatures for burning incense during Taoist and Buddhist ceremonies.
Incense burners have also been used in non-religious contexts, such as for personal hygiene, romantic encounters, and deodorizing rooms in ancient China. In some parts of East Asia, incense burners were used as a simple mechanism to tell the time.
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Frequently asked questions
A church incense burner is called a censer or a thurible. The former term is more general and is used to refer to incense burners employed in religious and spiritual ceremonies, as well as those used for everyday purposes. The latter term is more specific and denotes a metal container suspended on chains, allowing it to be swung to distribute the fragrant smoke.
Censers have historically been made from a variety of metals, including gold, silver, and copper alloys like bronze or brass. Gold and gilded gold pieces were more common during wealthy periods, such as the Tang dynasty in China. Silver was also widely used due to its antimicrobial properties and superior heat conduction. Bronze and brass were common across multiple cultures due to their affordability, durability, and ease of casting into various patterns. Some censers are also made from ceramics and porcelain, with the Song dynasty in China being known for its minimal-styled ceramic incense burners.
A thurible consists of a censer section, typically three or four chains (though single-chain variants exist), a metal ring to lock the lid in place, and sometimes a removable metal crucible for burning charcoals. Charcoal is placed inside the censer or the crucible, and once it is lit, incense is placed on top. The thurible is then swung back and forth on its chains, spreading the fragrant smoke.
