Seamus Hammond
The swinging incense burner used in churches is called a thurible, derived from the Old French word 'turibulum' from Medieval Latin. It is a metal censer suspended from chains, in which incense is burned during worship services. The use of incense in churches dates back to the time of the Second Jewish Temple and is rooted in the traditions of Judaism. Incense is noted in the Talmud, and the Bible mentions it 170 times. In Christian churches, 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 number of swings of the thurible when incensing persons or objects is specified in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, with three double swings for the Blessed Sacrament, a relic of the Holy Cross, and images of the Lord.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Thurible, Censer |
| Description | A metal incense burner suspended from chains |
| Usage | Used in Christian churches, including Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Assyrian Church of the East, Oriental Orthodox, Lutheran and Old Catholic denominations, as well as in some Continental Reformed, Presbyterian, Methodist and Anglican churches |
| Person Operating | Acolyte or altar server, also known as the thurifer |
| Usage During Mass | Used at various times during Mass, adding solemnity to the proceedings, e.g. during the entrance procession, at the Gospel reading, at the offertory, and during the elevation of the Eucharist |
| Symbolism | Symbolises "cleansing and purification", as well as "Christ's robe of righteousness" that covers the sin of humankind |
| Number of Swings | The number of swings varies depending on the object or person being censed, with three double swings being the most common for sacred objects and persons |
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What You'll Learn
The incense burner is called a thurible or censer
The incense burner swung by priests during Christian worship services is called a thurible, derived from the Old French word "turibulum", which comes from Medieval Latin. It is a metal censer suspended from chains, in which incense is burned. The practice of using incense burners in Christian liturgy has its roots in the traditions of Judaism, dating back to the time of the Second Jewish Temple.
The use of incense in Christian churches is symbolic of "cleansing and purification", with its fragrance suggesting "Christ's robe of righteousness" that covers the sins of humankind. The smoke produced by the burning incense is believed to represent the prayers of the faithful ascending to heaven. The number of swings of the thurible when incensing persons or objects is specified in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, with three double swings being the most common.
In the Roman Catholic Church, the thurible is used during the entrance procession, at the beginning of Mass to incense the cross and the altar, during the Gospel procession and proclamation, and after the bread and chalice have been placed upon the altar. It is also used during the elevation of the host and chalice after the consecration. The Eastern Orthodox Church, Byzantine Rite Eastern Catholic Churches, and Eastern Lutheran Churches also make frequent use of the thurible, not only during the Divine Liturgy (Eucharist) but also at Vespers, Matins, and other occasional services.
The person who carries the thurible is called the thurifer. In Lutheran Churches, the thurifer is an acolyte, while in Anglican churches, the thurifer is typically the priest. The thurible is held open for the priest to put incense in it, after which he blesses it with the Sign of the Cross. During processions, the thurible is gently swung to keep the charcoal burning.
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Incense is burned during worship services
The Roman Missal, as revised in 1969, allows the use of incense at any Mass. This includes during the entrance procession, at the beginning of Mass to incense the cross and the altar, at the Gospel procession and proclamation, and after the bread and chalice have been placed on the altar. Incense is also used at the elevation of the host and the chalice after the consecration. In the Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and Eucharistic Adoration in the Roman Rite, incense is required if the Blessed Sacrament is exposed.
The Eastern Orthodox Church, Lutheran churches, Anglican churches, and Old Catholic/Liberal Catholic churches use incense at almost every service. In the Ambrosian Rite, the thurible has no top cover and is swung clockwise before censing a person or object. In the Lutheran Churches, the thurible is carried by an acolyte known as the thurifer. In Anglican churches, incense is used at Solemn Evensong, a sung celebration of vespers. During funeral services and memorial services, the censer is swung almost continuously.
The use of incense in the ancient world was common, especially in religious rites where it was used to keep demons away. The Indians in the Indus Valley Civilisation were the first to use incense in 3600 BC, with the Egyptians during the Fifth Dynasty (2345-2494 BC) being the first in the non-Asian world to discover its use. Incense has played an invaluable role in East Asian Buddhist ceremonies and rites, as well as in Chinese Taoist and Japanese Shinto rituals.
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The practice is rooted in ancient Jewish and Roman traditions
The swinging incense burner, or thurible, is a metal censer suspended from chains, in which incense is burned during Christian worship services. The practice of using incense in religious ceremonies is indeed ancient, with roots in Jewish and Roman traditions, as well as other ancient cultures.
In Judaism, the use of incense has a long history, dating back to the time of the Tabernacle and the First and Second Temple periods. The Book of Exodus describes a recipe for sacred incense, which included sweet spices, stacte, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense. This incense was used in priestly liturgy in the Temple in Jerusalem and was considered an important offering to God. The Talmud and rabbinic literature provide further details on the composition and usage of incense in Jewish rituals. Even today, some Jews study the ancient Temple incense's composition, anticipating its use in a restored Temple as part of daily services.
In ancient Rome, incense was also employed in religious practices. Notably, some Christians during this period were martyred for refusing to offer incense to idols. The New Testament makes several references to incense, including a Christological allusion to the coals from the altar of incense on the Day of Atonement.
The use of incense in Christian worship has continued through the centuries, with the Roman Missal allowing its use at various points during Mass. The Eastern Orthodox Church, Lutheran churches, Anglican churches, and Old Catholic/Liberal Catholic churches incorporate incense in their services, often at every ceremony. The incense is believed to symbolise "cleansing and purification," as well as representing "Christ's robe of righteousness."
The thurible, or censer, is used to hold and burn the incense during these Christian rituals. The person who carries the thurible is called the thurifer, and they may be assisted by a "boat bearer" who carries additional incense. The thurible is then closed, swung, and used to cense various objects and people, such as the Eucharist, the clergy, the congregation, and icons.
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Incense symbolises cleansing and purification
Incense has been used for centuries in various spiritual and religious practices. In Christianity, incense is burned during worship services to symbolise "cleansing and purification". The smoke released by burning incense is believed to purify the air, environment, and people by dispelling negative energies.
The use of incense in Christian churches can be traced back to the traditions of Judaism during the time of the Second Jewish Temple. In Christian worship, the incense burner, also known as a thurible, is typically made of metal and suspended from chains. During processions, the thurible may be gently swung to keep the charcoal burning.
The act of burning incense is not limited to Christian practices. For example, in Native American rituals, sage incense has been used for centuries as a powerful tool for purification. Resin incense, which involves melting resin over charcoal, is another example of incense used for purification across various cultures.
Different types of incense are believed to have distinct effects on mood and emotions. For instance, lavender incense is known for its calming properties, while cinnamon incense is associated with cleansing and purifying energies, helping to remove negative energy.
The symbolic and cultural significance of burning incense adds a layer of meaning that can positively impact one's mental state. It is seen as a transformative process, mirroring the idea of purifying and transforming negative energies.
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The number of swings of the thurible has meaning
A thurible, also known as a censer, is a metal incense burner suspended from chains, in which incense is burned during Christian worship services. The number of swings of the thurible when incensing persons or objects is specified in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal.
The Roman Missal, as revised in 1969, allows the use of incense at any Mass. The number of swings of the thurible to be used depends on what is being censed. Three double swings are used for the Most Blessed Sacrament, a relic of the Holy Cross, and images of the Lord exposed for public veneration. Two double swings are used at the beginning of the celebration, after the incensing of the altar, for relics and images of the Saints exposed for public veneration. A series of single swings are used for the altar. The priest may also incense the offerings for Mass by tracing a cross over them with the thurible instead of using three swings of the thurible.
In the Ambrosian Rite, the thurible has no top cover and is swung clockwise before censing a person or object. In the Lutheran Churches, the thurible is carried by an acolyte known as the thurifer. In the Anglican Church, if incense is used at the entrance procession, a thurifer holding the smoking thurible leads the procession. 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. Incense may also be used at the reading of the gospel: after the announcement of the gospel, the book is censed left, centre, and right. If an Anglican church uses incense at only one point of the service, it does so at the offertory. The gifts and the altar are first censed, followed by the priest (three swings of the thurible), other clergy (a 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 side, and another to the middle).
The Eastern Orthodox Church, as well as the Byzantine Rite Eastern Catholic Churches and Eastern Lutheran Churches, make frequent use of incense, not only at the Divine Liturgy (Eucharist) but also at Vespers, Matins, and a number of other occasional services. During funeral services and memorial services (Panikhida), the censer is swung almost continuously.
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Frequently asked questions
The swinging incense thing in church is called a thurible, alternatively referred to as a censor.
A thurible is a metal incense burner suspended from chains, in which incense is burned during worship services.
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.
Incense is used at various times in the Catholic Church, adding an extra layer of solemnity to the proceedings. You might see it during the entrance procession, at the Gospel reading, at the offertory, and during the elevation of the Eucharist.
The number of swings varies depending on what is being censed. The thurible is swung three times for the Blessed Sacrament, a relic of the Holy Cross, the offerings for the Sacrifice of the Mass, the altar cross, the priest, and the people. It is swung twice for relics and images of the Saints. The altar is censed with single swings.
