Allergic to incense---what to do for Lent

[Meggie]

I have always been somewhat allergic to insence to where it would cause great discomfort and need for special medicines, however, during the summer I discoverd that I am pretty much deathly allergic.

Someone once suggested I could wear a mask but thats not practical because unless it was really sealed around my mouth it could make a really bad situation since its rather hard to breathe with a mask on.

This will be my first Lent without being able to attend services. I don’t know what to do…and which Masses use insence, anyway?

 

[SouthCoast]

I kinda wish all masses used it… I imagine in certain parishes they do. I’m not necessarily convinced that all the things people are “allergic” to in this modern era aren’t because we do shelter ourselves too much with indoor, filtered air and pills for just about everything imaginable. For instance, I’ve heard a study (that I happen to believe is true) that if you expose a baby to all sorts of elements, they’re LESS likely to be allergic. Meaning, stick their little faces right into the doggie fur and kitty fur and let them roll in the grass and play… and sniff the flowers, and breathe in the pollen and eat funky vegetables and fruit, and don’t make them stay indoors everytime the weather is a little unpleasant, etc, etc. Maybe light some candles, sit near a fireplace or camp fire, etc. I think it’s the late-in-life introduction to such things that makes the body react negatively.

-Michael

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Meggie:

I have always been somewhat allergic to insence to where it would cause great discomfort and need for special medicines, however, during the summer I discoverd that I am pretty much deathly allergic.

Someone once suggested I could wear a mask but thats not practical because unless it was really sealed around my mouth it could make a really bad situation since its rather hard to breathe with a mask on.

This will be my first Lent without being able to attend services. I don’t know what to do…and which Masses use insence, anyway?

I would suggest meeting with your pastor and bringing something from your doctor. Explaining that you need to know without any doubt which Mass will have incense. Your condition may require you to miss Mass which would not be held against you.

 

[Meggie]

I grew up in the Catholic church…I was only an infant when I came in contact with insence for the first time.
I was the kid who would play in the snow until after dark, make forts out of leaves, and childish lean-to’s when it rained. My dad would have sawdust in the house, and I once worked around big trucks and all their dust. I supposed my teen years I slacked a bit on some of the staying outside, but I had 2 1/2 mile early morning walks daily, so its not like I didn’t go out.
I don’t have ANY other natural allergies, just an allergy to smoke that has gotten incredibly severe. (my only other allergy is to asprin, but its not severe)

BTW south coast, I kinda was asking for spitual advice because I feel bad that I can’t go to Mass. I know we are supposed to be willing to die for Christ, but I’m pretty sure he dosn’t want me to have an astsma attack.

 

[Ray_Marshall]

Aren’t there inhalers, albuterol, ventolin, etc., that you could use prior to or during Mass that would allow you to be present without bringing on an asthmatic attack?

 

[ridesawhitehors]

Meggie:

I grew up in the Catholic church…I was only an infant when I came in contact with insence for the first time.
I was the kid who would play in the snow until after dark, make forts out of leaves, and childish lean-to’s when it rained. My dad would have sawdust in the house, and I once worked around big trucks and all their dust. I supposed my teen years I slacked a bit on some of the staying outside, but I had 2 1/2 mile early morning walks daily, so its not like I didn’t go out.
I don’t have ANY other natural allergies, just an allergy to smoke that has gotten incredibly severe. (my only other allergy is to asprin, but its not severe)

BTW south coast, I kinda was asking for spitual advice because I feel bad that I can’t go to Mass. I know we are supposed to be willing to die for Christ, but I’m pretty sure he dosn’t want me to have an astsma attack.

I had a friend who died of asthma (sp)… so I understand the possible seriousness of your condition. But this is what I worry about:
I LOVE all the smells and bells, and it adds so much to my experience of the Mass. I love the high masses, with the Latin and all the glory!
If people were to begin making requests to take out the incense because of alergies - what about all those people to whom it is a very important and special part of the mass?
Not saying you should suffer, of course not. But I hate to see the mass changed over and over till it is indestinguishable from a protestant service. :twocents:

 

[Dr.Colossus]

If your reaction is truly an allergy, you may be able to relieve your symptoms by taking an antihistimine like Benadryl 15 to 20 minutes before going to Mass. (You might want to ask a pharmacist about this, though. Despite my screenname I am not a licenced medical professional.)

Remember that Ash Wednesday is not a Holy Day of Obligation in the United States, so whether medical or other reasons prevent you from attending Mass, try not to let it weigh too heavily on your conscience.

 

[kmktexas]

Meggie:

I have always been somewhat allergic to insence to where it would cause great discomfort and need for special medicines, however, during the summer I discoverd that I am pretty much deathly allergic.

Someone once suggested I could wear a mask but thats not practical because unless it was really sealed around my mouth it could make a really bad situation since its rather hard to breathe with a mask on.

This will be my first Lent without being able to attend services. I don’t know what to do…and which Masses use insence, anyway?

Meggie, in our parish, the only Mass with insence during Lent is the Easter Vigil. Because of concerns such as yours, many churches are minimizing the use of insence. Check with your pastor. If that is the case, then going to a Mass Easter morning would be an option for you.

Also check with other parishes and even hospitals and nursing homes. They often have Masses that are open to everyone and would be unlikely to be using insence.

Some churches use insence on Ash Wednesday. Remember that’s not a Holy Day of Obligation so if you need to skip that one, don’t worry about it.

Good luck. Hopefully this will be temporary and you can return to enjoying the “smells and bells” soon.

 

[Detroit_Sue]

I wouldn’t say I’m allergic, but I’m very sensitive to the incense. As much as I love it, sometimes it causes coughing fits for me.

Sitting toward the back of the church helps a lot.

 

[Meggie]

I don’t want the church to quit using insence because of me.
I do think its more fair for me to stay away. I had to leave the funeral of a friend because they used insence…and that was a HUGE trial, but the insence had to be used and even I wouldn’t have it any other way.
The only priest I ever had the courage to ask, who is normally strict, brushed me aside saying that I shouldn’t go and I didn’t need to do anything special…

Do you have any good ideas for prayer when I can’t attend Mass (insence is used holy thursday, all fridays, and for easter at my “home” parish) and I am not sure about my school but they took out the little burner…so I am concerned that they will…I have to call…

 

[Nota_Bene]

I don’t want the church to quit using insence because of me.
I do think its more fair for me to stay away. I had to leave the funeral of a friend because they used insence…and that was a HUGE trial, but the insence had to be used and even I wouldn’t have it any other way.
The only priest I ever had the courage to ask, who is normally strict, brushed me aside saying that I shouldn’t go and I didn’t need to do anything special…

Do you have any good ideas for prayer when I can’t attend Mass (insence is used holy thursday, all fridays, and for easter at my “home” parish) and I am not sure about my school but they took out the little burner…so I am concerned that they will…I have to call…

Don’t worry, they won’t.

Rather than draw attention to yourself with a mask, I suggest two steps:

First, buy your parish a small container of incense that is guaranteed to be “sneezeless” per the Queen of England. It’s compounded by a firm in England for use by the Anglican Church – I have seen it on the web.

Second, load-up on the maximum dosage of Benedryl prior to going to church. You might even ask your doctor if you can up the maximum dosage for the one evening. Armed with enoug Benedryl, the smoke ain’t gonna bother you. Want even extra back-up? Buy an ever the counter Primatine inhaler.

Problem solved.

 

[Meggie]

im allergic to the smoke part of insence, not the chemical compound…thats what makes you sneeze…

and loading up on medice is what I used to do…I discoverd the hard way that it dosn’t work anymore…I have three perscribed inhalers…and benedrill contains some of the same chemical compounds in asprin, the only other thing in this whole world I am allergic too…(AGGGG)

But this tread wasn’t about my alergies…it was about ideas other than “not doing anything special”

 

[rayne89]

Ray Marshall:

Aren’t there inhalers, albuterol, ventolin, etc., that you could use prior to or during Mass that would allow you to be present without bringing on an asthmatic attack?

SouthCoast:

I’m not necessarily convinced that all the things people are “allergic” to in this modern era aren’t because we do shelter ourselves too much with indoor, filtered air and pills for just about everything imaginable. For instance, I’ve heard a study (that I happen to believe is true) that if you expose a baby to all sorts of elements, they’re LESS likely to be allergic.

For those above and others who down play allergic reactions you probably aren’t very familiar with someone with bad asthma. My mom has literally ended up in a emergency rooms of certain “smells”. It can be very frightening. I love incense but if I’m close enough to it it burns my throat I can’t imagine what it would be if I had asthma like my mom. An yes my mom has all those inhalers but if it’s something she’s* really* alergic to she still reacts.

I don’t think Meggie was asking incense to be removed from the church, I don’t see that anywhere in her question.

I agree with Br. Rich’s advice.

 

[katolik]

Rayne and all Detroiters:
Do you know your pastor[Fr.Kosnac] is celebrating 3 Sunday Traditional Latin Masses this month at St.Josaphat’s? He is celebrating Sunday. There will be plenty of incense as Father loves incense. There will also be Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament after Mass.

9.30 AM Sunday Be there[go to the link]
Confession 8:45 to 10 AM
Benediction after Mass

Just drive down I-75 and go into the first exit[Warren] before Eastern Market.

 

[kmktexas]

Meggie:

Do you have any good ideas for prayer when I can’t attend Mass (insence is used holy thursday, all fridays, and for easter at my “home” parish) and I am not sure about my school but they took out the little burner…so I am concerned that they will…I have to call…

Since those Thursdays and Fridays aren’t Holy Days of Obligation, you could try watching Mass on EWTN or on the internet. Easter is a bit trickier but you might look into whether your church has a children’s Mass for Easter. Those are less likely to use insence.