Easter Sunday: Smoked out at Mass?

[maherite1977]

Did they use a lot of incense at your parish for today? I did the incense for the 8:00 a.m. Mass, used three charcoal, and loaded it up with incense. The sanctuary was engulfed in the smoke. The person, who did it at the 10:00 a.m. Mass, only used one charcoal and one scoop of incense. So, not a lot of smoke.

Our pastor is very traditional, so he enjoys using incense. We used incense in the opening procession, at the Gospel, at Offertory, at the Consecration and in the closing procession. The “untold” rule at our Parish is that every time the thurible is used, another half or full charcoal is inserted to keep everything lit. Father likes to sprinkle quite a bit of incense into the thurible. After Easter morning Mass, there was quite a haze floating in the rafters
At my old Parish, it wasn’t a Feast Day until the exhaust fans were turned on!

 

[KathTromp18]

At all the Vigils I’ve played Trumpet at, I’d always cough my way through the Gloria after as the smoke from all the candles goes right up to the choir loft. It’s always worth it though.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Being Eastern we use a lot of incense. But the priest instructed me (when I serve) to only put in one “grain” everytime he would need it. We keep the smoke at a minimum because there are some parishioners who are allergic to the smoke.

 

[Mark1970]

No chance of use of incense in my own parish on Easter Sunday. I almost think they don’t know what the thurible is for, never mind use it! Can’t remember the last time incense was used in my parish, and when it was, I remember that they incensed the Book of the Gospel but the incense wasn’t used for the Offertory or the Consecration.

I went to an EF Mass as well on Easter Sunday, no incense there was it was Low Mass.

 

[Marie5890]

For allergy sufferers or or those of us who get headaches over scents, incense is painful, literally, during Mass.

 

[maryj]

Like a smoke bomb went off. My husband came into the church at the Easter vigil, he immediately got a migraine and spent the next three hours with a pounder. It made me sick to my stomach…I love incense, but they used a different type this year and both priests thought it was a bit stinky too. The smoke was still in the church when we returned on Easter morning.

 

[ProVobis]

But the priest instructed me (when I serve) to only put in one “grain” everytime he would need it. We keep the smoke at a minimum because there are some parishioners who are allergic to the smoke.

Actually there’s smoke in that charcoal too, even before the incence hits it. Of course, you as the server are more affected by it.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Actually there’s smoke in that charcoal too, even before the incence hits it. Of course, you as the server are more affected by it.

I tend to put the biggest piece in and use a spoon to dust off the charcoal so the incense hits the hot spot so we get lots of smoke

By Holy Saturday my lungs felt like they want to explode

 

[Holly3278]

I went to an Easter Vigil Mass and there was incense. Amazingly enough, it didn’t bother me that bad but I can see how it might bother some people.

 

[ProVobis]

I tend to put the biggest piece in and use a spoon to dust off the charcoal so the incense hits the hot spot so we get lots of smoke

By Holy Saturday my lungs felt like they want to explode

The charcoal should be all red within ten minutes if the censor is swung enough times. If you’re sitting in the sacristy you can help it along by blowing on it. The hotter, the more smoke from several pieces of incense, which is all you should really need. Otherwise you’ll drown out the hot charcoal. Need plenty of ventillation. But you probably knew all that. People generally don’t have barbeques inside.

 

[PLAT]

Well yes I usually hold the thurible away from myself and the boat boy as much as possible.
Some incense are much more beautiful than others in smell, but I am not an expert on that.