Holy Smoke (does your priest use incense?)

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basinite

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Every now and then I celebrate Mass at a church where the priest uses incense during the Mass. The liturgy is very reverent, sacred, and beautiful. In my opinion the use of incense brings out the mystery of the Eucharist.
When this priest first arrived at this parish a few years ago. Some of the parishioners started to complain when it became obvious that he would be using incense at every Mass. He handled this situation in an efficient manner on the following Sunday. He simply stood up at the end of Mass and told the parishioners that if they didn’t like the use of incense then leave and find another parish. That ended the dispute.
I’ve gotten to know this priest and he has become my favorite priest. He is the most orthodox priest I’ve ever met. His homilies are the best!!! His parishioners have a lot of respect for him and it shows. The only reason I don’t go to his parish is because I have obligations at my parish and don’t want to switch parishes (I teach classes and don’t want to give that up).
I’ve asked my priest if he would start using incense at our parish and he told me he would like to, but to many people would complain. He said he used to do it years ago, but some of the parishioners would get pissed and wear doctor masks in protest (probably liberals). He also said that one time at a funeral some protestant lady started to complain about her allergies or something and made a big scene, so he decided it wasn’t worth the hassle and quit using it.
I’m curious if any of your priest use incense and if so what has been the response?
 
At most Tridentine Masses (except low Masses) the use of incense is often employed (During the Kyrie, Gospel, Offertory, Consecration and sometimes the Procession/Recession). Pretty much anywhere there is a thurible with incense people in the congregation will cough or make coughing sounds. More incense less nonsense!
 
I have only seen the priests at my parish use incense maybe once a year He is a real liberal also but he is retiring in may and my prayer is that we get one that is more orthodox in his thinking and my hat is off to the priest who told the congregation that if they did not like incense to find another parish if only more priests would take a stand like that
 
My pastor uses incense for funerals, solemnities, and such.

He’s apparently allergic to most incense so he does not like to use all the time.
 
My priest uses incense. I also go to the latin mass and with the exception of the low mass incense is used and I love it. He uses ALOT of it at Christmas and Easter and yeah, sometimes I cough but I deal with it. Those who don’t like it can get their lazy bums out of bed and attend the low mass at 8:00! My church has ceiling fans that do help with the haze. I say quit complaining about lame things like incense, be happy that you are able to go to church because I believe that one day that may be taken away from us, the way our country is going Godless.
 
I assumed that priests almost always use incense just it seems like it is used at my church just about every sunday. I need to stop taking stuff for granted. Thank God for the traditional mass.
 
We use incense in our OF masses every now and then (maybe once every six weeks or so). It does bother Fr.'s allergies (not as bad as fresh flowers, though!), but he seems to really like having it. There’s only one server trained to use it right now, though, which also limits it some.

They always have it at the Latin Mass when I go there.
 
basinite said:
Every now and then I celebrate Mass at a church where the priest uses incense during the Mass. The liturgy is very reverent, sacred, and beautiful. In my opinion the use of incense brings out the mystery of the Eucharist.
When this priest first arrived at this parish a few years ago. Some of the parishioners started to complain when it became obvious that he would be using incense at every Mass. He handled this situation in an efficient manner on the following Sunday. He simply stood up at the end of Mass and told the parishioners that if they didn’t like the use of incense then leave and find another parish. That ended the dispute.
I’ve gotten to know this priest and he has become my favorite priest. He is the most orthodox priest I’ve ever met. His homilies are the best!!! His parishioners have a lot of respect for him and it shows. The only reason I don’t go to his parish is because I have obligations at my parish and don’t want to switch parishes (I teach classes and don’t want to give that up).
I’ve asked my priest if he would start using incense at our parish and he told me he would like to, but to many people would complain. He said he used to do it years ago, but some of the parishioners would get pissed and wear doctor masks in protest (probably liberals). He also said that one time at a funeral some protestant lady started to complain about her allergies or something and made a big scene, so he decided it wasn’t worth the hassle and quit using it.
I’m curious if any of your priest use incense and if so what has been the response?
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This all depends on the credibility and inner-authority of the pastor. It can be a big deal or a absolute non-issue. I love incense as well but it any priest said “if you don’t like the use of incense then leave and find another parish” I would think a lot less of him. That’s a petulant ego talking.

A far better response would be “the rite allows the use of incense and I deeply appreciate the level of solemnity it brings to the Mass. I also appreciate the spiritual and historical significance of its use. Its use rests with me, I have long prayed and pondered this matter and I am going to use it during Mass.” That said by a serious priest in a serious way would immediately eliminate the carping that sometimes comes with the use of incense. It also wouldn’t offend people.

Further, steps can be taken to mitigate some peoples’ comfort. The thurible and boat can be kept in the sacristy in some cases. The thurible needs to be kept CLEAN. Care can also be used when choosing incense brands/blends. It can also be used at some Masses and not others if your parish has multiple Masses. But to give parishioners a combative ultimatum like that? No way.

My pastor uses incense at certain Masses. People just know it wouldn’t do any good to whine about it. He does take the precautions listed above.

They don’t use incense at the local extraordinary Mass as it’s a low Mass where incense is not allowed.
 
Mine only uses incence at Christmas, which I don’t mind. I have horrible allergies, and I can’t breathe with the incense in the air. I know it has a wonderful purpose and I’ve no right for a personal complaint, but I don’t mind it being only once a year for that reason
 
Of course our Rector uses incense; why would anyone object when this is a part of our Catholic Mass.

Incense is used at our main Mass every Sunday. I have never heard nor seen anyone cough or make any other sign of displeasure.

I am not keen on any Priest who would allow the “complaints” of some parishioners stop him from celebrating any part of the Liturgy as it was intended. :knight2:

The purpose of the incense is to carry our prayers to our Dear Lord in Heaven.:highprayer:

:blessyou:
 
In our parish it’s rarely used – not even at Christmas or Easter. At funerals, Fr. leaves it up to the family. I’m of the ‘if they don’t ask to have it omitted don’t bring it up’ school of incense at funerals.

To be fair, some people are greatly affected by incense – our own altar server daughter would have to excuse herself from serving if it was being used since being surrounded by the smoke in the sanctuary triggered her asthma, provoking a 2-3 day struggle to breathe. I never would have suggested it not be used, though. We simply opted to sit at the back of the church on days when it was used. She loved the smell.

Many simply do not like the smell. I am convinced that a few people would start coughing if a brand new empty thurible were being swung.
 
My parish only uses incense Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday. They also use it all 7 Sundays of the Easter season, they use it for the Ascension, Pentecost, Most Holy Trinity, and Chorpus Christi.

They also use it on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and on the Sunday of the Most Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, and Epiphany Sunday.

The only time it’s used during Ordinary Time is for funerals, weddings, or solemnities (e.g.: Solemnity of Christ the King).

Edit: I think one of the reasons why they don’t use it every Sunday at my parish is typically, we have 3 altar servers on a regular Sunday, but if we use incense, we have to have 4 servers, and if they did that, some people would be reused every Sunday, because there are those select few who know how to do incense. The others do not.
 
mullenpm said:
The purpose of the incense is to carry our prayers to our Dear Lord in Heaven.:highprayer:

::
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I love incense, too, but i have to query this statement.

Think about it - are you saying that without incense our prayers aren’t heard?

And anyway, Our Lord doesn’t live up in the roof, you know. He is everywhere.
 
My priest always uses incense (unless it’s a low Mass), but I guess it’s nothing unusual in the TLM. Nobody complains about it, though I hear coughing almost every Sunday! 😉
 
mullenpm said:
Of course our Rector uses incense; why would anyone object when this is a part of our Catholic Mass.

Incense is used at our main Mass every Sunday. I have never heard nor seen anyone cough or make any other sign of displeasure.

I am not keen on any Priest who would allow the “complaints” of some parishioners stop him from celebrating any part of the Liturgy as it was intended. :knight2:

The purpose of the incense is to carry our prayers to our Dear Lord in Heaven.:highprayer:

:blessyou:
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Incense is optional in the OF and prohibited altogether in the low EF.
 
saskatoon said:
, sometimes I cough but I deal with it. Those who don’t like it can get their lazy bums out of bed and attend the low mass at 8:00!
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And for those who can’t deal with it, what then? Asthma can kill, you know.

‘Lazy bums’??? What a charming way to describe people like my mother, who struggle to get going in the morning, due to the various tablets and health problems in their lives.

Generally speaking, being crass and vulgar does not win arguments.
 
paperwight, don’t be so silly and argumentative. You know perfectly well that no one believes God lives in the roof. I also believe that our prayers are heard irrespective of the use of incense.

Incense is used to show that something is sacred and unique - as when the Priest incenses the Book of the Gospel. Also at Sunday Mass when the Sacristan blesses the Priest because of his Holy Orders and the people because of our dignity through our Baptism.:highprayer:

There are a number of passages in the OT where the use of incense is noted - Psalm 141:2, Leviticus 16:12 - there may be more.

Reading post after post on CAF I am truly thankful to God every day that I have never had to attend a Catholic church with so many problems as those outlined on some threads and posts here. It appears that in many parishes the laity deem which part of the liturgy they will or will not permit and, unfortunately, the priest concedes because it is easier to just go along. It is very sad.:sad_bye:

:blessyou:
 
I’ve read numerous articles about offensive incense smoke from thuribles especially with parishioners who have asthma and other breathing allergies. In several Catholic parishes across Canada this has become a delicate subject. In my parish we have two designated Scent-Free zones. These “scent-free” zones are not there specifically to offset allergic reactions to smoke from incense but more prevalent as seen in public buildings Scent-free zones are enforced by government laws to create a scent-free environment because of the increasing number of people with serious health related breathing problems. Even parish council members insert caution messages inside Church bulletins asking parishioners not to wear strong perfumes and colognes. Society in general has become obsessed about the way we all smell.
What’s wrong with Catholics taking a conscious awareness about how are brother and sisters with serious health related breathing problems are affected by scents without harboring internal bias? I don’t see any big deal in this.
 
mullenpm said:
. You know perfectly well that no one believes God lives in the roof. I also believe that our prayers are heard irrespective of the use of incense.

Incense is used to show that something is sacred and unique - as when the Priest incenses the Book of the Gospel. Also at Sunday Mass when the Sacristan blesses the Priest because of his Holy Orders and the people because of our dignity through our Baptism.:highprayer:

There are a number of passages in the OT where the use of incense is noted - Psalm 141:2, Leviticus 16:12 - there may be more.

/QUOTE]

Ah, we are in agreement.

It was just your statement that ‘the purpose of incense is to carry our prayers to Our Lord’ that I disagreed with.

Emphasising the sacred, giving honour - yes, of course. As I said before, personally, I love incense. It’s just that not being able to breathe (which I’ve only experienced once, thank God, during a bad chest infection) is terrifying, and I have looked after enough asthmatics in my youth work to have a lot of sympathy for them now.
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