How often is incense used at your parish?

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I am wondering how often incense is used in Catholic parishes. We only use incense on special occasions such as the Christmas season, the Easter season, funerals, All Souls’ Day, Christ the King, etc. How often is it used where you go?
 
Twice a year is the way it seems. Christmas and Easter. Can’t think of any other time.
 
At one parish, every Sunday during the “high” Masses. That might be just the 11 a.m. one, because I know I smell it when I go to the 12:30 p.m. Mass. Also the high holy days like Christmas, Easter and for funerals.

At the other, only at Christmas and Easter, I think. Not in a normal Sunday Mass.
 
Every Sunday Mass, plus every Solemnity, plus other special occasions. For example, we will have one Mass on Thanksgiving Day, and will have incense.

We have Franciscan friars in charge of our cathedral parish, so we also have incense on days that are solemnities for them (that would not be solemnities for the universal Church).

When you look at scripture, you can see that the People of God have used incense in their worship of the Lord God since the time of Moses. It was used at the time of Jesus. It will be used in the heavenly liturgy in the New Jerusalem after the Second Coming. Past, present, and future, without interruption.

Who are we to break with this?
 
Not enough at my parish inmho.

I think it should be used at the min, major feasts days like Christ the King.

I don’t think folks realize the symbolism of incense.
 
I have to say not as much as i would wish it to be. Maybe like 1 of 4 sundays in a month.
But at all feasts it is used.

Well, i have a thing for insense and use it every day at home for my eve prayers with like 30 candles, tablecloth for my adoration table and such.
 
Almost never. We would probably suffocate with the lack of good ventilation, and people have fainted on the days we’ve used it. As a matter of fact, I didn’t realise that it was a norm for many parishes to use incense on even ordinary Sundays until I started visiting outside of my own.
 
michaelmas said:
Not enough at my parish inmho.

I think it should be used at the min, major feasts days like Christ the King.

I don’t think folks realize the symbolism of incense.
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Yup, same here. I do know that our pastor is not a fan of incense, so I think that’s why we don’t use it very often. I personally love the use of incense, for its symbolism and its tie to our Jewish ancestors - plus (ok, yes, I’m being a girl here!) I just love the way it smells. 😃
 
At Mass, it’s used at funerals, unless the family requests that it not be. Other than that, only at the Easter Vigil.

Interestingly, the Canadian Sunday Celebration of the Word calls for incensing the Lectionary as it’s enthroned and we do it every time we’re without a priest on Sunday - something that has been happening more frequently of late, since we are pastorless at the moment and the priest who is overseeing has many other duties and a far-away parish in which he must spend time. Since August we’ve had at least 5 Sundays without a priest.
 
Every Sunday at the most popular mass. (Sunday 10.30am) Other parishes nearby seem to also follow this pattern.
 
Every Sunday and every Sung and Solemn Mass in the Extraordinary Form.

In the Ordinary Form during Christmas, Holy Week, Easter and other occasions that call for it.

My parish also observes sung/solemn Vespers with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament every Sunday afternoon during the academic year.

Ab illo benedicaris in cujus honore cremabaris
Be Blessed by him in whose honour thou art burnt!😃
*Per intercessionem beati Michaelis Archangeli, stantis a dextris altaris incensi, et omnium electorum suorum, incensum istud dignetur Dominus bene † dicere, et in odorem suavitatis accipere. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen. *
May the Lord, by the intercession of blessed Michael the Archangel, who standeth at the right side of the altar of incense, and of all His Elect, vouchsafe to bless † this incense and receive it as an odor of sweetness: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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*Incensum istud a te benedictum ascendat ad te, Domine: et descendat super nos misericordia tua.
He then incenses the Altar
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Dirigatur, Domine, oratio mea, sicut incensum in conpectu tuo: elevatio manuum mearum sacrificium vespertinum. Pone, Domine, custodiam ori meo, et ostium circumstantiae labiis meis. Ut non declinet cor meum in verba malitiae, ad excusandas, excusationes in peccata.
He then hands the Censer to the Deacon, saying:
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Accendat in nobis Dominus ignem sui amoris, et flammam aeternae caritatis. Amen. *
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May this incense, which Thou hast blessed, O Lord, ascend to Thee, and may Thy mercy descend upon us.
He then incenses the Altar
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Let my prayer, O Lord, be directed as incense in Thy sight: the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice. Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth, and a door round about my lips. May my heart not incline to evil words, to make excuses for sins.
He then hands the Censer to the Deacon, saying:
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May the Lord enkindle within us the fire of His love, and the flame of everlasting charity. Amen.
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dailycatholic.org/holymas3.htm
 
It is used every Sunday in our parish (we only have one Sunday Mass). It is also used every place in the Mass it can be used.
 
Ours is a large Parish and we have six Masses over the weekend. We use incense at two of them. We also have incense at funerals which seem to average at more than one a week.
 
We had it for Christ the King Mass. It represents how prayers going up to God I believe, is there any other meaning to it?
 
Every Sunday, 11 AM Mass, every Saturday daily Mass, which is our Latin Mass, it’s in our bulletin, so those who have problems can choose another Mass time, or make other arrangements.

Sometimes on Solemnity, and special occasion Masses, depending, if there are other Mass times offered that day.
 
Special occasions.

I just want to place a reminder here for people who may not be aware.

Many people are allergic to the various kinds of incense.
It gives me a wicked headache.

I ended up with a blistering one on the Easter Vigil that I came into communion. I dont remember much of that night for that very reason. 😦
 
Phemie said:
At Mass, it’s used at funerals, unless the family requests that it not be. Other than that, only at the Easter Vigil.

Interestingly, the Canadian Sunday Celebration of the Word calls for incensing the Lectionary as it’s enthroned and we do it every time we’re without a priest on Sunday - something that has been happening more frequently of late, since we are pastorless at the moment and the priest who is overseeing has many other duties and a far-away parish in which he must spend time. Since August we’ve had at least 5 Sundays without a priest.
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What you mention here about Pastorless Parishes is sadly becoming an increasing reality in Canada. In my Archdiocese alone the Cathedral itself along with two other sizable parishes are in the immediate threat of being torn down due to disrepair, and a lot of neglect and responsibility IMHO. Our Cathedral seats 1200. The Cathedral is financially broke. I’m not sure how many of our American Catholic brothers and sisters understand the gravity of this or if its taking place in their parishes.

Using the Thurible, incensing the Gospel, the Altar and the congregation has all gone extinct. Not even at Requiem Masses. Its symbolism has been replaced by an uprising of complaining parishioners with allergies who refuse to sit near the back of the Church.
Sorry no disrespect intended on my part. I have Asthma and I choose to sit near the back of the church. So much for Catholic tradition I guess. 🤷
 
centurionguard said:
What you mention here about Pastorless Parishes is sadly becoming an increasing reality in Canada. In my Archdiocese alone the Cathedral itself along with two other sizable parishes are in the immediate threat of being torn down due to disrepair, and a lot of neglect and responsibility IMHO. I’m not sure how many of our American Catholic brothers and sisters understand the gravity of this or if its taking place in their parishes.

Using the Thurible, incensing the Gospel, the Altar and the congregation has all gone extinct. Not even at Requiem Masses. Its symbolism has been replaced by an uprising of complaining parishioners with allergies who refuse to sit near the back of the Church.
Sorry no disrespect intended on my part. I have Asthma and I choose to sit near the back of the church. So much for Catholic tradition I guess. 🤷
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Those of us in wheelchairs and other mobility impairments are asked to sit in the front of the congregation, so the insenses hits us full bore.
 
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