Incense and Asthma Don't Mix! A Sad Easter...

[Fransea]

We had one girl to completely pass out during mass. Had not even thought about the incense. She seemed to be having a seizure. But she also looked very dazed and kind of drugged. Could that be attributed to the incense?

What kind of incense do most churches use? Does it have a name. I love the smell and would love to have that smell at home. But, I’m not allergic. That would be an awful thing.
So sorry for those that are.

 

[Gorgias]

If you read my text you can read how devestated I was at having to choose that option. Obviously I did so because I had no other choice. My attack was too acute to remain in the church. It was medically necessary to leave the building and get out in the fresh air.

Yes, I understand that. Were you surprised by the priest’s use of incense? Did you think it was a possibility? (It seems not, since you tried to prepare by using your inhaler beforehand.) I guess I’m thinking that, if I had such a severe response to incense, I’d run to the cry room immediately until I knew that the coast was clear.

incense was used … while Fr. traveled up and back down each of 6 aisles and around the outer edge of the church towards the end of the Mass.

Wow… that just sounds odd. I’ve never seen that before.

(The Church holds anout 250 people.)

Aah… so it’s a small church. (250 seat capacity and 5 sections? So, each section holds 50 people? So we’re talking about something like 7 pews each holding 7 people? Is it unrealistic to presume that you already knew that you should avoid such small enclosed spaces where incense might be used? )

Is there a larger church in the area that you could attend, whose size would mean that the use of incense wouldn’t cause such a high concentration of particles to be in the air everywhere in the congregation?

I am happy for you that you do not suffer from this condition.

That’s a rather snarky thing to say. I’m just trying to understand the situation, in the hopes of providing a constructive suggestion, and just because I don’t lead with an expression of my sadness at your plight, you lash out at me?

 

[Cat]

Yes, I understand that. Were you surprised by the priest’s use of incense? Did you think it was a possibility? (It seems not, since you tried to prepare by using your inhaler beforehand.) I guess I’m thinking that, if I had such a severe response to incense, I’d run to the cry room immediately until I knew that the coast was clear.

A person with severe asthma is never without an inhaler. It’s a matter of life and death.

I have several allergies, and I am never without benedryl, prednisone, and an epi pen. To forget could mean death.

Wow… that just sounds odd. I’ve never seen that before.

This is the way it is done in our parish, too.

Aah… so it’s a small church. (250 seat capacity and 5 sections? So, each section holds 50 people? So we’re talking about something like 7 pews each holding 7 people? Is it unrealistic to presume that you already knew that you should avoid such small enclosed spaces where incense might be used? )

We’re talking about a parish here, a church home and family. People don’t want to avoid their own family!

You’re seeking suggestions for the OP. One suggestion I have is that the OP make an appointment with the priest and show him this thread and ask him to please develop a system of communicating in advance with parishioners and guests about the use of incense in the Masses. If you read my post above, I suggest that all parishes copy what theaters do and set out signs/posters that “Incense will be used in this Mass” so that those who are adversely-suggested by it have the opportunity to leave or at least remain in a place in the church building where they will be unaffected.

Many of the Evangelical Protestant churches stream their worship service into overflow rooms so that people can sit and watch. Might be worthwhile for parishes to look into this.

Is there a larger church in the area that you could attend, whose size would mean that the use of incense wouldn’t cause such a high concentration of particles to be in the air everywhere in the congregation?

Again, we’re talking about her church family. It’s not always easy to pack up and leave.

That’s a rather snarky thing to say. I’m just trying to understand the situation, in the hopes of providing a constructive suggestion, and just because I don’t lead with an expression of my sadness at your plight, you lash out at me?

I’ve read through all of the OP’s post in this thread, and I have not gotten the impression of snarkiness from any of her comments. She seems kind-hearted and reasonable…

 

[1ke]

\Many of the Evangelical Protestant churches stream their worship service into overflow rooms so that people can sit and watch. Might be worthwhile for parishes to look into this.

A person cannot fulfill their obligation in such a manner.

 

[GangGreen]

From what I understand, a big part of the issue is the quality of the incense used. Cheaper stuff is more likely to cause allergic reactions. Most churches these days don’t use incense too often, so I’m not sure if that leads to them buying more or less expensive stuff.

At the church where I typically go to the EF, I never hear anyone coughing from it. However, they use a type of incense that doesn’t seem to smoke all that much. I know from my local church they used incense on Holy Thursday and the Vigil Mass and there were a few coughs here and there, but nothing too bad. However, they also kept all of the doors open. Their incense was much more smokey.