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AlanBaker773
Guest
I know Catholic clergy uses incense during church services, but do Catholics use it at home at their own private altars for the same reasons?
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Maximilian75
Guest
Not too many Latin Rite Catholics do, but I know Byzantines do and other Easterners might.
It’s a licit practice.
It’s a licit practice.
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AlanBaker773
Guest
So it would be legitimate for a Catholic at their own private altar in their home to light frankincense before prayer?
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Maximilian75
Guest
Yes.
Just be safe!
Just be safe!
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AngelusDomini
Guest
Be aware of the size of the room you are in. One charcoal and just a few grains of incense will produce quite a bit of smoke. There are some lovely incense sticks out there made/sold by Catholic companies which can be a little easier to use and sometimes safer.
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mrsdizzyd
Guest
As others have said, yes you can use incense. I do at home.
A few cautions:
If you are going to use a coal and resin incense you need to do so in a well-ventilated area and only use a little bit of incense. It will produce a lot of smoke.
You need to use an burner designed for using coals. The burner will get very hot. It will be a hazard. Keep away from flammables, and put something under it to protect the surface it is resting on.
If you are going to use cones or sticks instead, quality matters. The cheap ones emit a lot of smoke and smell more like burning wood than anything else.
I like this German brand of cones @irishmom2 recommended. They are high quality and smell just like church incense to me.
Crottendorfer Frankincense Scented Incense Cones, Pack of 24, Made in Germany
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000VD5IYO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_.4kaCbRK4EJ8K
A few cautions:
If you are going to use a coal and resin incense you need to do so in a well-ventilated area and only use a little bit of incense. It will produce a lot of smoke.
You need to use an burner designed for using coals. The burner will get very hot. It will be a hazard. Keep away from flammables, and put something under it to protect the surface it is resting on.
If you are going to use cones or sticks instead, quality matters. The cheap ones emit a lot of smoke and smell more like burning wood than anything else.
I like this German brand of cones @irishmom2 recommended. They are high quality and smell just like church incense to me.
Crottendorfer Frankincense Scented Incense Cones, Pack of 24, Made in Germany
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000VD5IYO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_.4kaCbRK4EJ8K
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OraLabora
Guest
@UpUpAndAway taught me a good trick for incense in the home. Place a food heater under the incense holder. I use a little stand that holds a small candle, used to melt butter for lobster. I put the censer on top, and then some incense. The incense doesn’t burn, but the heat allows it to release its scent.
It’s more subtle than burning, but a lot less smoky. It helps to get the candle burning and censer heating a good 10 minutes before you plan on using it, to get it really hot. Then throw in some grains of your favourite incense about 5 minutes before you need it (I use it during Lauds and Vespers of Sundays, solemnities and major feasts).
It’s more subtle than burning, but a lot less smoky. It helps to get the candle burning and censer heating a good 10 minutes before you plan on using it, to get it really hot. Then throw in some grains of your favourite incense about 5 minutes before you need it (I use it during Lauds and Vespers of Sundays, solemnities and major feasts).
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HeDa
Guest
I don’t as incense and the smoke from the charcoal triggers my asthma.
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DeniseNY
Guest
I can’t do it. It reminds me too much of my mother’s funeral.
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