incense

[rcecowood]

I had no idea where to post this so i picked here. last night i went to the Stations of the Cross and the deacon used incense twice. i really like it and thought it relaxing. does anyone use church incense at home and know of a good website to get a catalog or order directly from the site. thanks rc.

 

[Spencerian]

I had no idea where to post this so i picked here. last night i went to the Stations of the Cross and the deacon used incense twice. i really like it and thought it relaxing. does anyone use church incense at home and know of a good website to get a catalog or order directly from the site. thanks rc.

Buying incense, and making a small shrine at home was one of my first things I did not long after becoming Catholic.

Try Catholic Supply of St. Louis for a start of online stores. I’ve never bought from them (I have a local store in town) but there are certainly others.

If I could I’d get my head hit with chrism oil again. The smell of balsam, I think, was magical during my baptism and confirmation.

 

[Chris1112]

I’ve never heard of this! (New to exploring the Catholic faith.)

What are the rules about making a shrine at home and how would someone go about doing this? What would it be used for specifically – is a shrine a visual reminder of faith or is it a focus point and actual part of specific prayer? If someone such as myself who is unbaptized, unconfirmed, etc. and learning about Catholicism wanted to make a shrine at home, would this be inappropriate/sacrilegious?

 

[Symeon]

I’ve never heard of this! (New to exploring the Catholic faith.)

What are the rules about making a shrine at home and how would someone go about doing this? What would it be used for specifically – is a shrine a visual reminder of faith or is it a focus point and actual part of specific prayer? If someone such as myself who is unbaptized, unconfirmed, etc. and learning about Catholicism wanted to make a shrine at home, would this be inappropriate/sacrilegious?

Chris, this not the sort of thing where there are specific rules to follow, it is more a matter of personal preference. In my house, we have an icon corner, which is esentially an appropriated bookcase with some of the shelves removed. There is a large icon of Christ in the middle, to the left an icon of the Mother of God, and a few smaller icons nearby. On the remaining shelves there are books for spiritual reading/prayer books/bibles. One also might keep things like a crucifix / holy water/ blessed salt/ prayer ropes/ rosaries there.

It is primarily a focal point for prayer - when the whole family prays together in the evening, or when individuals pray alone.

It absolutely would not be inappropriate/sacrilegious at all to make one in your home even if you are not baptized, etc… I think you might find having such a place in you house helpful when it comes to learning to pray.

 

[Chris1112]

Ah, this makes better sense now. I think I understand now that a shrine is not something required for Catholics (like a sacrament) or an official organized event (such as Lent) but something that can be done and managed privately at home (such as frequency of prayer.)

Thanks for your feedback – I’m not on sound footing about what is and what is not appropriate for someone in my position, and am glad to know I wouldn’t be doing anything inappropriate.

 

[aspirant]

does anyone use church incense at home and know of a good website to get a catalog or order directly from the site.

I usually buy frankincense, myrrh, and charcoals locally, through the Orthodox bookstore and/or at the Greek or Lebanese grocery. (When traveling, I use sticks. So sue me. )

But I know a lot of Catholic churches I’ve been to use incense blends from Monastery Icons. You might want to try one of their samplers or assortments.

When using traditional granule-type incense, coals can be broken in half or quarters ahead of time if you don’t want them to go too long. Be sure never to touch the coal with your hands after it’s lit, and keep it in a well-ventilated area (a slight breeze in the room helps the coal stay lit). Light the coal, sit it in your container using tongs, and sprinkle some grains of incense on the top. Check them periodically, replacing them when they burn up or shrivel to nothing.

What are the rules about making a shrine at home and how would someone go about doing this?

No rules.

There’s a whole thread about home altars you might want to check out. Many people have posted photographs of their own there. Some are very simple, others very elaborate.

 

[nearflip]

Try www.cukierski.net the incense is great.

 

[rcecowood]

thanks for all the info, i was looking on catholic supply and everything i would want to get was about 100 bucks. i really want to order it though.

 

[aspirant]

It is possible to start inexpensively. A few ounces of incense lasts a good while!

 

[rcecowood]

this is the link
catholicsupply.com/churchs/incense.html

in your opinion would item 27766 last me a long time? because along with that i was going to get 1/2 pound of frankincense 1/2 pound of sweet mirhh and 100 charcoals those items number are 50129,51326,51360.

the home kit includes only ten charcoal briquettes and 3/4 oz of 4 scents.
what do you think?

 

[aspirant]

An unbroken charcoal, depending on the quality, can last at least an hour or more. It can be broken in half or in quarters for a shorter burn.

One puts the lit charcoal on a heat-safe dish or in a censer of some kind, then sprinkles a few grains of incense on top, like pepperoni on a pizza. I mean it, it really doesn’t take many, and you don’t want to drown the coal’s fire in resin. After a while, when those grains are exhausted or burned up, you add a few more.

So for a single session, you’re probably talking about 2 to 4 tenths of an ounce being used, about the weight of a few paperclips or pennies.