The Use and Brand of Incense at Mass?

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If I understand correctly, it’s optional to use incense during the procession and recession; just before the beginning of the Mass to incense the altar, etc.; before the proclamation of the Gospel; at the offertory (which includes the gifts, the celebrant and other people) and during the major elevations of the chalice and host.

That’s a lot of incensing! At what points in the Mass do your priests use incense?

Also who makes good smelling incense?
 
Paten said:
If I understand correctly, it’s optional to use incense during the procession and recession; just before the beginning of the Mass to incense the altar, etc.; before the proclamation of the Gospel; at the offertory (which includes the gifts, the celebrant and other people) and during the major elevations of the chalice and host.

That’s a lot of incensing! At what points in the Mass do your priests use incense?

Also who makes good smelling incense?
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About the only time incense is used in our parish is at the Easter Vigil – incensing Paschal Candle; Gospel; Offertory – and at funerals at the final commendation

I like Three Kings ‘Natural’.
 
The best rule of thumb is to observe a Papal Mass. Albeit, this is special because the Holy Father is celebrating, almost the same norms apply.

Now, my pastor is allergic to incense, but, when my PV uses it, he does so at the beginning (during the Entrance hymn–of course, the incense is part of the entrance possession), prior to the proclamation of the Gospel (during solemnities), and after the gifts have been offered. He also uses it during weddings (he incenses the couple during the time when the faithful are incensed). He also uses it for funerals.

When my PV incenses during the offertory, he either has the orgainst play a piece or he chants something in Latin, which is beautiful.

It does help if you have properly trianed altar servers. One time, at my dad’s parish, the altar server almost decked the pastor as he was incensing him. :eek: My dad nearly had an attack, but, no damage and no black eyes. 😃 My dad had practiced and practiced with the kids, but, you never know what’s going to happen. He did teach the servers how to incense during the major elevations of the Host and Chalice. The priest was very happy with him for that.

As far as my particular incense preference is concerned, I absolutely love, love, love the incense that the Holy Rood Guild makes because it is formulated out of the same aroma that is used for the essence of Chrism. During our first diocesan Chrism Mass, I decided to order the incense to match the Chrism essence. Oh boy, did my senses go into overdrive. The scent was incredible. I wanted to bottle it and turn it into a wearable perfume. My bishop was in stitches when he caught me sniffing the incense canister. I gave him a whiff and he liked it. Okay, so we’re weird. But, at least it did manage to take the edge out of the stress of executing our first Chrism Mass.
 
benedictgal said:
The best rule of thumb is to observe a Papal Mass. Albeit, this is special because the Holy Father is celebrating, almost the same norms apply…
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I’ve read the GIRM (the actual instruction for using incense in my case), I’m just curious when other parishes incense? To incense every time it’s allowed per the GIRM is to incense quite a bit.
 
Our Catholic book store burns incense all the time. It infuses all the paper in the store. I love to open a book I have bought from them and still smell the incense. It reminds me of Mass.
 
I’ve read the GIRM (the actual instruction for using incense in my case), I’m just curious when other parishes incense? To incense every time it’s allowed per the GIRM is to incense quite a bit.
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Four times during the entire Mass is “quite a bit”? :confused:
 
<<That’s a lot of incensing! At what points in the Mass do your priests use incense?>>

Not in the East! 😃 😛

Actually, the Byzantine use parallels the Western use. It’s just that with us there is no such thing as not using incense.
 
bpbasilphx said:
<<That’s a lot of incensing! At what points in the Mass do your priests use incense?>>

Not in the East! 😃 😛

Actually, the Byzantine use parallels the Western use. It’s just that with us there is no such thing as not using incense.
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We don’t use incense in the Divine Liturgies during the week, but we make up for it on Sundays!
 
In my opinion, the very best incense is the type used in Eastern Rite and Orthodox churches. Most online icon sellers like Monastery Icons ( www.monasteryicons.com ) offer it. In many Eastern churches, the “flavor” of incense changes with liturgical seasons and feast days (and it is always used at every Divine Liturgy!), so this kind of incense is often available in multiple sample packs. It delivers more aroma and less smoke than many kinds of Western incense, which often has bits of wood in it that irritate those who are actually allergic to it. Most Eastern incense has a floral scent, such as Damascus rose, Russian gardenia, magnolia, and so forth.

Just a note: a pastor friend of mine decided one Sunday to walk down the aisle before Mass swinging a thurible. Several people started to cough and hack, and when he got to the altar, he turned around, opened the thurible, and showed the people that it was empty.
 
Cavaille-Coll said:
In my opinion, the very best incense is the type used in Eastern Rite and Orthodox churches. Most online icon sellers like Monastery Icons ( www.monasteryicons.com ) offer it. In many Eastern churches, the “flavor” of incense changes with liturgical seasons and feast days (and it is always used at every Divine Liturgy!), so this kind of incense is often available in multiple sample packs. It delivers more aroma and less smoke than many kinds of Western incense, which often has bits of wood in it that irritate those who are actually allergic to it. Most Eastern incense has a floral scent, such as Damascus rose, Russian gardenia, magnolia, and so forth.

Just a note: a pastor friend of mine decided one Sunday to walk down the aisle before Mass swinging a thurible. Several people started to cough and hack, and when he got to the altar, he turned around, opened the thurible, and showed the people that it was empty.
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LOL! Good for him! Many people put on a show when it comes to incense.
 
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