What did Catholics do back in the day when:

[Solomonson]

What did Catholics do back in the day when (or in some cases still do):

Incense was used at every Sunday Mass? (airborne allergies.)

Communion was always via intinction? (alcoholics and celiacs.)

 

[otjm]

We certainly didn’t use incense on a daily basis - or weekly, for that matter, except at the of Mother of Perpetual Help novena, with benediction. No one complained.

Intinction was not used prior to Vatican 2.

And I am Roman rite. Your question might be more relevant to someone from one of the Eastern rites.

 

[joeybaggz]

Additionally, not only was intinction not used when I was younger, it is my experience in most dioceses I’ve attended, intinction is frowned upon, or even disallowed due to the possibility of the precious blood dripping on the communicants clothers, floor, shoes, etc.

As to incense used daily, not in any parish I went to growning up. Incense was used only on special solemn feasts.

Shalom

 

[katy]

We use incense every Sunday, but it is a very, very good incense (no huge billows of smoke, just a little) used with a light touch and doesn’t seem to bother anybody.

 

[venite_adoremus]

Incense: was used at the principal sung Solemn High Mass on Sunday, and if you were allergic either to the incense or to the seasonal flowers that were always allowed to stay on the altar until they were wilted, tough luck; you sat in the back and went to a different Mass and blew your nose appropriately in the lobby, not in the sanctuary if you could help it. Incense was not used generally at low Mass, early in the morning. Saturday night vigils before Vatican II were unheard of.

Intinction: Never even considered. The faithful received the Body of Christ only, and then on the tongue, and then on their knees at the altar rail, frozen stiff like a statue, with a paten held below the chin by an obliging altar boy. Only the celebrant partook of the Precious Blood, maybe shared with the server.

 

[esieffe]

We have I think 4 different Mass times on Sunday. It is posted when there will be incense.

 

[Solomonson]

Additionally, not only was intinction not used when I was younger, it is my experience in most dioceses I’ve attended, intinction is frowned upon, or even disallowed due to the possibility of the precious blood dripping on the communicants clothers, floor, shoes, etc.

As to incense used daily, not in any parish I went to growning up. Incense was used only on special solemn feasts.

Shalom

Both Pope Francis and Pope Benedict XVI distribute communion via intinction. They do so in a manner that I had not seen before. Little chance of the Precious Blood dripping on anything.

Almost all concelebrants in Papal Masses (and other major Masses) also receive via intinction it seems.

 

[Solomonson]

We use incense every Sunday, but it is a very, very good incense (no huge billows of smoke, just a little) used with a light touch and doesn’t seem to bother anybody.

GOOD incense means a lot. It really does.

I have witnessed people begin to cough at the SIGHT of the thurible in protest. Sadly, much politics surrounds the use of incense…

 

[Solomonson]

Incense: was used at the principal sung Solemn High Mass on Sunday, and if you were allergic either to the incense or to the seasonal flowers that were always allowed to stay on the altar until they were wilted, tough luck; you sat in the back and went to a different Mass and blew your nose appropriately in the lobby, not in the sanctuary if you could help it. Incense was not used generally at low Mass, early in the morning. Saturday night vigils before Vatican II were unheard of.

Intinction: Never even considered. The faithful received the Body of Christ only, and then on the tongue, and then on their knees at the altar rail, frozen stiff like a statue, with a paten held below the chin by an obliging altar boy. Only the celebrant partook of the Precious Blood, maybe shared with the server.

Intinction was quite common in my parish, pre-V2. It was done at all “major Masses” – Christmas, Easter, feast day for the parish’s saint, etc. It’s how I received first communion. They prepared us to receive the host. They did not prepare us to receive the intincted host. The taste really threw me for a loop.

 

[Solomonson]

We have I think 4 different Mass times on Sunday. It is posted when there will be incense.

That is a good idea…

 

[Solomonson]

A parish supporting intinction. That’s nice to see. saintpetercatholic.com/receiving-communion-by-intinction.html

This parish really seems to have thought things through. One can receive under one species either in hand or on tongue. If one wants to receive both species it’s via intinction and then on the tongue of course. Very nice to see this so well planned out.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

What did Catholics do back in the day when (or in some cases still do):

Incense was used at every Sunday Mass? (airborne allergies.)

Communion was always via intinction? (alcoholics and celiacs.)

Incense was not used every Sunday. When it was used at Mass, it was only at Solemn High Masses or at Requiem Masses and those who would suffer adverse reactions knew to attend Low Masses instead of those Masses.

Intinction was not used in the distribution of Holy Communion in the vetus ordo.

 

[babochka]

What did Catholics do back in the day when (or in some cases still do):

Incense was used at every Sunday Mass? (airborne allergies.)

Communion was always via intinction? (alcoholics and celiacs.)

I suppose such issues then were handled in much the same way that they are today - on an individual basis.

One of my daughters is sensitive to incense. She steps out of the church when the priest is incensing the entire church so that she isn’t enveloped in billows of smoke. We usually sit toward the front, but if she needs to she’ll go to the back of the church, where she gets less exposure. Occasionally, she’ll step out for a few minutes. She doesn’t cough, but it gives her a terrible headache. As you know, the Byzantine Rite uses incense at every Divine Liturgy and uses copious amounts. When I’ve seen it used in Mass, it has been used considerably less than in the Divine Liturgy. I would imagine that a highly sensitive person would just step out of the church if needed and return in a few minutes. Or choose a different Mass.

As far as receiving communion, I would think that communicating with the priest would be the best bet. I have seen, even in the Byzantine rite, an alcoholic receive under just one species. The priest knows ahead of time and sets some aside. When the gentleman approaches, the priest steps up to the altar and receives the part that he reserved.

Celiac is more complicated and requires extreme precaution for the most serious cases. Although celiac has apparently been around for a very long time, the cause of the symptoms was not identified until the mid-20th century. The question of what to do about Communion probably didn’t come up much before that time.

 

[victrolatim]

GOOD incense means a lot. It really does

I’ve always had the opposite reaction to incense. It clears my sinuses like Vix vapor rub. When I have a sinus infection I wish I could call a priest and have him come to my home with a thurible and walk around me like the altar at a high mass.

 

[Fiasco]

A parish supporting intinction. That’s nice to see. saintpetercatholic.com/receiving-communion-by-intinction.html

This parish really seems to have thought things through. One can receive under one species either in hand or on tongue. If one wants to receive both species it’s via intinction and then on the tongue of course. Very nice to see this so well planned out.

Apart from coeliac “disease” sufferers:
Receiving the Precious Blood can give some people the idea that the Host is only Our Lord’s (bloodless) Body. The practice of giving under both Species was stopped because some of Hus’ 15th Century followers had that mistaken belief.
(Better not forget Soul and Divinity.)

I’ve always had the opposite reaction to incense. It clears my sinuses like Vix vapor rub. When I have a sinus infection I wish I could call a priest and have him come to my home with a thurible and walk around me like the altar at a high mass.

Give the priest a call, lie in a pine box, and pretend you’re dead.
Tempting fate, though?

 

[Phemie]

GOOD incense means a lot. It really does.

I** have witnessed people begin to cough at the SIGHT of the thurible** in protest. Sadly, much politics surrounds the use of incense…

I agree. I am convinced that were we to bring out a brand new thurible with nothing in it there would be people coughing.

But that’s not to say that nobody is affected by the use of incense. My daughter was an altar server but also has asthma. We learned pretty quickly that she couldn’t serve when there was incense being used. At those times we would sit near at the back of the church where she would be less likely to have a reaction and from where we could make a quick exit if required.

 

[Phemie]

Intinction was quite common in my parish, pre-V2. It was done at all “major Masses” – Christmas, Easter, feast day for the parish’s saint, etc. It’s how I received first communion. They prepared us to receive the host. They did not prepare us to receive the intincted host. The taste really threw me for a loop.

I never witnessed intinction before Vat. II. Truth be told, I’ve never witnessed Communion by intinction offered by the priest in any parish I’ve attended.

I have witnessed the forbidden practice of “self-intinction” in many parishes, though, since we’ve been allowed to receive the Precious Blood. Thankfully that has died down in ours but I’ve noticed a few new parishioners who still do it so I guess it’s time for another note in the bulletin.

 

[exnihilo]

The practice of giving under both Species was stopped because some of Hus’ 15th Century followers had that mistaken belief.
(Better not forget Soul and Divinity.)

Actually the practice of only offering communion in one kind preceded the Ultraquist Hussites. I think it was around the thirteenth century when the cup began to be reserved for the priest alone. One of the Hussite demands was to be allowed to receive under both kinds. After the Hussite Wars under the terms of peace they were in fact granted the right to receive under both kinds.

 

[Solomonson]

I agree. I am convinced that were we to bring out a brand new thurible with nothing in it there would be people coughing.

But that’s not to say that nobody is affected by the use of incense. My daughter was an altar server but also has asthma. We learned pretty quickly that she couldn’t serve when there was incense being used. At those times we would sit near at the back of the church where she would be less likely to have a reaction and from where we could make a quick exit if required.

Some years ago there were four of us that used to serve “big masses” at my parish. Because incense was not always used, we would give the church a very heavy sensing about 45 minutes before Mass. No one ever mentioned anything (no one else was inside the church yet.)

One of the other guys bought a very old, very large and ornate thurible on eBay which he restored. It was gorgeous but I said words to the effect that even its presence would cause people to cough. He thought that was funny and agreed.

About a month later he very lavishly sensed the church about 10 minutes before Mass – when it was already full of people using his new thurible. Many people began to cough loudly.

What did he thurible contain? Crushed dry ice and water…

 

[Solomonson]

I never witnessed intinction before Vat. II. Truth be told, I’ve never witnessed Communion by intinction offered by the priest in any parish I’ve attended.

I have witnessed the forbidden practice of “self-intinction” in many parishes, though, since we’ve been allowed to receive the Precious Blood. Thankfully that has died down in ours but I’ve noticed a few new parishioners who still do it so I guess it’s time for another note in the bulletin.

We certainly had intinction before VC2. Then again abuse is nothing new in my parish. It certainly did not begin with VC2.