When is incense allowed to be used

[Usige]

I think there’s some placebo effect with the incense. People expect that it causes allergies, so they get real symptoms. If they were told that incense doesn’t cause reactions, I think there would be less complaints.

There is probably some truth in that, but there are a number of people that are sensitive to them. I still remember when I was confirmed, how my eyes burned from the balsam in the Chrism Oil. I had never smelled Chrism and no one had told me anything about it so it wasn’t a placebo. Then again it was right before Lent and the priest that received me used probably half the remaining stock of oil. I should have been prepared when he put a towel around my neck and handed me a second towel. I had Chrism in my ears, down my neck, and running through my hair.

Long and short is that if there is a high concentration of irritants it can cause problems for some people. It will affect them at differnt levels, but I’m pretty sure if anyone was locked in a small closet with burning incense that it would cause irritation.

 

[babochka]

My parish uses incense all the time, at every form of the Sunday Mass. It’s not a particularly rich parish, but we use good incense which burns well and our thurifurs know their duties well. I’m not aware that there is any problem. I’m on 2 different kinds of antihistamine for allergies and have no problem myself.

In the Byzantine Divine Liturgy, we use copious amounts of incense at every liturgy- much more than I’ve ever seen in a Mass. I have allergies and an uncontrollable cough, which are often triggered by strong smells. Perfume is a particularly bad trigger. Incense, however, is rarely a problem for me, even though where I sit in church often results in me being englufed in a cloud of smoke. I’m sure it is a trigger for some, though. I’ve heard that the quality of the incense makes a bit difference, and that would be consistent with my experience with perfumes. I have a worse reaction to cheap perfumes than to high quality varieties.

 

[TimothyH]

In the Byzantine Divine Liturgy, we use copious amounts of incense at every liturgy- much more than I’ve ever seen in a Mass. I have allergies and an uncontrollable cough, which are often triggered by strong smells. Perfume is a particularly bad trigger. Incense, however, is rarely a problem for me, even though where I sit in church often results in me being englufed in a cloud of smoke. I’m sure it is a trigger for some, though. I’ve heard that the quality of the incense makes a bit difference, and that would be consistent with my experience with perfumes. I have a worse reaction to cheap perfumes than to high quality varieties.

This is very true. High quality incense from known good sources is important and not only for those with allergies.

Lower quality incense from disreputable sources often have fillers. God only knows what’s in some of that cheap stuff.

 

[AdamP88]

When is incense allowed at a Novus Ordo mass? Can a priest technically use it whenever he wants?

I ask, because I really wish my parish used it more often. Especially when I get to be the Thurifer.

Entrance Procession, Gospel reading, Offertory. Deacon or server can incense the altar as well at the consecration.

At a funeral mass the priest incenses the coffin. And I think at wedding mass the Bride and Groom can be incensed after the vows.

I imagine that it may only be used when it’s appropriate to the liturgy.

 

[AdamP88]

I think there’s some placebo effect with the incense. People expect that it causes allergies, so they get real symptoms. If they were told that incense doesn’t cause reactions, I think there would be less complaints.

I agree, I remember serving at Sunday masses and we used incense every week. There’d always be complaints from the Choir after mass. We’d be like…they are soo faking it. One day we took the thurible out with nothing in it. After a few minutes the coughing started…proof that they were just reacting to seeing the thurible.

There’s nothing more beautiful (liturgically speaking) than the altar being surrounded by incense smoke. I’m getting married at the end of the year and I intend to ask the thurifer to “go nuts”.

 

[Wesrock]

A parish I went to in New Hampshire used incense at every 9:30 and 11:30 mass on Sunday (as a general rule). At the procession, over the gospel prior to reading, to incense the altar in preparation for the Eucharist. The pastor’s motto was that if you could see the altar there wasn’t enough incense. It was beautiful. I miss it a lot.

My current parish generally only uses it on solemnities and feast days. Nothing wrong with that, lol. I just appreciate the incense.

 

[AdamP88]

A parish I went to in New Hampshire used incense at every 9:30 and 11:30 mass on Sunday (as a general rule). At the procession, over the gospel prior to reading, to incense the altar in preparation for the Eucharist. The pastor’s motto was that if you could see the altar there wasn’t enough incense. It was beautiful. I miss it a lot.

My current parish generally only uses it on solemnities and feast days. Nothing wrong with that, lol. I just appreciate the incense.

YES…YES…YES! (Sorry…I’m enthusiastic about liturgy )

 

[twf]

I used to attend a Latin OF (Mass of Paul VI) at Holy Family parish in Toronto. Lots of incense, whole mass sung or chanted (except, IIRC, the first reading and the homily), etc. Very beautiful.

Incense at every Mass.

The Oratory Fathers are wonderful.

 

[twf]

Our Cathedral uses incense every Sunday at the 11 AM mass (which is always the most solemn). At the other seven Sunday masses it seems to be at the discretion of the priest, though it is quite common. For daily masses I almost never see it. Likewise, chant and even some Latin are very common for Sunday masses but rare for daily masses. As Father said earlier in the thread, chant, incense, and even Latin can be used to varying degrees to add solemnity to a particular liturgy in the Ordinary Form.

 

[twf]

Whenever you go to a Melkite (or any Byzantine, I’d imagine) Divine Liturgy (yes it makes me sneeze, but I don’t care)

Yes, an Eastern liturgy (Catholic or Orthodox) without incense would be unthinkable. I wonder how those sensitive to it in those communities deal?

 

[SyroMalankara]

Yes, an Eastern liturgy (Catholic or Orthodox) without incense would be unthinkable. I wonder how those sensitive to it in those communities deal?

Just go to the rear door, swallow a mouth full of air and continue.

 

[PhiloMed]

When I attended my husband’s cousin’s wedding at a Coptic Orthodox Church I thought I was going to run out of breathable air. My husband couldn’t help but laugh and say “we’re going to lose all the white people in the room”.

 

[babochka]

Just go to the rear door, swallow a mouth full of air and continue.

Pretty much. It bothers my daughter sometimes, usually when the entire church is being incensed. She just steps outside for a minute, then comes back in.

 

[peter26]

In the Ordinariate, we use incense every Sunday (at least, providing we are not short a server). In the parish, the Sunday morning Mass uses incense about half the time, but its not used at the vigil. That’s a nice compromise I guess for anyone who is strongly affected by it. I’m normally the thurifer for the Ordinariate Mass. I have allergies, but the only effect incense seems to have on me is I sometimes get a little choked up if trying to sing.

Incense is as far as I know always licit in the OF (and Ordinariate Use). When I’m in London I go to Mass at Westminster Cathedral, and there it is even used at daily Mass!

 

[Chatter163]

I don’t think any of the priests would go for that idea unfortunately. Incense is really expensive, and most of the congregation doesn’t like it too much.

No, incense is not really expensive. There are varying grades and qualities, but the middle-of-the road incense can give you a several months’ supply for about $40. Hardly a deal-breaker.

 

[Tarpeian_Rock]

I once attended an OF Sunday Mass in the cathedral in Vancouver (a “regular” Mass, archbishop wasn’t there) - and incense was used 5 times in the course of the Mass. Never saw that before.

 

[peter26]

I once attended an OF Sunday Mass in the cathedral in Vancouver (a “regular” Mass, archbishop wasn’t there) - and incense was used 5 times in the course of the Mass. Never saw that before.

The norm would be that incense is used in the opening procession and then used to cense the altar. The Book of the Gospels will be censed before the Gospel is read. The altar and the gifts and then censed at the offertory, followed by the priest and the people. Lastly, the thurifer will kneel in front of the altar and swing the thurible from the Sanctus to the Great Amen.

 

[twf]

I once attended an OF Sunday Mass in the cathedral in Vancouver (a “regular” Mass, archbishop wasn’t there) - and incense was used 5 times in the course of the Mass. Never saw that before.

That’s my cathedral . This is the norm at the 11 AM mass on Sundays for sure. The 11 AM mass is always the most solemn, whether the archbishop is there or not: lots of incense, lots of chant, the choir singing in Latin, etc. Other masses vary.
At least half the congregation also receives kneeling at the altar rail at all (OF) masses…and EMHC are barely used as the priests come in to help distribute at each mass. Confessions are heard 3 times a day, 6 days a week, and there’s ALWAYS a line. Four daily masses Monday to Saturday, all very well attended, and 7 on Sunday. The rosary is publicly recited 3 times a day. Lauds is said every morning. I’m very proud of our cathedral. Vancouver is very traditional compared to the rest of Canada.

 

[FabiusMaximus]

A parish I went to in New Hampshire used incense at every 9:30 and 11:30 mass on Sunday (as a general rule). At the procession, over the gospel prior to reading, to incense the altar in preparation for the Eucharist. The pastor’s motto was that if you could see the altar there wasn’t enough incense. It was beautiful. I miss it a lot.

My current parish generally only uses it on solemnities and feast days. Nothing wrong with that, lol. I just appreciate the incense.

I’d like to know where this parish is because I agree with that pastor. If you can see the altar there isn’t enough incense! Just adds to the reverence, I love the feel and the smell of it.

 

[UpUpAndAway]

I’d like to know where this parish is because I agree with that pastor. If you can see the altar there isn’t enough incense! Just adds to the reverence, I love the feel and the smell of it.

The parishioners here have learned it is futile to ask our pastor not to use incense for a Mass he will celebrate (that just guarantees that particular Mass will definitely have incense) or reduce the amount used (he’ll simply increase it ) I love incense. The more, the better. Let it smoke, baby, let it smoke.

Before anyone thinks Fr. B’s stance is insensitive to those with low or no tolerance for incense, please note that we use incense for roughly 10-15% of our Sunday/HDO Masses, and there is at least one Mass without incense on those Sundays/HDOs (Epiphany excepted). The incense-intolerant have options.

Funerals are a different matter, but in my four years of sacristy service I have only seen one for which incense was omitted (at the insistence of the deceased’s family).