www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West use of incense in western Catholic mass

whenever i attend a novus ordo mass in a western catholic church, i never see the use of incense. unless its christmas or pascha. isnt incense to be used every sunday? and for those well aquainted with the tridentine use mass, when is incense used then. thanks

Mateusz,

At the Newman Center that I used to attend, incense was used only during Lent. I honestly can't explain its virtual disappearance from some Novus Ordo parishes. As with the abandonment of Latin and the devolution of church achitechture, I suppose it's a case of throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

God bless,

Chirs

Sorry about the double post!

Incense is used at one of the weekend Masses at my parish and at a number I attend that say the Novus Ordo in Latin. Overall, I would concur that its use is declining, which is certainly a pity.

Mateusz, Theopeug, and Chance:

The use of incense in the Latin Church is not an every-Sunday occurence as a rule. The Pope and bishops, when they serve, usually use it because the use of incense indicates a fuller and more solemn celebration of the Liturgy.

In the Tridentine usage, incense was limited to "High Masses" and the normal Sunday usage was the Low Mass that omitted incense.

I would guess that the omission of incense in the normal course of Sunday Liturgy springs from that tradition borrowed from the old Low Mass. In the parishes I've lived in, incense is used for the great solemnities--Christmas and Pascha--and for funerals. The other exceptions have been times when the local bishop has been the celebrant.

So, don't be surprised at this being normal practice.

BOB

thanks for the responses...so overall the use of incense in the western liturgy(tridentine or novus ordo) has never been as frequently used as and byantine liturgy? I have been to a coptic liturgy and incense is used like the byzantine, as freuqently. how about other rites?(maronite, armenian, syro-malabar, etc) if anyone has any experience. thanks

Ever been to the beautiful St. Mary the Virgin Anglican church in midtown Manhattan where incense is used very generously? As a result, some refer to the church as "Smokey Mary's".

From my memory of the Tridentine Mass back in the 1950s, incense was only used for a "Solemn" High Mass, which was celebrated only on special feast days. At this Mass there was a subdeacon and deacon, and thus someone to swing the censer besides the main celebrant. In actual practice, of course, the subdeacon and deacon were assistant priests in the parish. Incense was not used at either the High or Low Masses on ordinary Sundays or weekdays.

The only other time I remember incense being used was for funerals, blessing the casket.

Sophia

Indeed Incense is rarely used now

As has been stated Christmas and Easter basicall , plus funerals and other more infrequent solemn occasions such as Ordinations and Thanksgiving Masses where there are enough people to allow for this .

It's sad because the people in the pews do appreciate it - and if the incense is chosen carefully it is not acrid and does not give rise to many problems of coughing.

Thank goodness we still use it freely - after all the smoke rises to God taking our prayer with it

On our journey home we attended a RC near our home. Plain walls and I don't even remember any statuary and certainly no incense. I asked the priest if they ever used incense. He said, "No, the people don't like it." I never went back. Not only do I believe that incense is part of worship I had heard that rational before on many occasions. It's a copout used by many Protestant ministers in order to protect themselves from those who really run the Church.

CDL

Mr Lauffer - I really am surprised at this post.

Many people cannot tolerate Incensce due to allergies . I personally regret that is is not used as much as previously - but I have to show tolerance to other folk - maybe you should do the same.

How dare you describe a Catholic Church as being Protestant even if it does not have Catholic in its name.

For shame on you

Therese

In point of fact, Dan was describing the Roman Catholic segment of the Catholic Church as being Protestant in form of worship � not all Catholics.

Contrary to the manner in which you used the term, Catholic Church does not equate to Roman Catholic alone.


~Isaac

People who have lived the various Catholic traditions for more than a few visits, including Orthdoox Catholic traditions, are not going to play 'my Church is better than your Church' with you. They will see the fruits of the Holy Spirit evident wherever there are valid sacraments and the true faith.

Don't lash out at those who have not managed to find that sort of caritas and insight in their lives. You wind up just as they are.

Eli

Just as an aside, I spend every Sunday in a small chapel with all kinds of folks with all kinds of different tolerence levels and allergies, including myself. There's no difficulty and the air is full of incense all throughout the liturgy.

Allergies are an excuse. And there is no excuse for buying cheap incense.

The fact that the Latin rite has not used incense liberally for many centuries is no shame. It is simply a different tradition.

Don't try to explain it away to people who live with it weekly, daily, under all kinds of personal physical conditions. That will not ever net you any respect as a credible witness.

Accept your rite and love and live it. That is a far better witness.

Eli

Folk I think we are getting a bit heated here