The thurible (Greek: Θυμιατο, Thymiato; Church Slavonic: Кадило, Кадильница, kadilnitsa) is usually silver, brass or gold plated (combining in itself at the offering of incense the three gifts of the Biblical Magi: gold, frankincense, and myrrh).
As the priest rhythmically swings the censer, the aromatic smoke from the burning incense, with its sweet fragrance of frankincense and myrrh, rises and fills the sanctuary.
Incense is used during the final commendation at the Funeral Mass as a sign of honor to the body of the deceased, which through baptism became the temple of the Holy Spirit. It is also a sign of our prayers for the deceased rising to our Lord and as a symbol of farewell.
Roman Catholic Incense
The most common ingredient used is frankincense, although this may change from church to church. Many churches use frankincense, myrrh, a frankincense and myrrh blend, or even copal resin.
The thurifer (or a deacon) places incense in the thurible before the procession and incenses the Blessed Sacrament with three double swings when the host, and then the chalice, are shown after the consecration.
thurible, also called censer, vessel used in the Christian liturgy for the burning of aromatic incense strewn on lighted coals.
The usage of incense adds a sense of solemnity and mystery to the Mass. The visual imagery of the smoke and the smell remind us of the transcendence of the Mass which links heaven with earth, and allow us to enter into the presence of God.
Frankincense was one of the precious gifts brought by the Three Kings to the Baby Jesus—a sign of His role as priest in addition to His roles as prophet and king. In his apocalyptic visions of heaven, St.
Wide discretion is granted to the priest as to how frequently to use incense. Theoretically, it may be used at any Mass, although most parishes limit its use to Masses of particular solemnity, funerals, and eucharistic adoration and processions.
Chrism, also called myrrh, myron, holy anointing oil, and consecrated oil, is a consecrated oil used in the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Assyrian, Nordic Lutheran, Anglican, Old Catholic, and Latter Day Saint churches in the administration of certain sacraments and ecclesiastical functions.
The sprinkling and the pall are two of many symbols in the funeral liturgies which recall baptism. They remind us of the gift of faith received by the faithful departed, their life in Christ and their hope of resurrection. The Vigil may be celebrated in the funeral home as part of remembering the loved one.
Purple, a color traditionally tied to notions of royalty and dignity, is less frequently seen but still bears significant meaning in funeral flower arrangements. Purple flowers, like lavender or violets, often stand as a symbol of admiration and honor for a life that was well-lived.
Depending on the traditions and customs observed by the individual the most traditional items include sympathy flowers, baked goods and desserts, fruit, dried fruit, & nuts, and assorted chocolates.
Palo santo sticks are burned as a sacred tool in spiritual ceremonies like smudging, which has varying purposes but is commonly said to cleanse negative energy. These practices have their roots in indigenous cultures, but palo santo is used in Catholic religious ceremonies in Latin America, too.
The odour of sanctity (also spelled odor), according to the Catholic Church, is commonly understood to mean a specific scent (often compared to flowers) that emanates from the bodies of saints, especially from the wounds of stigmata.
René Schönefeld's incense Vatican is a mixture of yellow, green, red and black glazed gum granules with lavender blossoms. Vatican's fragrance is a classic combination of different types of incense, with oriental notes and hints of spring flowers, cinnamon and cloves.
Incense is prayer in action:
As Catholics, we express our worship of Almighty God in words and gestures. The burning of incense is a prayer in itself; a prayer in action. Furthermore, for Catholics prayer is action, and that action becomes ever more present through the visual and sensory experience of incense.
They usually begin with cross and candles, some needed ministers next, and the one who leads prayer at the end. On more festive days, incense may be added, as well as banners, the Book of the Gospels, and others who will be the special focus of the community's prayer. A Case Study on Wedding Processions.
If you're curious about what frankincense smells like, most people describe its smell as earthy, woody, piney, or balsamic, and at the same time soft, sweet, and citrusy. Overall, it's a complex and wonderfully balanced aroma that helps calm the mind and soul.
The ingredients are detailed in Exodus 30:34, where Moses is tasked with making incense: Take fragrant spices – gum resin, onycha and galbanum – and pure frankincense, all in equal amounts. The origin of three of the ingredients are well known essential oils or resins of botanical origin.
Used in aromatherapy, Frankincense works as an expectorant to clear the nasal passageway, promote the relief of congestion, and encourage easy breathing. It's sweet, woody aroma is sedative and enhances mood by diminishing feelings of stress and anxiety while improving concentration and memory.
God directed Moses make sacred incense from herbs to burn in the tabernacle.
In Feng Shui, number 3 is the statue of the three realms: Heaven, Earth, Human. Therefore, when doing important things in life, people often burn 3 incense sticks on the altar and say special prayers.
According to the EPA, exposure to the particulate matter present in incense smoke has been linked to asthma, lung inflammation and even cancer. In fact, long-term exposure to incense smoke was found to be related to an increased risk for upper respiratory cancers as well as squamous cell lung cancer.