Thurible - WikiHQ

thumb|A single chain thurible, as used by some Western churches

right|thumb|[[Stained glass window depiction of a thurible, St. Ignatius Church, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts]]

thumb|Clockwise from upper left: Thurible, cup from inside thurible, incense boat, charcoal holder, and tongs|185x185px

A thurible (via Old French from Medieval Latin ) is a metal incense burner suspended from chains, in which incense is burned during worship services. It is used in Christian churches, including those of the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Assyrian Church of the East, Oriental Orthodox, Lutheran and Old Catholic denominations, as well as in some Continental Reformed, Presbyterian, Methodist and Anglican churches (with its use almost universal amongst Anglican churches of Anglo Catholic churchmanship). The acolyte or altar server who carries the thurible is called the thurifer.

In Christianity, the use of incense is symbolic of "cleansing and purification", as well as its fragrance suggesting "Christ’s robe of righteousness" that covers the sin of humankind. (especially in the consecration of new lodges), and in Co-Freemasonry. Thuribles are sometimes employed in the practice of ceremonial magic.

The workings of a thurible are quite simple. Each thurible consists of a censer section, chains (typically three or four, although single-chain thuribles also exist), a metal ring around the chains (used to lock the lid of the censer section in place), and usually (although not always) a removable metal crucible in which the burning charcoals are placed. Many thuribles are supplied with a stand, allowing the thurible to be hung safely when still hot, but not in use. Burning charcoal is placed inside the metal censer, either directly into the bowl section, or into a removable crucible if supplied, and incense (of which there are many different varieties) is placed upon the charcoal, where it melts to produce a sweet smelling smoke. This may be done several times during the service as the incense burns quite quickly. Once the incense has been placed on the charcoal the thurible is then closed and used for censing. In Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and Eucharistic Adoration in the Roman Rite, incense is also used, and is required if the Blessed Sacrament is exposed in a monstrance rather than being in a ciborium. Incense is also burnt on the altar during its consecration by a bishop in the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church.

The number of swings of the thurible to be used when incensing persons or objects is specified in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal:

Three double swings: the Most Blessed Sacrament, a relic of the Holy Cross and images of the Lord exposed for public veneration, the offerings for the sacrifice of the Mass, the altar cross, the Book of the Gospels, the Paschal Candle, the priest, and the people.
Two double swings (and only at the beginning of the celebration, after the incensing of the altar): relics and images of the Saints exposed for public veneration.
A series of single swings: the altar.
The priest may incense the offerings for Mass by tracing a cross over them with the thurible instead of using three swings of the thurible.

thumb|[[John M. Quinn|John Michael Quinn, Bishop of Winona-Rochester, swinging a thurible over the offering at Mass|204x204px]]

The responsibilities of a thurifer include:

Holding the thurible open to enable the priest to put incense in it, after which he blesses it with the Sign of the Cross without using any formula of words.
Carrying the thurible in procession (gently swinging if needed to keep the charcoal burning).
Presenting the thurible to the priest or deacon when they need to use it.
Incensing (in the absence of a deacon) the priest after the priest has incensed the offering at Mass.

Another server, previously called a boat boy and now more commonly a boat bearer, They also direct that incensing the altar be done with single swings at 29 designated points of an altar attached to the rear wall of the sanctuary, and at 22 points of a freestanding altar.

Ambrosian Rite

In the Ambrosian Rite, the thurible has no top cover, and is swung clockwise before censing a person or object.

Lutheran Rite

In the Lutheran Churches, the thurible is carried by an acolyte known as the thurifer.

Its use is normative during the celebration of the Mass, during "the entrance procession (marking the space and the gathered people of God), the gospel procession (marking the highpoint of the Word portion of the service), at the offertory to cense the bread and wine (marking the Meal portion), and at sending (heightening the importance of our ministry in the world)."

File:SSB-Högmässa i Helga Trefaldighets kyrka i Uppsala rökelse.jpg|Evangelical-Lutheran acolytes (with the thurifer and torchbearers in the center) during the recessional of the High Mass at Holy Trinity Church in Uppsala on the Feast Day of the Apostles Philip and James the Less

File:Mariagårdens kapell, Norrtälje kyrka.jpg|A thurible sits atop the altar of the Lady Chapel of Norrtälje Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Sweden

File:Mariagårdens kapell, Norrtälje kyrka (detalj).jpg|A thurible adjacent to the altar cross of the Marian Chapel of Norrtälje Evangelical-Lutheran Church, part of the Archdiocese of Uppsala

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Anglican Rite

thumb|A thurible used in an Anglican church, cover open and hanging from a wooden holder

Use of incense was abandoned in the Church of England by the turn of the 19th century and was later thought to be illegal. Today, the use of incense in an Anglican church is a fairly reliable guide to churchmanship, that is, how 'high' (more Catholic in liturgical style) or how 'low' (more Reformed) the individual church is. Anglo-Catholic churches may use generous quantities of incense. In recent years, some middle-of-the-road Anglican churches have taken to using incense a few times a year for special occasions. The use of incense and chimes is colloquially called "smells and bells" by members of high church parishes, some as an inside joke, while others see it as a pejorative.

The number of points within the liturgy at which an Anglican church may use incense varies. If incense is used at the entrance procession, a thurifer holding the smoking thurible leads the procession and on arrival at the altar the bishop or priest presiding censes it either immediately after the introit or during the Gloria in excelsis Deo, if this is sung. Incense may also be used at the reading of the gospel: after the announcement of the gospel, the book is censed left, centre and right.

If an Anglican church uses incense at only one point of the service, it does so at the offertory. The gifts and the altar are first censed; then follows censing of the priest (three swings of the thurible), of the other clergy (single swing to the gospel side and another to the epistle side), the choir (single or triple swing to either side) and the congregation (a swing to the gospel side, another to the epistle side and another to the middle).

Incense is also used at Solemn Evensong, which by definition is a sung celebration of vespers with use of incense.

Byzantine Rite

The Eastern Orthodox Church, as well as the Byzantine Rite Eastern Catholic Churches and Eastern Lutheran Churches, make frequent use of incense, not only at the Divine Liturgy

References

External links

Holy Smoke: The Use of Incense in the Catholic Church.
Images of the Thurible used during Mass at All Saints' Church, King's Lynn
About Censing rubrics, Orthodox Church in America