Thurible
A thurible (via
Beyond its ecclesiastical use, the thurible is also employed in various other spiritual or ceremonial traditions, including some Gnostic Churches, Freemasonry[2] (especially in the consecration of new lodges), and in Co-Freemasonry. Thuribles are sometimes employed in the practice of ceremonial magic.[3][4]
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.[1]
A famous thurible is the huge
Etymology
The word thurible comes from the Old French thurible, which in turn is derived from the Latin term thuribulum. The Latin thuribulum is further formed from the root thus, meaning 'incense'. Thus is an alteration of the Ancient Greek word θύος (thuos), which is derived from θύειν (thuein) "to sacrifice".[1]
Roman Rite
The
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 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.[6]
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 Crosswithout 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,[1] may carry a boat or container of incense with a small spoon to add grains as the thurible burns low.
These rules, except for the manner of incensing the offerings at Mass, applied also before 1969. Earlier editions of the Roman Missal prescribe that the offerings be incensed by forming over them with the thurible three crosses and then three circles, the first two anticlockwise and last clockwise, while also saying a prescribed prayer with the words matching the strokes.[7] 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.[1]
The 1960
Ambrosian Rite
In the Ambrosian Rite, the thurible has no top cover, and is swung clockwise before censing a person or object.[9]
Anglicanism
Use of incense was abandoned in the
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
If an Anglican church uses incense at only one point of the service, it does so at the offertory.[19] 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).[20][21]
Incense is also used at Solemn Evensong, which by definition is a sung celebration of vespers with use of incense.[22]
Byzantine Rite
The
Incense is understood as symbolizing the sanctifying grace of the
The thurible (
When censing, the priest or deacon holds the censer below the conical plate with only one hand (the right hand) allowing it to swing freely. He will make the
When the
During some censings, especially the Greater Censing, the clergyman who is performing the censing will often carry a candle in his left hand. During
During the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire) the emperor used to be permitted to offer incense on the Feast of the Nativity (no doubt as a memorial of the gifts of the Magi), but was permitted to perform no other priestly function.
If no priest is available, incense may be offered by a
During
The faithful will often burn incense, using a hand censer, in the home during Morning and Evening Prayers, and it is not unusual for the head of the household to bless the Holy
-
OrthodoxGreat Vespers
-
An Eastern Orthodox censer, gold with four chains and bells
-
Armenian Church, Kolkata
Boat boy
The boat boy or boat bearer is a junior altar server position found in Catholic and Anglican churches. The role of a boat boy is to assist the thurifer, the senior altar server who carries the thurible.[1] The boat bearer carries the incense boat , a small metal container, Latin navicula, which holds the supplies of incense. The boat has a small spoon inside, Latin cochlearium, which is used to transfer the grains of incense onto the red-hot charcoals in the thurible. Although at times the boat bearer transfers the incense himself, more usually he simply holds the boat open as the priest performs this task.
References in culture and literature
In "The Miller's Tale" of Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales, it is noted that Absolon, "Gooth with a sencer [Middle English spelling of censer] on the haliday, / Sensynge the wyves of the parisshe faste; / And many a lovely look on hem he caste" (lines 3340–3342).[23]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Herrera, Matthew D. Holy Smoke: The Use of Incense in the Catholic Church. San Luis Obispo: Tixlini Scriptorium, 2011.
- ^ Reference at Masonic Encyclopedia, by Albert G Mackey.
- ISBN 0-8192-1768-9.
- ISBN 0-87728-919-0.
- ^ "General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 276" (PDF).
- ^ "General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 277" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-07-20.
- ^ Ritus servandus in celebratione Missae, VII, 10
- ^ Code of Rubrics, 426
- ^ The form of the thurible and the manner in which it is swung can be seen in this video
- ^ Dearmer, Percy (1928). The Parson's Handbook (11th ed.). London: Mowbray. p. 29.
- ^ Incense in Church (The Anglican Catholic Church), archived from the original on 2017-08-27
- ^ Illegal Ritual in the Church of England: Being a List of Unlawful Practices with Extracts from the Judgments Relating to Them (Church Association Tract 269), p. 6 (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-05-11
- ^ Anglicanism for Beginners: Thurible
- ^ An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church
- ^ Paul Marshall, The Bishop Is Coming (Church Publishing 2007), pp. 30−31
- ^ Directions for the Use of Incense at High Celebration of the Holy Eucharist (Canterbury Project)
- ^ The Ministry of Thurifer (Cathedral Church of Saint Matthew)
- ^ Marshall (2007), p. 57
- ^ Marshall (2007), p. 41
- ^ Marshall (2007), p. 62
- ^ Thurifer (Calvary Episcopal Church, Cleveland MS)
- ^ Marshall (2007), p. 78
- ^ "1.3 The Miller's Prologue and Tale". chaucer.fas.harvard.edu. Retrieved 2020-05-18.
External links
- Holy Smoke: The Use of Incense in the Catholic Church. Archived 2016-10-09 at the Wayback Machine
- Dodd, Robert (21 February 2009). "Role of the Thurifer". Dallas, Texas: Cathedral Church of Saint Matthew. Archived from the original on 23 September 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- Images of the Thurible used during Mass at All Saints' Church, King's Lynn Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine
- About Censing rubrics, Orthodox Church in America