Athurible (viaOld French fromMedieval Latinturibulum) is a metalincense burner suspended from chains, in whichincense is burned duringworship services. It is used in Christian churches, including those of theRoman Catholic,Eastern Orthodox,Assyrian Church of the East,Oriental Orthodox,Lutheran andOld Catholic denominations, as well as in someContinental Reformed,Presbyterian,Methodist andAnglican churches (with its use almost universal amongst Anglican churches ofAnglo Catholic churchmanship). Theacolyte oraltar server who carries the thurible is called thethurifer.[1] The practice is rooted in the earlier traditions ofJudaism dating from the time of theSecond Jewish Temple, and is still ceremoniously utilized in someRenewal communities.[2]
In Christianity, the use of incense issymbolic of "cleansing and purification", as well as its fragrance suggesting "Christ’s robe of righteousness" that covers the sin of humankind.[1]
Beyond its ecclesiastical and synagogal use, the thurible is also employed in various other spiritual or ceremonial traditions, including someGnostic Churches,Freemasonry[3] (especially in the consecration of newlodges), and inCo-Freemasonry. Thuribles are sometimes employed in the practice ofceremonial magic.[4][5]
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 metalcrucible 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 metalcenser, either directly into the bowl section, or into a removable crucible if supplied, andincense (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.[2]
A famous thurible is the hugeBotafumeiro inSantiago de Compostela Cathedral,Spain.[2]
The wordthurible comes from theOld Frenchthurible, which in turn is derived from the Latin termthuribulum. The Latinthuribulum is further formed from the rootthus, meaning 'incense'.Thus is an alteration of theAncient Greek wordθύος (thuos), which is derived fromθύειν (thuein) "to sacrifice".[2]
The use of incense in Christianity is inspired by passages in theBible; its use in prayer and worship carries with it aChristian symbolism:[1]
Incense is mentioned frequently in the Hebrew Scriptures. The psalmist expresses the symbolism of incense and prayer: "Let my prayer rise like incense before you; the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice." (Psalm 141:1). In the Gospel, Zechariah is in the temple at the time of the incense offering (Luke 1) and the gifts the Magi offered to the Christ Child included gold, frankincense and myrrh. In Second Corinthians the knowledge of Christ is compared to a fragrant odor (2:14-16). The vision of heaven in Revelation includes the elders holding bowls of incense, described as the prayers of the saints (Revelation 5:8). The clouds of incense represent cleansing and purification, and the sweet smell suggests Christ's robe of righteousness that covers our sin.[1]—"Why and how do we use incense in worship?",Evangelical Lutheran Church in America[1]
TheRoman Missal,as revised in 1969, allows the use of incense at any Mass: in the entrance procession; at the beginning of Mass to incense the cross and the altar; at theGospel procession and proclamation; after the bread and the chalice have been placed upon the altar, to incense the offerings, the cross, and the altar, as well as the priest and the people; at theelevation of the host and the chalice after the consecration.[6] InBenediction of the Blessed Sacrament andEucharistic Adoration in the Roman Rite, incense is also used, and is required if theBlessed Sacrament is exposed in amonstrance rather than being in aciborium. Incense is also burnt on thealtar 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 theGeneral Instruction of the Roman Missal:
The responsibilities of a thurifer include:
Another server, previously called aboat boy and now more commonly aboat bearer,[2] 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.[8] 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 thesanctuary, and at 22 points of a freestanding altar.[2]
The 1960Code of Rubrics, incorporated into the1962 Roman Missal, envisaged the use of incense atSolemn Mass andMissa cantata, but not atLow Mass.[9]
In theAmbrosian Rite, the thurible has no top cover, and is swung clockwise before censing a person or object.[10]
In theLutheran Churches, the thurible is carried by anacolyte known as the thurifer.[11]
Its use is normative during the celebration of theMass, 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)."[1] TheBook of the Gospels, the altar, the Eucharistic elements, as well as the priest and faithful are incensed during various portions of theDivine Service.[1]
It is additionally used during the praying of thecanonical hours in Lutheran churches: "DuringMorning Prayer andEvening Prayer the altar is often censed during the Gospel Canticle, connecting daily prayer with its central foundation, the weekly celebration of Holy Communion."[1]
Use of incense was abandoned in theChurch of England by the turn of the 19th century[12] and was later thought to be illegal.[13][14] Today, the use of incense in an Anglican church is a fairly reliable guide tochurchmanship, that is, how 'high' (more Catholic in liturgical style) or how 'low' (more Reformed) the individual church is.[15]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.[16]
The number of points within the liturgy at which an Anglican church may use incense varies. If incense is used at the entrance procession, athurifer holding the smoking thurible leads the procession and on arrival at the altar the bishop or priest presiding censes it either immediately after theintroit or during theGloria in excelsis Deo, if this is sung.[17][18][19] 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.[20]
If an Anglican church uses incense at only one point of the service, it does so at the offertory.[21] 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).[22][23]
Incense is also used at Solemn Evensong, which by definition is a sung celebration ofvespers with use of incense.[24]
TheEastern Orthodox Church, as well as theByzantine RiteEastern Catholic Churches andEastern Lutheran Churches, make frequent use of incense, not only at theDivine Liturgy[2] (Eucharist), but also atVespers,Matins and a number of other occasional services (seeEuchologion). Duringfuneral services and memorial services (Panikhida), the censer is swung almost continuously.
Incense is understood as symbolizing the sanctifying grace of theHoly Spirit and the prayers of theSaints rising to heaven. Incense is offered by the priest or deacon during the services. In some traditions, theecclesiarch (sacristan) and his assistant (paraecclesiarch) performs the censing at specific moments of the service.
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 theBiblical Magi:gold,frankincense, andmyrrh). The thurible consists of a metal bowl (usually with a base so it can stand upright) into which the charcoal and incense are placed, and a lid (often topped with across), pierced by holes to allow the fragrance from the incense to escape. The censer usually has three outer chains (for theHoly Trinity) attached to the bowl, and a fourth inner chain (for theOneness of God) attached to the lid. The three outer chains are gathered together and attached to a round conical plate attached to a ring; the inner chain passes through a hole in the conical plate and is attached to another ring to make it easier to lift the lid. In the Greek and some Russian practice twelve bells are attached to the chains (their ringing symbolizes the teaching of thetwelve Apostles).[2] Sometimes the bowl and lid of the thurible are decorated with crosses oricons inrepousse, and may even be decorated withsemi-precious stones. When not in use the thurible is usually hung from a hook in the sanctuary.
When censing, the priest or deacon holds the censer below the conical plate with only the right hand, allowing it to swing freely. He makes theSign of the Cross with the censer by making two vertical swings and a third horizontal swing (the three swings together symbolizing the Holy Trinity).
When thetemple (church building) is censed, the deacon or priest proceeds in a clockwise direction, moving to his right as he censes in order theHoly Table (altar), sanctuary,Iconostasis, walls of the temple, clergy and faithful. There are two types of censing: a Greater Censing (which encompasses the entire temple and all of the people therein), and a Lesser Censing (which, depending upon the liturgical context, consists of censing only a portion of the temple and the people).
During some censings, especially the Greater Censing, the clergyman who is performing the censing often carries a candle in his left hand. DuringBright Week (the week which begins onEaster Sunday) the priest and the deacon carries specialPaschal candles at every censing, even the Lesser Censing. While carrying the Paschal candles, the priest or deacon greets the members of the congregation with thePaschal greeting while censing them. Simpletapers are carried while censing duringfunerals andmemorial services.
During the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire) the emperor used to be permitted to offer incense on the Feast of theNativity (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 areader or seniorlayman, but with a hand censer which has no chains on it, but rather a handle (it often has bells as well, suspended from the handle or around the rim). The hand censer is also used in somemonasteries even when a priest is present for certain censings which are done by a monastic other than a vested priest or deacon.
DuringHoly Week it is customary in some places for even the priest and deacon to use the hand censer for all of the censings, as a sign of humility and mourning at thePassion of Christ.
The faithful 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 HolyIcons and all of the members of the household with a hand censer.
Theboat boy orboat bearer is a junioraltar server position found in Catholic, Lutheran and Anglican churches. The role of a boat boy is to assist the thurifer, the senior altar server who carries the thurible.[2] The boat bearer carries theincense boat [de], a small metal container, Latinnavicula, which holds the supplies of incense. The boat has asmall spoon inside, Latincochlearium, 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.
In "The Miller's Tale" ofGeoffrey Chaucer'sThe 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).[25]
