Thurible
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A thurible is a metal censer suspended from chains, in which incense is burned during worship services. It is used in the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, Episcopal, Old Catholic, and some Lutheran and other churches, as well as in Christian and non-Christian Gnostic Catholic Churches and in Magick. In Catholic and Anglican churches, the altar server who carries the thurible is called the thurifer.
The workings of a thurible are quite simple. Heated charcoal is inside the actual metal censer. Incense, sometimes of many different varieties is placed upon the charcoal. 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.
The word "thurible" comes from the Old French thurible, which in turn is derived from the Latin term "thuribulum". The Latin word thuribulum has the root "thur", meaning incense. The Latin "thur" is an alteration of the Greek word "thuos", which is derived from the term "thein", meaning to sacrifice.
Contents |
[edit] Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Usage
The Eastern Orthodox Church and Eastern Catholic Churches makes frequent use of incense, not only at the Divine Liturgy (Eucharist), but also at Vespers, Matins and a number of other occasional services (see Euchologion). During funeral services and memorial services (Panikhida), the censer is swung almost continuously.
Incense is understood as symbolizing the sanctifying grace of the Holy Spirit and the prayers of the Saints rising to heaven.
Incense in offered by the priest or deacon during the services. The censer (thurible) used is often gold plated (combining in itself at the offering of incense the three gifts of the Magi: gold, frankincense, and myrrh). The censer will usually have three chains (for the Holy Trinity), and in the Greek practice twelve bells will be attached to the chains (their ringing symbolizes the teaching of the twelve Apostles). When censing, the priest or deacon holds the censer with only one hand (the right hand) allowing it to swing freely. He will make the Sign of the Cross with the censer by making two vertical swings and a third horizontal swing (the three swings together symbolizing the Holy Trinity).
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 reader, 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). During Holy 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 the Passion of Christ.
The faithful will often burn incense in the home during Morning and Evening Prayers, and it is not unusual for the head of the household to bless the Holy Icons and all of the members of the household with a hand censer.
[edit] Traditional Roman Catholic Use
The responsibilities of a thurifer include:
- Holding the thurible while the priest is blessing the incense inside of it.
- Carrying the thurible in procession (gently swinging if needed to keep the charcoal burning).
- Presenting the thurible to the priest or deacon at different times in the ceremony, (for, at the Gospel readings and before the Eucharist at Mass)
- At Mass, if no deacon is present, the server incenses the priest after the priest incenses the gifts.
A thurifer may be helped by another server carrying a boat or container for fresh incense to add as the thurible burns low. Such a server is commonly called a "boat bearer."
A famous thurible is the huge Botafumeiro in Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, Spain.
The manner in which the rite of incensation is carried out:
Traditionally and at Papal liturgies-
- Three sets of triple swings: When incensing the Most Blessed Sacrament
- Three sets of double swings: When incensing images, relics, and other sacramentals, also when incensing the celebrant and other clergy, and the congregation.
In the present General Instruction of the Roman Missal-
- Three sets of a single swing are used in all cases.
[edit] After the reforms of the Second Vatican Council
In the revised Roman Missal incense is optional during the various liturgical celebrations and at any Mass, thus, in the entrance procession, at the Gospel, at the Preparation of the Gifts, at the elevation of the Sacred Host and Chalice, and in the Recessional.
After the incensation of the altar at the Preparation of the Gifts, the priest celebrant may be incensed, followed by concelebrants and other ministers of the altar, followed by the lay faithful.
Despite the wider use of incense provided for in the revised Roman Missal at Mass, incense is sometimes not used as frequently in parochial settings as before the liturgical revisions of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council.
In the Roman Catholic Church, the proper container for the burning of incense is the thurible, which includes either one or four chains, or a brazier (a standing container for the incense), which is used exclusively in the consecration of a new altar. The practice of using other vessels for the burning of incense is not proper to the celebration of the sacred liturgy in the Roman Rite.
[edit] Thuribles in Anglicanism
In the Anglican Communion, the use of incense is a fairly reliable guide to how 'high' (more Catholic in liturgical style) or how 'low' (more Protestant) a 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.]
