Stained glass window depiction of a thurible, St. Ignatius Church, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

A thurible is a metal censer suspended from chains, in which incense is burned during worship services. It is used in the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, Episcopal, Old Catholic, and some Lutheran churches, as well as in Christian and non-Christian Gnostic Catholic Churches and in the practice of magick.^[1][2] In Catholic, Episcopal, and Anglican churches, the altar server who carries the thurible is called the thurifer. Image File history File linksMetadata BC_St. ... Image File history File linksMetadata BC_St. ... Strictly speaking, stained glass is glass that has been painted with silver stain and then fired. ... Saint Ignatius of Loyola, also known as Ignacio (Iñigo) López de Loyola (December 24, 1491 – July 31, 1556), was the principal founder and first Superior General of the Society of Jesus, a religious order of the Catholic Church professing direct service to the Pope in terms of mission. ... Boston College and the Chestnut Hill Reservoir Located 6 miles west of Boston, Chestnut Hill is a wealthy suburb notable for its stately old houses, scenic landscape and the historic campus of Boston College. ... A censer is a vessel for burning incense. ... Incense is composed of aromatic organic materials. ... Taken during a Hindu prayer ceremony on the eve of Diwali. ... Eastern Orthodoxy (also called Greek Orthodoxy and Russian Orthodoxy) is a Christian tradition which represents the majority of Eastern Christianity. ... Anglicanism commonly refers to the beliefs and practices of the Anglican Communion, the churches that are in full communion with the see of Canterbury. ... Main article: Anglicanism The Anglican Communion is a world-wide affiliation of Anglican Churches. ... The Old Catholic Church is not so much a religious denomination, as a community, part of whose member churches split from the Roman Catholic church in 1870. ... The Lutheran movement is a group of denominations of Protestant Christianity by the original definition. ... For other uses, see Christian (disambiguation). ... For references to other Gnostic churches, see Gnostic church. ... This article refers to the magical system of Aleister Crowley and Thelema. ... An altar server is a lay assistant to a member of the clergy during a religious service. ...

The workings of a thurible are quite simple. Burning charcoal is inside the 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. A censer is a vessel for burning incense. ... Incense is composed of aromatic organic materials. ...

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. Old French was the Romance dialect continuum spoken in territories corresponding roughly to the northern half of modern France and parts of Belgium and Switzerland from around 1000 to 1300 A.D. It was known at the time as the langue doïl to distinguish it from the langue...

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. Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Coptic Orthodox Pope · Roman Catholic Pope Archbishop of Canterbury · Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      Faith... The Eastern Catholic Churches are autonomous particular Churches in full communion with the Pope of Rome. ... The Divine Liturgy is the common term for the Eucharistic service of the Byzantine tradition of Christian liturgy. ... Vespers is the evening prayer service in the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox liturgies of the canonical hours. ... For the Anglican service of Mattins see Morning Prayer Matins is the early morning prayer service in the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox liturgies of the canonical hours. ... The euchologion is The name of one of the chief Service-books of the Byzantine Church; it corresponds more or less to theCatholic Missal and Ritual. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A memorial service (Greek: μνημόσυνο, mnemósyno, memorial, or παραστάς, parastás, wake; Church Slavonic: панахіда, panahída, панихїда, panikhída) is a liturgical observance in honor of the departed which is served in the Eastern Orthodox and Greek-Catholic Churches. ...

Incense is understood as symbolizing the sanctifying grace of the Holy Spirit and the prayers of the Saints rising to heaven. Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      In mainstream Christianity, the... General definition of saint In general, the term Saint refers to someone who is exceptionally virtuous and holy. ...

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). This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... This article concerns the holy Trinity of Christianity. ... Alternate meaning: See Apostle (Mormonism) The Christian Apostles were Jewish men chosen from among the disciples, who were sent forth (as indicated by the Greek word απόστολος apostolos= messenger), by Jesus to preach the Gospel to both Jews and Gentiles, across the... For other uses, see Sign of the cross (disambiguation). ...

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. Byzantine Empire at its greatest extent c. ... Christmas is an annual holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus. ...

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. In some Christian churches, the Reader is responsible for reading aloud excerpts of the scripture at a liturgy. ... Holy Week (Latin: ) in Christianity is the last week of Lent. ... The Passion is the theological term used for the suffering, both physical and mental, of Jesus in the hours prior to and including his trial and execution by crucifixion. ...

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. The Savior Not Made By Hands (1410s, by Andrei Rublev) An icon (from Greek εικων, eikon, image) is an artistic visual representation or symbol of anything considered holy and divine, such as God, saints or deities. ...

Traditional Roman Catholic use

Thurifer with large traditional thurible.

Boat bearer with incense boat.

The responsibilities of a thurifer include: Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ...

• 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, (at the Gospel readings and before the Eucharist at Mass)
• At Mass, if no deacon is present, the server censes the priest after the priest censes 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 boy. This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

A famous thurible is the huge Botafumeiro in Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, Spain. The swinging Botafumeiro dispensing clouds of incense The Botafumeiro is a famous thurible found in the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral. ... The Obradoiro façade of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela: an all-but-Gothic composition generated entirely of classical details Santiago de Compostela Cathedral is situated in Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain. ...

The manner in which the rite of censing is carried out:

Traditionally and at Papal liturgies-

• Three sets of triple swings: When censing the Most Blessed Sacrament
• Three sets of double swings: When censing images, relics, and other sacramentals, also when censing the celebrant and other clergy, and the congregation.

In the present General Instruction of the Roman Missal- In Christian practice, the Bread and Wine of the Communion constitute the sacrament of the altar. ...

• Three sets of a single swing are used in all cases.

After the reforms of the Second Vatican Council

A Catholic Priest or Seminarian serving as a Thurifer and holding the thurible.

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. ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (394x1207, 84 KB) Summary First Annual (2005) Southeastern Eucharistic Congress, Charlotte, NY Actually, thats a Censer, not a censor. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (394x1207, 84 KB) Summary First Annual (2005) Southeastern Eucharistic Congress, Charlotte, NY Actually, thats a Censer, not a censor. ...

After the altar has been censed at the Preparation of the Gifts, the priest celebrant may be censed, 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. Incense is composed of aromatic organic materials. ... The Roman Missal (Missale Romanum) is the liturgical book that contains the texts and rubrics for the celebration of the Latin rite of Mass. ...

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. ...

Notes

1. ^ Michno, Dennis G. (1998). "The Holy Eucharist-Concerning the Use of Incense at the Eucharist", A Priest's Handbook - The Ceremonies of the Church. Harrisburg, PA: Moorehouse Publishing. ISBN 0-8192-1768-9. 
2. ^ Crowley, Aleister (1997). "Chapter XVI: The Magick Fire; With Considerations of the Thurible, the Charcoal, and the Incense", Magick. York Beach, ME: Samuel Weiser. ISBN 0-87728-919-0. 

Aleister Crowley, born Edward Alexander Crowley, (12 October 1875 – 1 December 1947; the surname is pronounced // i. ... Cover of Magick, Liber ABA, Book 4 by Aleister Crowley. ... Red Wheel Weiser Conari, also known as RedWheel/Weiser, LLC and Samuel Weiser, Inc. ...

References

• United States Conference of Catholic Bishops [2003]. "The Different Forms of Celebrating Mass", General Instruction of the Roman Missal. 

External links

• Thurifer instructions at the Cathedral Church of Saint Matthew, Dallas, Texas.