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Incensation
Incensation or Thurification is the act of incensing which is an expression of reverence and prayer. The visual imagery of the smoke and the smell remind us of the transcendence of the Mass which links heaven with earth and allows us to enter into the presence of God.

Purpose
The purpose of incensing is purification and sanctification.

What does the incense signify?
Incense when burned is characterized by:


 * sweet-smelling odour and
 * high-ascending smoke

What are the biblical references for incensation?
"Let my prayer be incense before you and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice." Psalms 141:2(NRSV) "When he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb, each holding a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the saints." Revelation 5:8(NRSV) "Another angel with a golden censer came and stood at the altar; he was given a great quantity of incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the gold altar before the throne." Revelation 8:3(NRSV)

Terminology
In`cen`sa´tion - The offering of incense. Incense - an aromatic substance, such as wood or a gum, that is burned to produce a pleasant odour.

Thurible - a container for burning incense (especially one that is swung on a chain in a religious ritual).

Incense Boat - is the vessel used to hold the incense.

Thurifer - a person who carries the thurible in religious ceremonies

General Instructions of the Roman Missal
276. Thurification or incensation is an expression of reverence and of prayer, as is signified in Sacred Scripture (cf. Ps 141 [140]:2, Rev 8:3).

a.   Incense may be used if desired in any form of Mass in the Catholic Church:

b.   During the Entrance procession;

c.   At the beginning of Mass, to incense the cross and the altar;

d.   At the Gospel procession and the proclamation of the Gospel itself;

e.   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;

f.  At the showing of the host and the chalice after the consecration.

277. The priest, having put incense into the thurible, blesses it with the sign of the Cross, without saying anything.

Before and after an incensation, a profound bow is made to the person or object that is incensed, except for the incensation of the altar and the offerings for the Sacrifice of the Mass.

The following are incensed with three swings of the thurible: 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.

The following are incensed with two swings of the thurible: relics and images of the Saints exposed for public veneration, which should be done, however, only at the beginning of the celebration, after the incensation of the altar.

The altar is incensed with single swings of the thurible in this way:

a.   If the altar is freestanding with respect to the wall, the priest incenses walking around it;

b.   If the altar is not freestanding, the priest incenses it while walking first to the righthand side, then to the left.

The cross, if situated on or near the altar, is incensed by the priest before he incenses the altar; otherwise, he incenses it when he passes in front of it.

Dictionary of the Liturgy
Within a thurible* burning charcoal covered with incense* creates smoke, which is wafted towards persons and things in a gesture that indicates liturgical honour. Optional in any form of Mass* incensations may take place during the Entrance procession,* for the altar* is incensed at the beginning of Mass: in the procession and the proclamation of the Gospel*; at the Preparation of the Gifts* when they, the altar,* the pries,* and the people are incensed* and during the elevation of the Host and chalice at the Consecration.*

After blessing in silence the incense placed on the charcoal in the thurible*, the priest swinging the senser, walks around a free-standing altar, but goes first to the right and then to the left if the altar is attached to a wall. a cross on the altar or near it is incensed prior to the altar: if it is behind the altar, it is incensed when the priest passes in front of it.

At Morning Prayer* and Evening Prayer,* during the Gospel Canticle,* the altar, then the priest and people may be incensed. during the Funeral Rites * incensations of the altar and coffin occur. during Benediction* and processions of the Blessed Sacrament,* the Blessed Sacrament is incensed. Incensation also takes place at the blessing of many Sacramentals,* for instance palms,* ashes,* candles,* and bells.*