The swinging metal container used to burn incense in a Catholic Church is called a thurible (or censer). Suspended by chains, it is swung by a server known as a thurifer to distribute fragrant smoke, symbolizing prayers rising to heaven and purifying the area during Mass, processions, and funerals.
If you have been to a service in a Catholic Church before, you probably have seen someone swinging a metal container of smoke. This container is called thurible and filled with Incense. Filling the church with fragrant smoke is a usual practice in the Catholic liturgy.
Censers are designed to burn a variety of different incense. The moving censer on chains (in some instances called thurible) used by Christians (in particular Catholics) have an inner chamber where hot coal is placed. Grains of incense are then placed onto the red hot coal, and the burning process releases its aroma.
In Christianity, the use of incense is symbolic of "cleansing and purification", as well as its fragrance suggesting "Christ's robe of righteousness" that covers the sin of humankind.
One tradition has it that the use of a swinging censer in the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral began in the 11th century. Arriving pilgrims were tired and unwashed. It was also believed that incense smoke had a prophylactic effect at the time of plagues and epidemics.
The Botafumeiro, meaning “censer” in Galician, is one of the most iconic and celebrated symbols of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. This large thurible, suspended from the main dome by a system of pulleys, swings across the side naves.
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A: In principle, incense is indeed appropriate for Mass. The smoke that rises from the burning of incense has for millennia been understood by the Christian community as a symbol of the prayers of the faithful rising up to God.
Tradition dictates that cardinals' votes be burned to maintain secrecy. The color of the resulting smoke signals whether they succeeded in choosing a new pontiff. Greg Daugherty. Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images.
The smoke symbolizes the prayers of the faithful drifting up to heaven: the Psalmist prays, "Let my prayer come like incense before you; the lifting up of my hands, like the evening sacrifice" (Psalm 141).
“The priest incenses the offerings with three swings of the thurible or by making the sign of the cross over the offerings with the thurible, then going on to incense the cross and the altar.”
The Roman Catholic Church does not condemn smoking per se, but considers excessive smoking to be sinful, as described in the Catechism (CCC 2290): The virtue of temperance disposes us to avoid every kind of excess: the abuse of food, alcohol, tobacco, or medicine.
Frankincense and Myrrh
Myrrh and frankincense (olibanum) are often used together and they both originate from the gummy sap that seeps out of the Boswellia and Commiphora trees when their bark is cut. Myrrh is a fragrance that is similar to frankincense, although it is used more for healing practices.
The Botafumeiro does not swing at every Mass. It is used on special liturgical dates or when a group requests it with a donation (usually between €500–€600).
The priest incenses the offerings with three swings of the thurible or by making the sign of the cross over the offerings with the thurible before going on to incense the cross and the altar.
botafumeiro
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The smoke, rising from the Sistine Chapel's chimney, communicates the conclave's progress without words, preserving the sacred mystery of the papal election. As the world awaits, the contrast of black and white smoke remains a powerful symbol of transition in the Catholic Church.
As mentioned earlier, the General Instruction on the Roman Missal (GIRM) identifies five occasions when incense may be used during the celebration of Mass: the entrance procession, the incensation of the altar at the beginning of Mass, at the Gospel, at the preparation of the gifts, and during the elevations of the ...
Incense may be used in Christian worship at the celebration of the Eucharist, at solemn celebrations of the Divine Office, in particular at Solemn Vespers, at Solemn Evensong, at funerals, benediction and exposition of the Eucharist, the consecration of a church or altar and at other services.
There are different types of incense, but two stand out in the Catholic Church – frankincense and myrrh. Frankincense, a gum resin, fills the air with a sweet, citrusy, and slightly piney aroma. Myrrh, on the other hand, offers a more complex scent - rich, smoky, and slightly bitter.
However, if there is no deacon, the thurifer incenses the celebrant, any concelebrants, and the congregation. Incensing the clergy and congregation: When the celebrant hands you the thurible, you bow toward him, incense him with 3 sets of 2 swings, and after the last swing, bow again toward him.
2025 is the Jubilee Holy Year, the 2,025th anniversary of the Incarnation of our Lord, an "event of great spiritual, ecclesial, and social significance in the life of the Church." The concept of "Jubilee" has its origins in the Book of Leviticus (chapter 25) as a special year of reconciliation, pilgrimage, and coming ...
Santiago de Compostela (Old Town) This famous pilgrimage site in north-west Spain became a symbol in the Spanish Christians' struggle against Islam. Destroyed by the Muslims at the end of the 10th century, it was completely rebuilt in the following century.
The most recent holy year was the Jubilee Year of Hope commenced on 24 December 2024 and ended on 6 January 2026.