Here’s a great resource site: Smells and Bells. It deals primarily with...uh...smells (incense) and bells (sanctus bells). Matthew D. Herrera, owner the site, introduces
the resources by noting:
I have prepared a pair of short
booklets which explore the history and current use of incense and sanctus bells
as powerful devotional aids in the Catholic Church. I have also included a copy of Sacred Signs, a wonderful little work by
the late Msgr. Romano Guardini, that should be of great interest to anyone with
a love for Catholic liturgy.
The booklets are packed with good information on these
topics, and are available to anyone who wants to download and print them. Mr. Herrera invites us to do so:
If you have a desire to
(re)introduce incense and sanctus bells into your parish, I would suggest
printing and forwarding copies of my booklets to your pastor or parish
administrator. Perhaps even your bishop
might enjoy copies for his library.
Please send the booklet with a short cover letter similar to the one I
have included. While I retain the
copyright to both monographs I hereby give permission for their downloading and
dissemination so long as they are not altered in any way or sold. Please free to contact me with any questions
or comments. Thanks for visiting and
Godspeed in your efforts.
Visit the site to view the booklets, the letter he mentions,
and his contact information.
In the meantime, I’ll address the use of incense, using
excerpts from Mr. Herrera’s booklet available on the site. The booklet covers
the history of the use of incense, biblical references to its use, types of
incense, the how-to’s and the when-to’s, and even charcoal! It’s very complete.
But the section on objections to the use of incense caught my attention.
I know from experience that many people – or at least a few
who are very vocal – dislike incense at Mass, and do what they can to
discourage its use. Here are some
excerpts on this subject from Mr. Herrera’s booklet (my emphases):
All too often the knee-jerk
responses to complaints about the liturgical use of incense is to completely
remove it from the celebration of the Mass. While the rubrics for the Ordinary
Form of the Mass don’t require incense to be used, choosing to banish it altogether is an action that
strips solemnity and historical continuity away from the Mass. There are
far more positive ways of dealing with sensitivities to incense smoke.
The first step should be to catechize the faithful on the
importance of incense and why incense has historically been part of the Mass.
Most Catholics’ understanding of incense seems to stop at the ability of incense
to mask unpleasant odors. All too often people complain about the use of
incense simply because they don’t like
the smell or because using it
extends the Mass for a few minutes. A little education will often sooth
their discomfort.
Catechesis on the subject may or may not change the most
recalcitrant minds, but it would most likely help some to overcome their own
objections or be less swayed by the unreasonable stance of others. Mr. Herrera’s
booklet offers much in the way of this catechesis; I’ll touch on it below, but
it’s well worth reading the entire booklet to get this information.
Next is to choose a type of
incense that will be the least
irritating to sensitive individuals. One must be certain to choose an
all-natural, pure resin or oleoresin incense. White Copal is one example of a mild,
all-natural pure resin incense that is very reasonably priced. The stronger
frankincense and myrrh incenses are also good choice. One must however be
careful to choose a brand that uses hypoallergenic essential oils in the
blending process.
….
There must also be sensitivity
to the fact that some blends – even those of high quality incense simply do not smell good to some people.
This sensitivity seems particularly true in the Western World. Courteous feedback outside of the Mass
should be encouraged and records kept of which blends are favored by the
congregation and not simply a few individual.
(p. 18-19)
In an earlier section of the booklet, Mr. Herrera addresses
the question “Why Do We Use Incense?” He makes the following points:
In the Old Testament God
commanded His people to burn incense (Exodus 30:7, 40:27, etc.). Incense is a sacramental used to venerate, bless, and
sanctify. Its smoke conveys a sense of mystery and awe. It is a reminder of
the sweet smelling presence of our Lord. Its use adds a feeling of solemnity to
the Mass. The visual imagery of the smoke and the smell reinforce the transcendence of the Mass linking
Heaven with Earth, allowing us to enter into the presence of God. It symbolizes the burning zeal of faith
which should consume all Christians while the fragrance symbolizes Christian
virtue.
[He quotes Msgr. Romano
Guardini here.] “The offering of an
incense is a generous and beautiful rite. The bright grains of incense are laid
upon the red-hot charcoal, the censer is swung, and the fragrant smoke rises in
clouds. In the rhythm and the sweetness there is a musical quality; and like
music also is the entire lack of practical utility: it is a prodigal waste of
precious material. It is a pouring out of unwithholding love.”
Incense and the smoke of
burning incense have been offered as gifts to God and to others since ancient
times. In a more practical visual sense as the fragrant smoke ascends it also symbolizes our prayers rising to Heaven…
[Guardini again]: “The offering of incense is like Mary’s
anointing (of Jesus) at Bethany. It is as free and objectless as beauty. It
burns and is consumed like love that lasts through death. And the arid soul
still takes his stand and asks the same question: What is the good of it?
It is
the offering of a sweet savour which Scripture itself tells us is the prayers
of the Satins. Incense is the symbol of prayer. Like pure prayer it has in view
no object of its own; it asks nothing for itself. It rises like the Gloria at
the end of a psalm in adoration and thanksgiving to God for his great glory.”
(p. 6)
Incense just makes sense!
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