Smells to high heaven
Monday, August 18, 2014
Dan Gonzalez
My mother makes an amazing arroz con pollo (chicken and rice) — a staple in Cuban households. My brother and I looked forward to the savory dish every week partly because beer was among the ingredients. For two prepubescent boys, the notion of drinking alcohol — even a trivial amount — seemed to validate our Man Card.
Recently, my mom fixed her signature dish at my house. The evocative aroma brought with it a flood of fond childhood memories.
It's amazing how powerful the olfactory sense is in triggering memories. Scientists have put forth the Proustian Phenomenon to help explain this occurrence. It reports that memories triggered by smells can be more intense and vivid than those sparked by the other senses. This is due to the closeness of the olfactory bulb — which helps process smells — and the amygdala and hippocampus — regions in the brain which control emotion and memory. Other senses, such as taste or touch, travel through other parts of the brain before reaching the amygdala.
The sense of smell was instrumental in my reversion. After attending a non-denominational service for several months while in college, it was the smell of the incense that helped draw me back home.
So what of this curious custom? Is using incense a Catholic novelty or does it predate Christianity?
From the first time early man threw dried leaves or twigs into an open fire, the fragrant aroma produced by incense has been used to heighten the senses.
As homo sapiens became homo religiosus, incense took on symbolic meaning — its ascending smoke a physical representation of spiritual prayer rising up toward the heavens. Evidence of this interpretation can be found in both the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures:
"Let my prayer rise like incense before you. The lifting of my hands like the evening offering." — Psalm 141:1,2
"Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a gold censer. He was given a great quantity of incense to offer, along with the prayers of all the holy ones, on the gold altar that was before the throne. The smoke of the incense along with the prayers of the holy ones went up before God from the hand of the angel." — Revelation 8:3-4
Being that the Mass is the highest form of prayer in the Church, it seems appropriate, then, that the liturgy be filled with billows of climbing smoke.
In addition to its symbolic meaning, censing served a practical purpose. Today, thanks to watches, cars and climate control, the faithful can arrive just a few minutes before Mass begins, and sit in air-conditioned comfort for the duration of the celebration.
This was not the case in the early Church. Since personal timepieces did not exist, the faithful would arrive early — many after walking great distances — and spend hours in a hot basilica, tightly packed, before Mass began. And, despite the existence of public baths, daily bathing was uncommon. In order to clear the air, incense was burned to mask the odors a throng of travelers would generate.
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal allows for the use of incense at specific times during the Mass:
- The entrance procession
- To incense the altar at the beginning of Mass
- At the Gospel procession and proclamation
- At the preparation of the gifts: the gifts are censed as are the altar, celebrant and assembly.
- At the elevation of the host and chalice during the eucharistic prayer.
I've read one account of a parishioner with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) who has not been able to attend the Paschal Triduum for several years and has to duck out of Mass during Christmas each time incense is used.
Less severe reactions allow for incense use around the altar — at a distance from the congregation — but this proves disabling when used in the entrance procession, in the midst of the assembly.
Some choir members and lectors have also expressed concern with incense claiming that it makes singing and proclaiming the Word more difficult.
So what should be done about this? In addition to "Spanish Mass," "English Mass" and "Latin Mass" should there be a "Hypoallergenic Mass" listed in the parish bulletin?
Should the amount of incense used be limited? Some seminarians are instructed that "if you can still see the altar after you have used incense, you haven't used enough." Should this tongue-in-cheek teaching be eliminated?
Should seminarians be instructed on COPD, anaphylaxis and other pulmonary maladies to foster understanding?
Will the selective use of incense convey a sense of "progressive solemnity," where Christmas and Easter appear to be more important than other days on the calendar? How will that impact Mass attendance?
In one church in particular incense does not discourage Mass attendance, it is the main attraction. Santiago de Compostela's Botafumeiro is one of the largest censers in the world, weighing 176 pounds and measuring over 5 feet in height. Shovels are used to fill the Botafumeiro with over 80 pounds of charcoal and incense. Swinging the immense censer requires several pulleys attached to the ceiling and eight men. See this impressive site for yourself.
What about you? At which Masses throughout the liturgical cycle does your parish use incense? How about outside of Mass? Are you allergic to incense? Does your parish make any restrictions or accommodation on its use? Does incense add to the beauty, solemnity and reverence of the Mass? Have you seen the Botafumerio in action? Share and let's learn together.
Comments from readers
Perhaps the earliest mass of the day could be incense free on holy days, then there's a choice of when to go to mass.
I developed celiac disease recently and am so thankful that there are now low gluten wafers.
There is usually a way to work at having the fullness of faith even with illnesses, but we have to be aware of the alternatives and let the congregation know of these opportunities.