What's the smoky thing that the priest guy or whatever waves in Catholic Mass?

Question

I'm not Catholic, but I've heard of it...What's it do, though?

Edit:

Okay, so it's an incense burner. What's it for, though?

Answer 1

I think it's called a censer(thurible), and it's filled with incense, and carried by an alter server called a thurifer.

"The workings of a thurible are quite simple. Heated charcoal is inside the actual 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."

"In the Book of Revelation, which is woven with rich imagery, incense symbolises the prayers of the saints in heaven - the "golden bowl full of incense" are "the prayers of the saints" (Revelation 5:8 cf. Revelation 8:3) which infuse upwards towards the altar of [[God].""

Answer 2

Incense, with its sweet-smelling perfume and high-ascending smoke, is typical of the good Christian's prayer, which, enkindled in the heart by the fire of God's love and exhaling the odour of Christ, rises up a pleasing offering in His sight (cf. Amalarius, "De eccles. officiis" in P.L., CV). Incensing is the act of imparting the odour of incense. The censer (q.v.) is held in the right hand at the height of the breast, and grasped by the chain near the cover; the left hand, holding the top of the chain, is placed on the breast. The censer is then raised upwards to the height of the eyes, given an outward motion and slightly ascending towards the object to be incensed, and at once brought back to the starting point. This constitutes a single swing. For a double swing the outward motion should be repeated, the second movement being more pronounced than the first. The dignity of the person or thing will determine whether the swing is to be single or double, and also whether one swing or more are to be given. The incense-boat is the vessel containing the incense for immediate use. It is so called from its shape. It is generally carried by the thurifer in the disengaged hand.

Answer 3

The thurible, or censer, carries charcoal on which grains of dried resin (incense) are placed at important parts of the Mass to produce a fragarant smoke. It's entire purpose is to draw attention to the symbol or action and show a sign of respect. For example, when the priest or deacon brings the book of gospels to the ambo (podium), it might be accompanied by incense. When the book is in place for the reading, the deacon waves the thurible over the gospel to show honor to the word of God before it is read.

The origin of this practice is the ancient custom of honoring kings in procession by incensing their paths through the common people, who did not have the benefit of modern hygiene. Incense was the air freshener of its day and a very expensive item to use. Like with the clothes, the incense stayed on even as the times changed. And of course people like the idea of that smoke drifting up toward heaven, like prayer.

Answer 4

The Catholic Church still uses incense, of course, in accordance with prophecy of Malachias, the fragrant smoke symbolizing our prayers rising to Heaven and purifying what it touches. The incense is kept in a covered, often boat-shaped liturgical vessel called, unsurprisingly, a "boat," which symbolizes the barque of Peter. The boat, made of bronze or brass and often silver or gold-plated, comes with a spoon for scattering the incense in the bowl-shaped matching burner, called a "thurible" or "censer." The thurible holds burning charcoal (or wood) to ignite the incense and hangs on chains (see angel picture below) so that it may be swung by the priest when censing things (or people) and so it may be easily carried by the thurifer -- the "Altar server" who assists the priest by carrying the incense.

Incense is used during the Mass to bless the Altar when the priest first ascends to it, and, during the Offertory, to bless the bread and wine, the Crucifix and Altar (again), and the congregation.

Incense is also used during the Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, during processions, funeral rites and to bless things like relics, bells or the Gospel.

Answer 5

The Priest is waving an incense burner. The purpose of incensing and the symbolic value of the smoke is that of purification and sanctification.

Answer 6

Wave Incense

Answer 7

"And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer; and he was given much incense to mingle with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar before the throne; and the smoke of the incense rose with the prayers of the saints from the hand of the angel before God." -- Revelation 8:3-4

Answer 8

I'm not Catholic either, but it's called a censer and it burns incense as a representation of people's prayers to God for the Scripture speaks of how God views peoples' prayers as being "a sweet-smelling savor" to Him.

Answer 9

Some type of incense from what I can tell. It may be smoky, but I kinda like the way it smells.

Answer 10

Incense......

I do not know the history, but I would guess from the Middle Ages when people did not take baths. Incense was used to clean the air so to say. All it did was cover the stench and put smoke pollution in the air.