At Mass, incense may be used to incense the Altar during the Introit, and again at the Offertory. At the Offertory, when the Altar is incensed, the Gifts are also incensed. In the Office, especially at Solemn Vespers, the Altar may be incensed during the singing of the Magnificat.
The Celebrant, after ascending to the midst of the altar and making the appropriate reverence, steps back toward the gospel side, received the spoon from the Deacon, and puts incense into the censer thrice, saying in a moderate tone of voice: Be blessed by Him - in Whose honor - you are burned. Amen. Then he returns the spoon, joins his hands, and ,without saying anything, blesses the incense.
Thereupon he turns to the altar and receives the censer from the Deacon. During the incensation at the Introit no prayers are said.
Note: The numbers parenthesis refer to the diagrams listed below.
Diagrams: Ad Oriens or Free
Standing.
Before beginning the incensation, the appropriate reverence is made. The cross is incensed with three double swings (1-2-3), and again the appropriate reverence is made. the incensing of the altar takes place immediately after the reverence following the incensing of the cross.
From the middle of the Epistle corner, the Celebrant incenses the altar with three equidistant single swings toward the candlesticks (8-9-10) [If the altar stands against a wall, this is the same as incensing the back side of a free standing altar.]. At the corner, lowering his hand, he incenses the lower part of that side and then the upper part with two swings (11-12). Then, turning toward the altar and raising his hand, he incenses the front part of the altar table with three swings (13-14-15) while moving toward the midst.
Having made a reverence in the midst, he then incenses the other side of the altar table in like manner (15-17-18) while moving to the Gospel corner. Then, likewise the lower and upper part of that side with two swings (19-20). Then, standing at the Gospel corner (not moving), he elevates the censer and with three swings incenses the front part of the altar-table to the middle as he did on the Epistle side. Then lowering his hand slightly, he incenses the front of the altar with three swings (24-25-26) while he walks from the gospel corner to the midst, and, having made a reverence, he incenses in like manner the epistle side of the front to the corner with three swings (27-28-29). There, having returned the censer to the Deacon, he alone is incensed.
This is the manner in which the altar is incensed, either at Mass or during the Office. During the Office, however, the Deacon, Sub-deacon, other ministers and the people are incensed as they are at the Offertory.
The Book of the Gospels is incensed in this manner: After the Gospel is announced, and after the Glora tibi Domine is chanted, the Deacon incensed the Book with three double swings, to the middle, to the left, and to the right. The Gospel is then proclaimed. This is the only use of incense at the Gospel.
At Mass, at the Offertory, after placing incense into the censer, the Celebrant blesses the incense saying: Vouchsafe, O Lord to bless this incense, and accept it as a sweet-smelling savour. Through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
Without making any reverence, the Gifts are then incensed three times in the form of a cross. Then three times in the form of a circle. Then, after making the appropriate reverence, the altar is incensed in the usual manner.
During the incensing the the following prayers are added, distributed in the following manner:
In the form of a cross: 1. Let this, 2.incensed, 3.blessed, 4. by You, 5. ascend before You, 6. O Lord,
In the form of a circle: 7. And let Your mercy, 8. descend, 9. upon us.
Then, after making the appropriate reverence, the altar is incensed in the usual manner. The following prayer is distributed in this manner, according to the altar diagram:
1. Let my prayer, 2. be set, 3. before You, 8. O Lord, 9. as, 10. incense,
11. and the lifting up, 12. of my hands, 13. as the, 14. evening, 15.
sacrifice.
16. Set, 17. a guard, 18. O Lord, 19. over, 20. my mouth, 21. keep watch, 22.
over the door, 23. of my lips. 24. Do not incline, 25, my heart, 26. to any
evil thing, 27. let me not practice wicked works, 28, with those, 29. who work
iniquity.
Thereafter, the Deacon received the censer from the Celebrant and incenses him, using three double swings. He then incenses the choir, first on the gospel side, then on the epistle side. He then returns to the altar and incenses the sub-deacon with two double swings, returns the censer to the thurifer, then goes to his place.
The thurifer incenses the Deacon with two double swings. The Master of
Ceremonies and acolytes are incensed with one double swing. Other servers are
incensed collectively with three double swings. Then he incenses the people
with three double swings, to the middle, to the left, and to the right.
The Thurifer than retires to the sacristy to renew the fire, as needed, before
returning to the chancel.
At the consecration, the thurifer incenses the Elements at each elevation with three double swings while kneeling at his appointed place.
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