Wednesday Liturgy: Follow-up: Incensing the Host, Altars, Etc.
ROME, JUNE 20, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Answered by Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum university.
After our exposition regarding the use of incense (June 6) a priest reader asked for a clarification regarding the use of the expression "double swing."
He writes: "You quoted Monsignor's instruction to use a double swing, etc. ... As I understand it, the Church documents call for swings, not double swings, or triple swings, or loops, etc. Yet one might think you were suggesting a liturgical practice that is not presented to us in the Church's documents. Thus the confusion. You are not suggesting we add or change something in the liturgy, are you? I realize this is not a big matter, but I am surprised that you would suggest we do something other than what the Church has given us as part of the liturgy. Now if there is some commentary that explains why, in the Latin, we can understand the swings ('ductus') to give latitude to one or two swings, great, I'd love to hear that. But it does not seem, from what you quoted from the documents or from Monsignor's work that this is an explanation, and therefore why it is OK to do it. If you are able to clarify, I would be grateful."
With the expression "double swing," Monsignor Peter Elliott describes the mode of incensing which is practically universal custom, in which each "ductus" consists of two "ictus," or swings. Hence the thurible is raised, swung twice toward the object or person incensed, and then lowered.
If we may use the somewhat less technical expression of another correspondent, the thurible is "clicked" twice during each "ductus."
The difficulty arises because the present liturgical books do not distinguish between the simple swing and double swing (or "double click") during the "ductus," but only the number of "ductus" in each circumstance or how many times the thurible is raised and lowered for swinging.
Previous legislation, however, did make this distinction, and prescribed the double swing for practically the same persons and objects as the present legislation. There is no reason to suppose that the practice has been abrogated.
Likewise, as authentic custom is also a source of law, the use of the double swing as described by Monsignor Elliott is used practically everywhere -- including at the Masses of the Supreme Pontiff.
For the sake of completeness I will offer the description of the double swing found in the Fortescue-O'Connell pre-Vatican II ceremonies book: "The double swing ('ductus duplex') is made by raising the thurible to the level of the face, then swinging it out towards the object or person to be incensed, repeating this outward swing, and then lowering the thurible."
A Washington, D.C., reader asked: "I recently saw a papal Mass in Rome and noticed six ministers holding candles and standing in front of the altar at the Celebration of the Eucharist. In the middle was the thurifer. Is it legal to practice this same aspect of Mass, having servers hold candles in front of the altar at the consecration? If so, are there rules as to how many candles should be used?"
This way of incensing the Blessed Sacrament during the Eucharistic prayer is common at solemn Masses. The ministers process and take their places before the altar during the singing of the "Sanctus" and leave after the final doxology ("Through him, with him �"). They kneel during the consecration.
The thurifer (or a deacon) places incense in the thurible before the procession and incenses the Blessed Sacrament with three double swings when the host, and then the chalice, are shown after the consecration.
Six torchbearers plus thurifer (and a deacon) usually carry out this function. The rite can be adapted according to the number of ministers available, the size of the sanctuary and other similar factors. If necessary the number may be reduced to only two torchbearers and thurifer, or even just the thurifer alone.
It is permitted at any Mass, but is especially suited to Sundays and festivities.
After our exposition regarding the use of incense (June 6) a priest reader asked for a clarification regarding the use of the expression "double swing."
He writes: "You quoted Monsignor's instruction to use a double swing, etc. ... As I understand it, the Church documents call for swings, not double swings, or triple swings, or loops, etc. Yet one might think you were suggesting a liturgical practice that is not presented to us in the Church's documents. Thus the confusion. You are not suggesting we add or change something in the liturgy, are you? I realize this is not a big matter, but I am surprised that you would suggest we do something other than what the Church has given us as part of the liturgy. Now if there is some commentary that explains why, in the Latin, we can understand the swings ('ductus') to give latitude to one or two swings, great, I'd love to hear that. But it does not seem, from what you quoted from the documents or from Monsignor's work that this is an explanation, and therefore why it is OK to do it. If you are able to clarify, I would be grateful."
With the expression "double swing," Monsignor Peter Elliott describes the mode of incensing which is practically universal custom, in which each "ductus" consists of two "ictus," or swings. Hence the thurible is raised, swung twice toward the object or person incensed, and then lowered.
If we may use the somewhat less technical expression of another correspondent, the thurible is "clicked" twice during each "ductus."
The difficulty arises because the present liturgical books do not distinguish between the simple swing and double swing (or "double click") during the "ductus," but only the number of "ductus" in each circumstance or how many times the thurible is raised and lowered for swinging.
Previous legislation, however, did make this distinction, and prescribed the double swing for practically the same persons and objects as the present legislation. There is no reason to suppose that the practice has been abrogated.
Likewise, as authentic custom is also a source of law, the use of the double swing as described by Monsignor Elliott is used practically everywhere -- including at the Masses of the Supreme Pontiff.
For the sake of completeness I will offer the description of the double swing found in the Fortescue-O'Connell pre-Vatican II ceremonies book: "The double swing ('ductus duplex') is made by raising the thurible to the level of the face, then swinging it out towards the object or person to be incensed, repeating this outward swing, and then lowering the thurible."
A Washington, D.C., reader asked: "I recently saw a papal Mass in Rome and noticed six ministers holding candles and standing in front of the altar at the Celebration of the Eucharist. In the middle was the thurifer. Is it legal to practice this same aspect of Mass, having servers hold candles in front of the altar at the consecration? If so, are there rules as to how many candles should be used?"
This way of incensing the Blessed Sacrament during the Eucharistic prayer is common at solemn Masses. The ministers process and take their places before the altar during the singing of the "Sanctus" and leave after the final doxology ("Through him, with him �"). They kneel during the consecration.
The thurifer (or a deacon) places incense in the thurible before the procession and incenses the Blessed Sacrament with three double swings when the host, and then the chalice, are shown after the consecration.
Six torchbearers plus thurifer (and a deacon) usually carry out this function. The rite can be adapted according to the number of ministers available, the size of the sanctuary and other similar factors. If necessary the number may be reduced to only two torchbearers and thurifer, or even just the thurifer alone.
It is permitted at any Mass, but is especially suited to Sundays and festivities.
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8:18 AM
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