INCENSE GUIDELINES FOR SERVERS

INCENSE GUI= DELINES FOR SERVERS at St. Rita’s

September, = 2007

ENTRANCE PROCESSION

= 1) Be sure the charcoal is lit about 15 or 20 minutes before mass.

= 2) Bring the thurible to the back of the church.&nb= sp; Keep it in the air. Do= not ever set it down on the floor when it is hot.

= 3) Just before the procession begins, hand Father the boat and open the thurible. He will spoon some incense on the = hot coals and make the sign of the cross over it. Then lower the lid of the thurible= and take the boat back from Father.

= 4) You lead the procession ahead of the cross and candles. Let the thurible swing gently at y= our side.

= 5) When you get to the head of the aisle, bow your head and go into the sanctuary, stand near the altar.

= 6) After Father kisses the altar he will take the thurible from you and incense the altar and the cross. When he = hands it back to you, hang the thurible up on the stand and set the boat on top of the stand. Go to your chair.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Mass continues as usual.

GOSPEL PROCESSION

= 7) Immediately after the second reading (or after the psalm if there is only one reading before the gospel), pick up the thurible and the boat. As soon as everyone stands for the gospel, go straight up to Father and hand him the boat. Lift the lid of the thurible. He will spoon some incense in and = make the sign of the cross. Lower the = lid and take the boat back from Father.

= 8) Lead the procession. Go behind the altar, just past halfway, and wait while Father gets the gospel book off the altar. Then lead the processi= on to the ambo. Stand near the ambo= on Father’s right.

= 9) After Father greets the people and announces who wrote the gospel, he will take t= he thurible from you, incense the book, and hand the thur= ible back. Stand there throughout = the gospel, lightly swinging the thurible.

= 10) Immed= iately after the gospel, put the thurible and boat on the stand.

PROCESSION OF THE GIFTS

= 11) When = the other servers go with Father to get the gifts being brought up in processio= n, get the thurible and the boat.

= 12) After Father says the 2 “Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation” prayers, and before the other serve= rs wash his hands, step up on the platform and hand Father the boat. Lift the lid of the thurible. He will spoon some incense in and make the sign of the cross.= Then lower the lid and hand the thurible to Father. He will give you the boat. Set the boat down on the credence table so your hands are free.

= 13) Fathe= r will incense the gifts, the altar and the cross. He will then step off the platform= and hand the thurible to you. Bow= to Father. Swing the censer 3 ti= mes toward him. Bow again. Then go to the front of the right = side of the church while the other servers wash Father’s hands.

= 14) Bow t= o the people. Swing the thurible 3 times. Bow again.

= 15) Go to= the left side. Bow to the people.= Swing the thurible 3 times. Bow again.

= 16) Put t= he thurible and the boat away.

FUNERALS

= 17) At funerals, after communion, get the thurible and the boat. When the server stands to hold the= book for Father, bring the thurible and boat to him as well.

= 18) After= a short prayer and introduction, hand Father the boat and lift the lid of the thurible. He will spoon some incense on the coals. Close t= he lid. Take the boat and hand F= ather the thurible.

= 19) He wi= ll incense the coffin and then come back to his chair.

= 20) Take = the thurible and the boat from Father. Put them away.

ELEVATIONS

= 21) On Ho= ly Thursday and on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of the Lord, = you will also incense during the elevations.&n= bsp; When the Holy, Holy, Holy begins, get the thurible. You spoon incense from the boat into the thurible. Go to the front step in front of t= he altar.

= 22) Kneel= when the people kneel. As soon as = Father lifts the host, bow. Swing the thurible 3 times. Bow again.<= /p>

= 23) As so= on as Father lifts the chalice, bow. Swing the thurible 3 times. Bow again.

= 24) Then = stand up right away, and put the thurible and the boat away.