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Dec 22, 2003 - MAPLEWOOD, Minn. -
Following requests from parishioners, a Catholic parish is holding
incense-free Masses.
One Mass on Dec. 24 and another Christmas Day at Presentation of the
Blessed Virgin Mary Church will be "incense-free." At least one
parishioner has already sent a thank-you note because of the change.
"I have asthma and so does my son," Kristi Otto said. "I get physically
ill from the smell of it. There have been so many times when I've gone to
church and I've had to leave and sit in the car and wait for my family."
Frankincense was widely used for centuries, in part because of its
medicinal use as an anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and calming fragrance.
The incense - resin scraped from the root of the frankincense tree found
in eastern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula - was even touted as
beneficial to those with asthma.
But those such as Otto, her 7-year-old son, and people with certain
perfume allergies are sensitive to the smell.
"We've had a number of people in the parish call because they find it
difficult to go to Mass on high holidays, as much as they'd like to go,"
said Mary Bothwell, an administrative assistant at Presentation.
Churches with traditional "high liturgy" - such as Catholics, Orthodox and
Anglicans - often burn incense during worship, especially on holy days
such as Christmas and Easter.
"It is a symbol of our prayers rising to the heavens, as described in the
Psalms," said Steve Klein, an administrator at Presentation.
It also makes worship a full sensory experience, said Tom Paulus of St.
Patrick's Guild, which sells liturgical incense to many parishes in the
Twin Cities.
"We use all the physical senses in worship - music appeals to sound, and
incense draws in the sense of smell - to remind us Jesus actually took the
form of a human being," Paulus said. "We are a physical church." |
