From the U.S. News & World Report:
At a funeral service I recently attended, a minister burned incense near the casket of the deceased. When the pleasant odor reached my nostrils, I inhaled deeply—and then began wondering if I should have. Sure enough, research published this week suggests that breathing in smoke from incense may be harmful. I doubt my exposure during the two-hour service shortened my life span, but it gave me something to think about.Searching the web, I also found this item from a couple years ago, from Ireland:After all, many religions around the world use incense in rituals, and the substance often gets burned in crowded, indoor spaces with limited ventilation. Two years ago, a study (subscription required) found that a Catholic church in Germany contained high concentrations of airborne soot particles during and for several hours after services that involved the burning of incense.
At the time, sources told me that burning incense might put parishioners, especially those with asthma or heart disease, at risk. That's because particulate matter in the air has been linked to heart problems and respiratory conditions.
The latest study on this subject, published Monday, links long-term incense exposure to an increased risk of cancer of the upper respiratory tract. The study involved Singapore Chinese, some of whom may have much greater exposure to incense than most Americans. So the findings may not apply to everyone. In addition, the airborne particles produced by incense used in Singapore may be different from what's used in, say, a Catholic church.
Dr. Jim McDaid, an Irish family doctor and Minister of State, has raised a stink about candles. He warned that burning incense in churches could be harmful to altar boys and girls who help Roman Catholic priests celebrate mass.
McDaid says, "Here you have quite a thick billowing type of smoke. Sometimes you see children with this instrument, which is down normally around their ankles, and the smoke keeps coming up." He adds, "Sometimes I cringe when I see them literally inhaling this, because there is an aroma to it and all I was trying to do was make people aware."
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10 comments:
I know I may sound paranoid to some, but don't be surprised if elements of the secular nanny state use this as an excuse -- shall we say a smoke screen? -- to persecute the Church.
I've always enjoyed incense. Nothing was better as a young lad than to catch the coveted altar server duty of holding the thurible.
To me, incense has always made a connection with the Church's past; that we are part of the same community of faith that used incense both as a visual symbol of our prayers wafting Heavenward, and as an air purifier during the Dark Ages.
Ahhhhhh. Smells 'n Bells!
If I gotta go, I'd prefer to see my death certificate read "spent too much time in church!"
Oh, for crying out loud, let's not DO anything - we might get hurt. We might cough of sneeze.
I'm tired of these people who freak out about everything and think we should have a hermetically sealed life.
I don't feel so paranoid now. Mark Shea said the same thing I did.
Hey wait, we have about a 1000-1500 year study (not exactly sure when the actual ritual began). How many Catholic priests died early deaths due to incense!
I personally LOVE incense, not only the smell, but what it symbolizes. That said, I do have some family and freinds who are quite sensitive to it.
But then, some people are allergic to peanuts too, but we don't outlaw them, only use caution.
At the MOST, I suggest that when incense is going to be used during the mass, a brief announcment be made before mass (or a sign in the back of the church), indicating that incense will be used during the mass; those sensitive can take seats more in the back of the church.
IMHO we have way too many "studies". Anyway other reports say prayer is good for your health, so I guess this offsets the incense thing- especially since Catholics are usually exposed to it as part of Mass or Benediction.
What could be done is for less amount to be used, since sometimes so much is used that it causes disconfort for some.
during a stint as a sacristan at a Cathedral i had to clean the thuribles inside and out, and I remember thinking, "is that what the inside of my lungs looks like now?"
But there's no way I'd give up the smells n' bells. I'm more likely to have a stroke from liturgical abuses at a local parish than die from incense inhalation.
I like incense. I have pointed out to my children, when they were little, that the smoke from incense rises to the sky, like our prayers rising to God.
However, I am asthmatic and highly sensitive to scents including incense. I have to remember to follow a strict inhaler regimen before exposure to incense or I will have an asthma attack. And it can "get me" even if I enter a church where incense was used earlier in the day.
I will not ask my parish to give up incense. I can sit in the back, I can sit in the "cry room."
By the same token, I would not expect an alcoholic to demand that the Church stop distributing Communion under both species.
Further than that even, Klaire... Incense was used in God's Tent all those years in the desert and also once they arrived in the promised land, constantly burning in Temple, and in all the synagogues as well... So at least 3,000+ years! And Moses was said to be past 100! :)
Also, Barb, they now offer incense for those with smoke allergies and inhalation difficulties, you should have your priest look into it!
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