Dovina30 Aug 2005

Bless you for diligently and humbly seeking truth. May you find peace in your new divinely inspired doctrine, which suppresses your old divinely inspired doctrine.

May I suggest the use of an Ecclesiastical Censer in your worship? As its name implies, a censer is an instrument having to do with incense and, particularly in ecclesiastical parlance, its use in the Divine Liturgy. In the Judeo-Christian Tradition, incense has always played an important role (Ex 30:1-8; 37:25-29). The liturgical censer, as you may know from studying these matters, is a metal receptacle, usually bronze, but sometimes gold, in which burning charcoal is placed and over which is poured the incense to be burned. To this receptacle are attached chains, which enable the priest to swing the vessel for the incensation of the Blessed Sacrament. Granulated aromatic resin is usually used to produce a fragrant cloud of smoke, symbolizing prayers rising to God.

The use of incense comes into the Church from pagan worship (hence the Church's misgivings concerning it during the first centuries) and, as abundant references to incense in the Old Testament would seem to indicate, from Judaism as well.

So, why not apply the musty odor of Mould smoke to your worship, which when mixed with the odors your parishioners, be there any, will maintain a fungal ambiance to the Service.