Yea, but, whoa! Check out that thurible he's swinging! Cool beans.
Seriously, is incense burned liturgically a common practice in Lutheran circles? I was in a Lutheran church a few weeks ago and, well, let's just say there ain't no incense burning there.
Incense is anything but common in the Lutheran Church anymore. Tis a pity! But there have always been exceptions, and we just happen to be exceptional. ; )
Actually, it was Pastor Gregory who really wanted the incense. He is positively in love with the stuff. Sturgis, be prepared!!! He'll be swinging the censor from his harley!
By the way, Pastor Gregory received not only the laying on of hands from President Mueller and the gathered presbytery. He also received the anointing with oil. It was not a private chrism, but a very public one. Let the Luther scholars understand...
It is hard to tell from the documents because they simply assumed much of the standard practice of the day without being explicit about it. For example, we know that the ringing of the bells at the consecration continued in Saxony - not because it was ever explicitly mentioned in the liturgical manuals, but because Christian Gerber describes it in his volume on church practices in Saxony - two centuries after the Reformation. I don't know, however, what (if anything) Gerber says about incense. I'd love to read his work sometime.
Luther does explicitly mention incense in his Formula Missa. "Sixth, the Gospel follows, for which we neither prohibit nor prescribe candles or incense." Additionally, we know that in Lutheran Magdeburg of the 17th century, incense was set and used as the bread and wine were being brought to the altar after the sermon, and as they choir sang "Grant peace we pray..."
Congratulations to Karl Gregory. Many years!
ReplyDeleteSo, should we start calling the Vicar "Deacon Chad"? (snicker)
Deb
I think Vicar Lehmann prefers to be called "Your Emminence." ;) I know for a fact he was admiring the Bishop of Rome's mitre!
ReplyDeleteYes, but will he wear the mitre with those nifty red shoes?
ReplyDeleteDeb
Yea, but, whoa! Check out that thurible he's swinging! Cool beans.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, is incense burned liturgically a common practice in Lutheran circles? I was in a Lutheran church a few weeks ago and, well, let's just say there ain't no incense burning there.
Duke,
ReplyDeleteIncense is anything but common in the Lutheran Church anymore. Tis a pity! But there have always been exceptions, and we just happen to be exceptional. ; )
Actually, it was Pastor Gregory who really wanted the incense. He is positively in love with the stuff. Sturgis, be prepared!!! He'll be swinging the censor from his harley!
Deb,
ReplyDeleteStop putting temptation in the Vicar's way! ;)
By the way, Pastor Gregory received not only the laying on of hands from President Mueller and the gathered presbytery. He also received the anointing with oil. It was not a private chrism, but a very public one. Let the Luther scholars understand...
ReplyDeleteSo where is the new Padre' heading off to? The seminaries used to publish the call list for the graduation class, but I sure can't find it.
ReplyDeleteSturgis, SD - home of the annual Harley fest.
ReplyDeleteFr. Weedon,
ReplyDeleteWas incense uncomon in Luther's church?
RB
It is hard to tell from the documents because they simply assumed much of the standard practice of the day without being explicit about it. For example, we know that the ringing of the bells at the consecration continued in Saxony - not because it was ever explicitly mentioned in the liturgical manuals, but because Christian Gerber describes it in his volume on church practices in Saxony - two centuries after the Reformation. I don't know, however, what (if anything) Gerber says about incense. I'd love to read his work sometime.
ReplyDeleteLuther does explicitly mention incense in his Formula Missa. "Sixth, the Gospel follows, for which we neither prohibit nor prescribe candles or incense." Additionally, we know that in Lutheran Magdeburg of the 17th century, incense was set and used as the bread and wine were being brought to the altar after the sermon, and as they choir sang "Grant peace we pray..."
Pax!