what is a censer and where it does come from?

A censer is an ancient device used to trap smoke, fumes, or vapors.

A censer, or thurible, is used in many Christian services for the burning of incense.
Censers of terra-cotta or metal were widely used in ancient Egypt, in other early Middle Eastern civilizations, including the Jewish, and in the classical eras of early Greece and Rome.
Artists often designed or decorated censers, because the objects were used primarily for religious worship, especially in funerals. In censers, fragrant incense is strewn on burning coals.
An early kind of censer was an open bowl with a handle. A later kind was a closed receptacle with openings that allowed smoke to escape.
Often, especially in Western contexts, "censer" is used for pieces made for religious use, especially those on chains that are swung through the air to spread the incense smoke widely, while "perfume burner" is used for objects made for secular use.
The original meaning of pastille was a small compressed mixture of aromatic plant material and charcoal that was lit to release the odour, and pastille-burners were designed for this, for use in the home. Pastilles were made at home until their heyday in the early 19th century, and the burners are often made in pottery or porcelain.
thurible, also called censer, vessel used in the Christian liturgy for the burning of aromatic incense strewn on lighted coals.
Censers of terra-cotta or metal were widely used in Egypt, in the ancient Middle Eastern civilizations, including the Jewish, and in the classical world.
Because they were destined chiefly for religious worship, above all in funeral rites, they were often the object of artistic effort.
The shapes varied. Both an open bowl with a handle or with chains for carrying and a closed receptacle with openings for smoke to escape were known.

A censer typically consists of a fire chamber, a perforated disk to allow the smoke or vapors to escape, and a handle for the user to control the flow of air for the incense waterfall.

Censer, a vessel suspended by chains, and used for burning incense at solemn Mass, Vespers, Benediction, processions, and other important offices of the Church. It is now commonly called a thurible.
In its present prevailing shape the censer consists of a cup, or bowl, which rests on a firm base and is provided with a hollow movable pan for holding ignited charcoal, a lid or covering, and four chains about three feet in length, three of which unite the bowl to a circular disc, while the fourth is used for raising the lid, to which one end is attached, the other passing through a hole in the disc and terminating in a small ring.
To carry the censer the chains are grasped in the hand just under the disc, care being taken to keep the base elevated to a height of six or eight inches from the ground and to swing it gently to and fro in order that the current of air thus created may cause the fire to bum the fragrant gums or incense which is placed on it whenever the censer is being used.
The censer played an important part in the ancient religious worship both of the Jews and Pagans. It is no wonder, then, that its employment in Christian ceremonies goes back to the very earliest times.
Its primitive form, however, was quite different from what it is now, being something like a vase with a perforated cover to emit the perfumed odors.
Later on chains were added for greater convenience in manipulation.
These vessels in the Middle Ages were often made of gold and silver and enriched with numerous details of most elaborate ornamentation.
In the archives or inventories of many Continental and English cathedrals (such as St. John Lateran, Trier, Louvain, Lincoln, and York Minster) minute descriptions are given of some ancient specimens in the possession of these churches.

CENSERS ARE SAFE !

One of the best features of using a censer is the low risk of starting a fire. Censers keep the fire contained and neatly catch all of the messy ash.
This is especially true when burning non-combustible incense and charcoal.
No matter what, you want to use common sense when burning things inside your home.
If you are using sticks, you can use a variety of incense holder to burn your incense in a vertical position and the censer will catch all of the ash.
Incense Cones and joss sticks burn all the way through in a censer, leaving only ash.

CHOOSING A CENSER:

To the incense user who is just starting out, the most basic upgrade is to get a larger vessel, 3" minimum diameter and 2” inches deep, and fill it with ash.
The Censer can be made from anything that isn’t flammable- Ceramic, Concrete, Glass or Metal are all good choices.
You can find many interesting new and antique censers online if you start looking for them.

Censer vs Thurible which one is better for you

A thurible is a metal container for incense used during worship services. A thurible is also a tool used for scapulars and indulgences.

Some people use a thurible to bless the house or grounds during the service. A thurible can also be used to hold relics, blessed water or wine, or even holy ashes. You can also burn candles in a thurible.

 

Censing is the practice of burning incense in a thurible to create an atmosphere for religious services. A thurible also plays an important role in religious services.

 

People use a thurible to bring in the atmosphere of worship. The thurible creates a sense of reverence and helps the worshiper to connect with God.

A thurible is a good tool for those who are sensitive to smells. Many people with allergies, respiratory problems or other issues struggle to connect with God when they are surrounded by incense. It is much less likely to trigger these issues.

 

Additionally, a thurible is also less messy than a censer.

You can easily clean a thurible and fill it with fresh incense.

This makes it a good option for those who have allergies or other issues. It's also a good tool for those who want to be more focused during services. A thurible helps you to discover God's presence more easily. It can also help you to feel more connected to your community.

 

A thurible can help you to feel a greater sense of connection to your religious community. And is a useful tool for those who want to connect with their religious beliefs. A thurible is not as versatile as a censer.

A censer can hold more incense and burn for a longer period of time. A thurible can also hold less incense and burn for a shorter time.

 

This can make it difficult to create the atmosphere you want in your home. Additionally, a thurible can be heavy and awkward to use. This makes it difficult to create the atmosphere you want in your home.

A censer can easily be repurposed after you use it. Additionally, a censer can be much cheaper than a thurible. This makes it a more practical choice for home use. Some churches already have a thurible.

This means that it is already a part of their worship service. This makes thuribles impractical for most people.

Additionally, thuribles can be expensive to purchase and maintain. This makes thuribles impractical for most people. A thurible can be expensive to maintain. You will need to replace incense frequently if you want your thurible to last for a long time.

 

This can make thuribles impractical for most people. Additionally, a thurible is not as versatile as a censer. This makes thuribles impractical for most people. Overall, a thurible is a useful tool for people who want to connect with their religious beliefs.

 

This makes a thurible a good tool for those who are sensitive to smells, want to be more focused during services, or want to connect with their community. Conversely, a thurible is not as versatile as a censer.

 

This makes a thurible impractical for those who want to be more creative during worship and for those who have issues with smells.

This makes a thurible a good tool for those who are interested in creating a more ritualistic atmosphere in their home, but it is not the best tool for everyone.

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