Good Friday Morning Prayer
  • matthewjmatthewj
    Posts: 2,700
    Should there be incense?
  • marajoymarajoy
    Posts: 783
    Since no one else has responded, my opinion that is based completely off my personal feeling and not a single rubric (which I do not have in front of me,) would be no.
  • hartleymartin
    Posts: 1,447
    Is there any reason that there should not be incense at a solemn lauds?
  • BenBen
    Posts: 3,114
    I'd say no, since there is no incense used at the gospel on Good Friday, the instance where it would be conceivably used.

    The missal says:

    21. [On Palm Sunday,] the narrative of the Lord’s Passion is read without candles and without incense, with no greeting or signing of the book.

    [...]

    9. [On Good Friday,] the narrative of the Lord’s Passion according to John (18: 1–19: 42) is read in the same way as on the preceding Sunday.

    I think this points us to the fact that using incense at lauds on Good Friday, while possibly allowable, wouldn't be within the spirit of the law.
    Thanked by 2marajoy Chris Hebard
  • ClemensRomanusClemensRomanus
    Posts: 1,023
    I don't recall incense used at Tenebrae, but I don't have my Breviary or Fortescue with me.
  • Traditionally incense was not used at the hours during the Triduum. There is no rubric that I know of (for the ordinary form) that specifically forbids it. It would be inconsistent with the rubrics of the Mass, however, as pointed out previously. The altar, being stripped of cross, candles, cloths and other ornaments is neither venerated nor incensed by the celebrant at the Solemn Liturgy on Good Friday, so it makes little sense to incense it at the Benedictus of Morning Prayer. It should be noted also that the public celebration of the Office of Readings before Morning Prayer (Lauds) is encouraged on Good Friday and Holy Saturday (cf. GILH 210, CB 296).
    Thanked by 1marajoy
  • mahrt
    Posts: 517
    In the EF Tenebrae, the six candles on the altar are being extinguished, one after every two verses of the Benedictus. Incensing the altar here would make no sense.
    Thanked by 1Pedro d'Aquino