Incensing Deacons
Date: September 20, 2025
Author: Fr. Edward McNamara, LC
Question: I studied pastoral theology at the Catholic University of Paris. In a Eucharistic celebration, can one incense the deacon or deacons? In the absence of a priest, can a deacon remove the Blessed Sacrament exposed? — P.D., Cap-Haïtien, Haiti
Answer: The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) says the following regarding incensation:
“276. Thurification or incensation is an expression of reverence and of prayer, as is signified in Sacred Scripture (cf. Ps 141 [140]:2; Rev 8:3). Incense may be used optionally in any form of Mass:
“a) during the Entrance Procession;
“b) at the beginning of Mass, to incense the cross and the altar;
“c) at the procession before the Gospel and the proclamation of the Gospel itself;
“d) after the bread and the chalice have been placed on the altar, to incense the offerings, the cross, and the altar, as well as the Priest and the people;
“e) at the elevation of the host and the chalice after the Consecration.
“277. The Priest, having put incense into the thurible, blesses it with the Sign of the Cross, without saying anything. Before and after an incensation, a profound bow is made to the person or object that is incensed, except for the altar and the offerings for the Sacrifice of the Mass.
“Three swings of the thurible are used to incense: the Most Blessed Sacrament, a relic of the Holy Cross and images of the Lord exposed for public veneration, the offerings for the Sacrifice of the Mass, the altar cross, the Book of the Gospels, the paschal candle, the Priest, and the people.
“Two swings of the thurible are used to incense relics and images of the Saints exposed for public veneration; this should be done, however, only at the beginning of the celebration, following the incensation of the altar. The altar is incensed with single swings of the thurible in this way:
“a) if the altar is freestanding with respect to the wall, the Priest incenses walking around it;
“b) if the altar is not freestanding, the Priest incenses it while walking first to the right hand side, then to the left.
“The cross, if situated on the altar or near it, is incensed by the Priest before he incenses the altar; otherwise, he incenses it when he passes in front of it. The Priest incenses the offerings with three swings of the thurible or by making the Sign of the Cross over the offerings with the thurible before going on to incense the cross and the altar.”
When describing the rite at the offertory, the only moment when humans beings are incensed during the Mass, it says:
“75. The bread and wine are placed on the altar by the Priest to the accompaniment of the prescribed formulas; the Priest may incense the gifts placed on the altar and then incense the cross and the altar itself, so as to signify the Church’s offering and prayer rising like incense in the sight of God. Next, the Priest, because of his sacred ministry, and the people, by reason of their baptismal dignity, may be incensed by the Deacon or by another minister.” (see also 178).
Therefore, although the text speaks about the deacon as a minister for incensing the priest celebrant and the people, at no time does it speak about incensing the deacon himself. It must be presumed therefore that, even if there are several deacons present, no such separate incensing is contemplated. Indeed, it would not seem that the GIRM contemplates the separate incensing of concelebrants as these would either be included along with the principal celebrant or else along with the people.
The Ceremonial of Bishops, on the other hand, does foresee the possibility of a separate incensing of concelebrants, but only when a bishop presides.
No. 96 of the Ceremonial says the following:
“Whether he is at the altar or at the chair (cathedra), the bishop receives the incensation standing and without the miter, unless he is already wearing it.
“Concelebrants are incensed as a body by the deacon.
“Lastly, the deacon incenses the people from the place most convenient. Canons who are not concelebrating or a community assembled in choir are incensed together with the people unless the spatial arrangement suggests otherwise.
“Bishops who may be present are also incensed along with the people.”
Although deacons are not specifically mentioned, those who are present without officiating would probably be in an analogous situation with non-concelebrating bishops, canons or a community assembled in choir. Therefore, the logical option would be to incense them along with the people.
With respect to the second question the answer is yes. Indeed, this would be the normal procedure.
At the beginning of a period of adoration the exposition would be carried out by the deacon alone, unless he accompanies a priest for a liturgical act, such as vespers, following immediately after exposition.
In that case the priest and deacon enter together and genuflect before the altar. The deacon goes to the tabernacle, takes the pyx, and places the host in the monstrance. He then returns to his place beside the priest, assists him in placing incense in the thurible and the priest, kneeling, incenses the Blessed Sacrament. The priest and deacon then genuflect and proceed to the chair for the liturgical act. The chairs are placed so that they face the Blessed Sacrament.
After Benediction by the priest, the priest and deacon kneel if the Divine Praises or other prayers are recited. Otherwise, the priest kneels before the Blessed Sacrament, the deacon removes the lunette and places it in the pyx, which he then replaces in the tabernacle. The deacon genuflects before closing the tabernacle door. At this moment all stand, the deacon returns to the priest’s side, they genuflect and process out with the ministers.
There may be several variants of this basic process depending on the concrete situations. For example, if the Blessed Sacrament chapel is at some distance from the place of exposition, it may not be necessary to await the deacon’s return, but the priest may leave as soon as the deacons has departed to the chapel.
Therefore, while concrete logistics may vary, the overarching principle is that exposition and reposition of the Blessed Sacrament is primarily a function of the deacon even in the presence of a priest.
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