censing
Perfuming with smoke
Censing is the act of burning incense, especially in religious ceremonies.
A priest censing the altar swings a censer—a container on chains—releasing fragrant smoke as a symbol of prayers rising to heaven.
The practice appears across traditions: Catholic masses, Orthodox liturgies, Buddhist temples.
The deacon moved slowly through the nave, censing the congregation.
Sacred ritual table
- processionFormal moving line
- liturgyFormal worship structure
- vestmentsCeremonial religious attire
- clergyOrdained religious officials collectively
acolyte · sanctuary · sacristy · blessing · consecration · mass · benediction · evensong
Fragrant gum from trees
- resinViscous plant secretion
- fragrantEmitting pleasant smell
- smokeAirborne combustion byproduct
- copalFragrant tropical tree resin
benzoin · sandalwood · cedar · juniper · oud · balsamic · resinous · woody
Dedicated to the divine
- reverenceProfound admiring respect
- prayerAddress to deity
- pietySincere religious devotion
- spiritualityConnection to the sacred
worship · shrine · temple · sanctuary · offering · devotional · sacred · invocation
Remove dirt or sin
- sanctifyMake officially holy
- purifyRemove unwanted substances
- fumigatePurge pests using gas
- blessConfer favor upon
consecrate · exorcism · dispel · ward · smudging · ritual cleansing · spiritual protection · banishing
altar
Sacred ritual table
- processionFormal moving line
- liturgyFormal worship structure
- vestmentsCeremonial religious attire
clergy · acolyte · sanctuary · sacristy · blessing · consecration · mass · benediction · evensong · processional
myrrh
Fragrant gum from trees
copal · benzoin · sandalwood · cedar · juniper · oud · balsamic · resinous · woody · herbal
holy
Dedicated to the divine
spirituality · worship · shrine · temple · sanctuary · offering · devotional · sacred · invocation · anointing
cleanse
Remove dirt or sin
bless · consecrate · exorcism · dispel · ward · smudging · ritual cleansing · spiritual protection · banishing · hallowing
censingdesecrating
Violating something sacred
profaning · defiling · polluting · cursing · airing out
censingextinguishing
Causing to stop burning
snuffing · quenching · dousing · putting out · smothering