Cross, Incensing The

Cross, Incensing The, is a ceremony by which 11 crosses to be erected in Roman Catholic countries, in public places, high-roads, and cross-ways, as well as on the tops of chapels, are prepared previous to erection. Candles are first lighted at the foot of the cross, after which the celebrant sits down before it and delivers a discourse to the people on its manifold virtues. Then he sprinkles the cross with holy water, and afterwards with incense, and at the close of this ceremony candles are s.et upon the top of each arm of the cross.