smudging

F will visit Canada and participate in an indigenous, smudging (burning sage), purification ritual during Mass to make Sacred Heart Church more hospitable to the pope. The ritual “clears away evil spirits”, and smoke is directed away from the people, where, out the window? Incense in the Catholic Church, which is frankincense or myrrh or other tree sap or bark, brought by the Magi, represents prayers of the faithful rising to heaven and has nothing to do with evil spirits.