Seamus Hammond
Incense has been used in religious ceremonies for thousands of years, dating back to ancient Egypt and China. The practice of burning incense holds significant meaning in the Catholic Church, where it is used to symbolise prayer and sanctification. The smoke from the incense is believed to symbolise the prayers of the faithful rising to heaven. While incense is commonly used in Catholic masses, it is not always included, and its use varies across different parishes. The incense is burned in a censer, also known as a thurible, and is carried by a server called a thurifer. The use of a cauldron for incense in the Catholic Church is not mentioned in the sources.
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What You'll Learn
Incense is used during Catholic Mass to symbolise prayer
Incense has been used in religious ceremonies for thousands of years, with the first recorded use in the non-Asian world by the ancient Egyptians in the Fifth Dynasty (2345-2494 BC). In the Catholic Church, incense is used during Mass and other liturgical celebrations. The practice of using incense in Christian worship was abandoned for a time due to its association with paganism, but it made a comeback in the fifth century.
The use of incense during Catholic Mass is said to symbolise prayer. The smoke from the incense, along with the prayers of the faithful, rises up to heaven. This is illustrated in Psalm 141, where the Psalmist prays, "Let my prayer come like incense before you; the lifting up of my hands, like the evening sacrifice". The apostle John also saw the offering of incense as a symbol of prayer in the Book of Revelation. The smoke of the incense is believed to symbolise the purification and sanctification of the congregation.
During Mass, a server called a thurifer approaches the priest with a thurible (censer) containing burning coals. The priest blesses the incense and places it on the coals, after which the thurible is swung towards what or who is being censed. This includes the bread and wine offered for the Eucharist, the consecrated Eucharist itself, the Gospel during its proclamation, the crucifix, the congregation, and the priest. The priest may also incense the coffin during funeral Masses, both as a sign of honour to the deceased and as a symbol of the faithful's prayers for them.
The use of incense during Mass is not mandatory and many Catholic priests choose not to include it. However, it is still considered an important part of Catholic worship, engaging the sense of smell and adding a sense of solemnity and mystery to the Mass.
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Incense is burned at the beginning of Mass to incense the cross and altar
The Roman Missal, as revised in 1969, allows the use of incense at any Mass. Incense is burned during the worship services of many Christian churches, including those of the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Assyrian Church of the East, Oriental Orthodox, Lutheran, and Old Catholic denominations. The acolyte or altar server who carries the thurible (a metal incense burner suspended from chains) is called a thurifer.
The purpose of incensing and the symbolic value of the smoke is that of purification and sanctification. For example, in the Eastern Rites at the beginning of Mass, the altar and sanctuary area are incensed while Psalm 50, the "Miserere," is chanted, invoking the mercy of God. The smoke symbolizes the prayers of the faithful drifting up to heaven: the Psalmist prays, "Let my prayer come like incense before you; the lifting up of my hands, like the evening sacrifice" (Psalm 141). Incense also creates the ambiance of heaven, as described in the Book of Revelation: "Another angel came in holding a censer of gold. He took his place at the altar of incense and was given large amounts of incense to deposit on the altar of gold in front of the throne, together with the prayers of all God's holy ones. From the angel's hand, the smoke of the incense went up before God, and with it the prayers of God's people."
The use of incense during Mass is also practical, as it helps to support an atmosphere of solemnity and beauty. It is a beautiful prayer in action and helps to consistently train altar servers so that their service is graceful and knowledgeable.
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Incense is used to purify the coffin at funerals
Incense has been used in religious ceremonies for thousands of years, dating back to ancient Egypt and China, as well as in Buddhist, Shinto, and Taoist traditions. In Catholicism, incense is used during Mass and other liturgical rites as a symbol of prayer and purification.
During funeral Masses, the priest incenses the coffin with burning incense, which is held in a metal censer called a thurible. This ritual is performed as a sign of prayer and reverence for the deceased, honouring their body, which became the temple of the Holy Spirit through baptism. The rising smoke symbolises the prayers of the faithful ascending to God, invoking His mercy for the soul of the departed. This act also signifies that the entire church community is praying for the eternal rest of their loved one.
The use of incense during Catholic funeral rites holds deep spiritual meaning and provides comfort to grieving families. It represents the purification of the soul, the connection between the deceased and God, and the hope of eternal life. In Singapore, where the Catholic community is diverse and culturally rich, the use of incense takes on additional significance, blending religious tradition with local customs to create a meaningful farewell for the deceased.
While the use of incense is optional for most Masses, it plays a significant role in connecting the worship on earth with the worship of heaven. The apostle John, in the Book of Revelation, describes the offering of incense as a beautiful symbol of prayer, with the elders holding "gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the holy ones". This symbolism is further reinforced by the use of incense during funeral rites, where it serves as a visual representation of the prayers and hopes of those in attendance.
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Incense is used to bless statues and images
The use of incense in Catholic worship is optional for most Masses. However, it is used to bless statues and images, to purify the coffin at funerals, and to honour the body of the deceased. The burning of incense is also a sign of reverence and dedication.
The practice of using incense in Christian worship was likely abandoned in the first few centuries of Church writings due to its association with paganism. However, it made a comeback in the fifth century, with its use increasing in the East and the West. The use of incense is mentioned in the liturgies of Saints James and Mark, which originate in the fifth century. A Roman Ritual of the seventh century also marks its usage in the procession of a Bishop to the altar and on Good Friday.
In the Old Testament, God instructed Moses on how to build the tabernacle, or the travelling temple of God, with an altar of incense to stand beside the altar of sacrifice. Each morning and evening, the priest would enter the tabernacle to tend to the perpetually burning lamps and offer incense. The pillar of smoke was a sign of God's constant guiding presence, reminiscent of the column of smoke that led the people through the wilderness during the day, and the column of fire that led them at night.
The use of incense in religious contexts has its origins in antiquity, with the first recorded use by the Indians in the Indus Valley Civilisation in 3600 BC. The Egyptians during the Fifth Dynasty, 2345-2494 BC, were the first in the non-Asian world to use incense, which was already in use by Hindus for centuries. The use of incense in religious ritual was further developed in China and transmitted to other parts of Asia, including Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and Indonesia.
In Chinese Taoist and Buddhist temples, the inner spaces are scented with thick coiled incense, hung from the ceiling or on special stands. Worshippers light and burn sticks of incense in small or large bundles, raising them above their heads while bowing to statues or plaques of a deity or ancestor. Individual sticks of incense are then placed vertically into censers located in front of the statues or plaques. In Japanese Shinto shrines, the sticks of incense are placed horizontally into censers on top of the ash.
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Incense is burned during the Entrance Procession
Incense has been used in religious ceremonies for thousands of years, with the first recorded use by the Indus Valley Civilisation in 3600 BC. The practice was also used in ancient China, and by the Egyptians in 2400 BC.
The Catholic Church uses incense in many areas outside of Mass, including processions, graveside services, and the blessing of new churches and items. Incense is burned during the Entrance Procession, at the beginning of Mass, and the priest incenses the cross and altar. The smoke of the incense is said to symbolise the prayers of the faithful rising to heaven.
The use of incense in the Catholic Church has its roots in the Jewish Temple worship of the Old Testament, which continued into the New Testament. The Bible mentions incense 170 times, and it is also noted in the Talmud. The practice was also used in the early Church, and the first recorded use in a Catholic liturgy was in the 5th century.
The incense is burned in a thurible, a type of censer, and is usually blessed with a prayer before being spooned onto coals. The thurible is then closed and swung by the priest, deacon, or server towards what or who is being censed. The burning of incense adds a sense of solemnity and mystery to the Mass.
The specific type of incense used can vary depending on the region and type of church, but it is often a blend of frankincense, myrrh, benzoin, and other aromatic ingredients.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the Catholic Church does not use a cauldron for incense. Instead, they use a censer, also known as a thurible, to burn incense.
The burning of incense in the Catholic Church is believed to symbolise the purification and sanctification of prayers rising to heaven. It is also mentioned in the Bible as an offering to God and is said to add solemnity and mystery to the Mass.
The type of incense used in Catholic churches varies depending on the region and type of church. However, it is common for Catholic churches to use a blend of frankincense (gum olibanum) with myrrh, benzoin, and other aromatic ingredients.
