Anisha Riggs
Incense has been used in Catholic Mass for thousands of years, with the first instance of its use appearing in Exodus, over a thousand years before Jesus. The smoke from the incense is thought to symbolise the prayers of the faithful rising up to God, and it is also used to bless and sanctify things in a special way. Incense is used at various points during Mass, including during the Entrance Procession, at the beginning of Mass, to incense the altar, at the proclamation of the Gospel, at the offertory, to incense the offerings, altar, priest and people, and at the elevation of the Sacred Host and chalice of Precious Blood.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Symbolises prayers of the faithful rising up to God, adds solemnity and <co: 1,5>mystery to the Mass, creates the ambiance of heaven |
| Usage | Used during the Entrance Procession, at the beginning of Mass, during the proclamation of the Gospel, at the offertory, at the elevation of the Sacred Host and chalice of Precious Blood, during Eucharistic Exposition and Benediction, at the Final Commendation during a funeral |
| History | Mentioned in the Bible, used by Jews to remind them of God's presence, commanded by God in Exodus, used by Israelites, used in Roman Ritual of the 7th century, used in the Mass in the 11th and 12th centuries |
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What You'll Learn
- Incense is used during the Entrance Procession, at the start of Mass
- The priest blesses the incense, placed on coals, before burning
- Incense is used to bless and sanctify the altar, cross, priest and people
- Incense is used during the Liturgy of the Eucharist
- The smoke symbolises the prayers of the faithful rising to God
Incense is used during the Entrance Procession, at the start of Mass
The use of incense in the Mass adds a sense of solemnity and mystery. The visual imagery of the smoke and the smell remind us of the transcendence of the Mass, which links heaven and earth, and allow us to enter into the presence of God. The smoke also 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). The Book of Revelation describes the heavenly worship as follows: "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" (Revelation 8:3-4).
The burning of incense is also joined with the singing of Eucharistic hymns, and our prayers and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament ascend to God with a sweet fragrance like the incense. Incense is a sacramental, and the priest blesses the incense as it is placed on the coals. The smoke obscures our sense of sight and adds an appreciation of the mystery involved in the worship of God and our sanctification. It also pleasantly engages our sense of smell, along with our other senses involved in worship.
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The priest blesses the incense, placed on coals, before burning
Incense is used during Catholic Mass to symbolise the prayers of the faithful rising to God. The use of incense in the Catholic Church is a continuation of the Israelite liturgy, as commanded by God in Exodus.
The smoke that rises from the burning incense is a powerful symbol. It is believed to represent the prayers of the faithful rising to God, as mentioned in Psalm 141: "Let my prayer come like incense before you; the lifting up of my hands, like the evening sacrifice". The smoke adds a sense of solemnity and mystery to the Mass, engaging the senses of those in attendance. The visual imagery of the smoke and the smell are intended to remind attendees of the transcendence of the Mass, linking heaven and earth.
The use of incense is also connected to eschatology. The belief is that if God dwells in the clouds of heaven, then the smoke of incense brings us closer to heaven. This is referenced in Scripture, such as Isaiah's vision of a heavenly God, where the surroundings were "filled with smoke" (Isa. 6:4). The Psalms also refer to God being surrounded by clouds (97:2), and Jesus ascended into heaven on a cloud (Acts 1:9).
The burning of incense during Mass is a symbolic and meaningful tradition, intended to engage the senses and deepen the prayer experience.
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Incense is used to bless and sanctify the altar, cross, priest and people
Incense is used in the Mass to bless and sanctify the altar, cross, priest and people. The priest incenses the altar at the beginning of Mass because it is where the Sacrifice of the Mass takes place. The altar is the holiest location inside any Catholic Church. The consecration of bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ occurs here, which is called The Eucharist. The incense is used to bless and sanctify the altar, preparing it for the sacrifice and honouring it as the place of sacrifice.
The priest also incenses the cross and the priest themselves. The smoke from the incense is understood by the Christian community as a symbol of the prayers of the faithful rising up to God. The smoke adds a sense of solemnity and mystery to the Mass. The visual imagery of the smoke and the smell remind us of the transcendence of the Mass, linking heaven and earth, and allowing us to enter into the presence of God.
The use of incense in the Mass is also linked to the Old Testament, where God commanded the burning of incense (Exodus 30:1-10). The incense gives offerings a sweet fragrance and is said to obscure our sense of sight, adding to the mystery of worship. The use of incense in the Mass is also linked to the Wise Men, who offered incense to the Lord, as well as the Old Testament offerings, which included incense.
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Incense is used during the Liturgy of the Eucharist
The General Instruction on the Roman Missal (GIRM) identifies five occasions when incense may be used during the celebration of Mass. Two of these occasions occur during the Liturgy of the Eucharist: at the preparation of the gifts, and during the elevations of the Eucharistic Prayer.
During the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the celebrant begins by incensing the gifts, with no further sign of reverence to the altar. The celebrant holds the ring of the chain close to his chest with his left hand. Traditionally, while the celebrant is incensing the gifts, the deacon places the joined fingers of his right hand on the base of the chalice to steady it, keeping his left hand at his chest.
At the elevation of the Body of the Lord, the thurifer, still kneeling, bows from the waist and then incenses the Blessed Sacrament with three double swings using his right hand at the height of his face. The same procedure is repeated after the consecration of the Precious Blood.
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The smoke symbolises the prayers of the faithful rising to God
The use of incense during Mass is steeped in history and tradition. The smoke that rises from the burning of incense has been understood by the Christian community as a symbol of the prayers of the faithful rising up to God. This belief has been held for millennia.
The use of incense in worship can be traced back to the Old Testament. In Exodus 24, God descended on Mount Sinai in a large cloud, and Moses was called up into the cloud. The glory of the Lord "dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days" (Exodus 24:15-18). This cloud, which obscured the appearance of God, was a foreshadowing of the transcendence of the Mass, where heaven and earth meet.
Incense has been used in religious ceremonies for thousands of years, with the first instance of its use mentioned in Scripture occurring over a thousand years before Jesus. The Book of Revelation describes the heavenly worship, with an angel holding "a censer of gold" and depositing "large amounts of incense... 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" (Revelation 8:3-4).
The smoke from the burning incense serves as a visual reminder of the faithful's prayers rising to God. It adds a sense of solemnity and
During funeral Masses, the priest may incense the coffin as a sign of honour to the body of the deceased and as a symbol of the faithful's prayers for the departed, rising to God.
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Frequently asked questions
The use of incense during mass is to symbolise the prayers of the faithful rising up to God. The smoke from the incense adds to the sense of mystery and solemnity of the mass, creating an ambiance of heaven on earth.
Incense is used during the Entrance Procession at the beginning of Mass, where the priest incenses the altar, the cross, the priest, and the people. The priest may also incense the Crucifix and the Paschal Candle. Incense is also used at the proclamation of the Gospel, and the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
The first instance of incense in the Bible appears over a thousand years before Jesus, in Exodus 24. God came down as a large cloud over Mount Sinai, and Moses was called up into the cloud. The Book of Revelation describes the use of incense during heavenly worship, where an angel mingles incense with the prayers of the saints, and the smoke rises before God.
