Heidi Norton
Incense has been used in religious worship for thousands of years, including in ancient China and Egypt, and in Buddhist, Shinto, and Taoist ceremonies. In the Catholic Church, incense is used to purify the coffin at funerals and to bless statues and images. It is also burned during Mass and other liturgical services, where priests and altar servers swing censers to send clouds of incense wafting through the air. The smoke of incense is symbolic of sanctification and
Characteristics and Values of Lighting Catholic Incense
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To purify the coffin at funerals, bless statues and images, and sanctify |
| Religious Significance | Symbolises the prayers of the faithful rising to heaven |
| Religious Text References | The Book of Exodus, the Book of Revelation, the Old Testament, the Talmud, the Bible, the Book of Malachi, the New Testament |
| Types of Incense | Frankincense, myrrh, benzoin, copal, cassia, sandalwood |
| Ingredients | Natural ingredients, fragrant resins, essential oils, sweet spices, stacte, onycha, galbanum, salt, gum resin, styrax, opoponax |
| Religious Occasions | Mass, funerals, Feast of the Epiphany, Easter |
| Religious Objects | Censer, thurible, Paschal candle, casket |
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What You'll Learn
The history of Catholic incense
The use of incense in Catholic worship is part of a long tradition of incense being used in religious ceremonies. The first recorded use of incense was 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 discover its use, and incense use in religious ritual was further developed in China before being transmitted to Korea, Japan, Southeast Asia, and parts of South Asia.
The use of incense in the Catholic Church can be traced back to the Old Testament, where God commanded Moses to build an altar of incense to stand beside the altar of sacrifice. In Exodus 30:7-8, God says, "You shall make an altar on which to offer incense; Aaron shall offer fragrant incense on it every morning and evening". The altar was placed before the Ark of the Covenant, and the sweet-smelling smoke was a sign of God's presence. The Book of Exodus also includes a recipe for making incense, which includes "storax, onycha, and galbanum, these and pure frankincense in equal parts".
The use of incense in the Catholic Church continued to develop over the centuries, with references to its use in the New Testament and the earliest authentic reference to its use in the service of the Church found in Pseudo-Dionysius. The Liturgies of Sts. James and Mark, which date back to the fifth century, refer to the use of incense at the Sacred Mysteries. A Roman Ordo of the seventh century also mentions that incense was used in the procession of the bishop to the altar and on Good Friday.
Today, incense continues to be an important part of Catholic worship, with its sweet fragrance and high-ascending smoke symbolizing the good Christian's prayer. It is used to venerate, bless, and sanctify, and its smoke conveys a sense of mystery and awe, linking Heaven and Earth. Incense is also used in the Catholic Church as protection against evil, and during exorcisms or blessings of the house.
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How to light Catholic incense
The use of incense in Catholic liturgy is steeped in tradition and ritual. It is used to symbolise sanctification and purification, and the smoke represents the prayers of the faithful rising to heaven.
Incense is usually burned in a censer or 'thurible'. The grains of incense are placed in the censer and burned, releasing an aromatic smoke that fills the church. The priest will then 'incense the altar', swinging the censer to send clouds of incense through the air.
There are two main types of incense used in the Catholic Church: frankincense and myrrh. Frankincense has a sweet, citrusy, piney aroma, while myrrh is rich, smoky, and slightly bitter. Other ingredients like benzoin, copal, styrax, and opoponax may be added to create a unique blend.
To light Catholic incense, start by preparing the censer. Place a small amount of lit charcoal in the censer and allow it to burn until it is covered in a thin layer of white ash. This will provide a hot surface for the incense to burn. Then, add a small amount of incense grains to the censer. You can add more incense as needed to maintain the smoke.
As the incense burns, the priest or altar server will swing the censer, sending clouds of fragrant smoke through the air. The priest will then incense the altar, symbolising the prayers of the faithful rising to heaven. Finally, a profound bow is made to the person or object being incensed, except during the incensation of the altar and the offerings for the Sacrifice of the Mass.
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The spiritual meaning of Catholic incense
Incense has been used in religious worship for thousands of years, including in ancient Egypt, China, and in Buddhist, Shinto, and Taoist ceremonies. The first recorded use of incense for worship is from Egypt around 2400 BC.
The use of incense in Catholic liturgy is full of symbolism. Incense smoke is symbolic of sanctification and purification. It also symbolizes the prayers of the faithful rising up to God. This is illustrated in Psalm 141:2:
> Let my prayer be counted as incense before thee, and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice!
The Book of Exodus recounts God's instructions to Moses to build an altar of incense to stand beside the altar of sacrifice. God also gave Moses a recipe for making the incense:
> Take these aromatic substances: storax, onycha, and galbanum, these and pure frankincense in equal parts; and blend them into incense.
Incense is also mentioned in the Book of Revelation:
> The twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each of the elders held a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the holy ones.
At Mass, priests and altar servers swing censers, sending clouds of incense into the air. This practice symbolises the connection between worship on earth and the worship of heaven.
Incense is also used to purify the coffin at funerals and to bless statues and images.
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The ingredients of Catholic incense
Incense is a key component of Catholic worship, with its roots in antiquity. The smoke from burning incense is believed to symbolize the prayers of the faithful rising up to Heaven, sanctification, and purification.
In the Book of Exodus, God gives Moses a recipe for making incense:
> "Take these aromatic substances: storax, onycha, and galbanum, these and pure frankincense in equal parts; and blend them into incense." (Exodus 30:34-38)
The use of incense in Catholic liturgy has evolved over the centuries, with the earliest documented history of its use in the Eastern branch of the Church, dating back to the 5th century.
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The use of Catholic incense in worship
The use of incense in Catholic worship is steeped in ancient tradition and ritual. Incense is used in Catholic liturgies to symbolise a theological truth—it is not "just for show". The smoke from incense symbolises sanctification and purification, and also represents the prayers of the faithful rising to heaven.
The practice of burning incense in Catholic worship has its roots in ancient Egypt, China, and the Bible. The first recorded use of incense for worship is from Egypt around 2400 B.C. and it was also used in ancient China, where the burning of cassia and sandalwood played a part in Buddhist, Shinto and Taoist ceremonies. Incense is mentioned in the Bible 170 times and the Book of Exodus recounts God's instructions to Moses to build an altar of incense to stand beside the altar of sacrifice.
The use of incense in Catholic worship is also connected to the Book of Revelation. The apostle John writes about the elders who "held a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the holy ones". Incense is also used to purify the coffin at funerals and to bless statues and images.
The Catholic Church uses a blend of frankincense and myrrh, with the addition of benzoin, styrax, opoponax, and other aromatic ingredients and essential oils. The incense is placed in a censer or 'thurible' and burned, releasing an aromatic smoke that fills the church.
The use of incense in Catholic worship is an important part of the liturgy, symbolising the holiness of divine worship and connecting earthly worship with the worship of heaven.
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Frequently asked questions
The use of incense in Catholic liturgy is steeped in ancient tradition and ritual. The smoke is symbolic of sanctification and
The two most common types of incense used in the Catholic Church are frankincense and myrrh. Other types like benzoin, copal, styrax and opoponax are also used to create a unique and recognisable aroma.
Incense grains are placed in a censer or 'thurible' and burned, releasing aromatic smoke.
