Katrina Rosales
Incense is used in many religions, including Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Shinto. In Christianity, incense is used in Catholic, Orthodox Christian, Lutheran, Anglican, and Methodist churches. The use of incense in Christian liturgy dates back to the earliest days, continuing the Jewish tradition that came before it. Incense is also mentioned in the New Testament, where it is identified with the prayers of the saints. In Judaism, incense was used in the time of the Tabernacle and the First and Second Temple periods, and it was an important component of priestly liturgy in the Temple in Jerusalem. In Hinduism, the use of incense is a traditional and ubiquitous practice in pujas, prayers, and other forms of worship. Incense is offered to God in his various forms, such as Krishna and Rama. In Buddhism, incense is used in ceremonies and rites, and it is believed to purify the surroundings and bring forth an assembly of buddhas, bodhisattvas, gods, and demons. When using incense, it is important to consider the proper methods and tools, such as censers or incense burners, and to dispose of the ashes properly by burying them in the ground or laying them along the foundation of a building.
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What You'll Learn
Incense as a symbol of sanctification and purification
The use of incense in religious worship predates Christianity by thousands of years. The practice was first noted in China around 2000 BC with the burning of cassia and sandalwood, and it eventually spread to the West. Incense has been used in Christian liturgy from its earliest days, continuing the Jewish tradition that came before it.
Incense is often used as a symbol of sanctification and purification. In the Catholic world, the smoke of incense is meant to symbolise sanctification and purification. It also depicts the faithful's prayers rising up to Heaven. The New Testament makes several typological references to incense, including a Christological reference to the coals from the altar of incense taken behind the veil on the Day of Atonement (Hebrews 9:3-4). Incense is also used in the regular rite of purifying and cleansing the Ka'aba in Makkah, to perfume the air and uplift the souls of pilgrims.
The Book of Exodus describes God's instructions to Moses on how to make incense through a "holy recipe". The sacred incense was to be made of costly materials contributed by the congregation, including sweet spices, stacte, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense. This incense was to be burned every morning and evening in the Tabernacle, the sacred space of worship. The use of incense in the Tabernacle is believed to symbolise the cleansing and purification of the space, making it worthy for the worship of God.
The use of incense in Christian liturgy is believed to symbolise the purification and sanctification of the worshipper, allowing them to enter into the presence of God. The smoke of incense represents the prayers of the faithful rising to God, as mentioned in Psalm 141:2: "Let my prayer be counted as incense before thee, and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice!". Incense is also mentioned in the Book of Revelation, where the smoke of incense is described as rising up to God along with the prayers of the saints.
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Burning incense during prayer
Incense is noted in the Talmud, and the Bible mentions incense 170 times. The use of incense in Jewish temple worship continued well after the establishment of Christianity and certainly influenced the Catholic Church’s use of incense in liturgical celebrations. The earliest documented history of using Holy Incense during a Catholic Sacrificial Liturgy comes from the Eastern branch of the Church. The rituals of the Divine Liturgies of Saint James and Saint Mark dating from the 5th century include the use of incense. In the Western Church, the 7th-century Ordo Romanus VIII of Saint Amand mentions the use of incense during the procession of a Bishop to the Altar on Good Friday.
Burning incense is often used as a purification ritual. In the Revelation of John, incense symbolizes the prayers of the saints in heaven – the "golden bowl full of incense" are "the prayers of the saints" (Revelation 5:8, cf. Revelation 8:3) which infuse upwards towards the altar of God. The smoke of burning incense is interpreted by both the Western Catholic and Eastern Christian churches as a symbol of the prayer of the faithful rising to heaven. This symbolism is seen in Psalm 141 (140), verse 2: "Let my prayer be directed as incense in thy sight: the lifting up of my hands, as the evening sacrifice."
There are various methods of burning incense at home. You can use a hand censer that is easily held (rather than the swinging censer most often used by the clergy). When using a hand censer, hold it in your right hand, using the censer to make the sign of the cross over whatever you are censing. Then switch the censer to your left hand, make the sign of the cross, and then bow. If you are censing others, make the sign of the cross with the censer and then bow to those people (without signing yourself). It is up to you whether you cense at the beginning or the completion of morning or evening prayers.
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Incense in Christian liturgy
The use of incense in Christian liturgy has a long history, dating back to the earliest days of the religion. It is believed that the practice was influenced by the Jewish tradition, which was commanded by God and recorded in Sacred Scripture. For example, in the Book of Exodus, God instructed Moses to build an altar of incense made from costly materials contributed by the congregation. This altar was to be placed next to the altar of sacrifice in the Tabernacle, the traveling temple of God. The priest was commanded to offer incense each morning and evening, alongside tending to the perpetually burning lamps.
Incense also holds symbolic significance in Christianity, representing the prayers of the faithful rising to God or heaven. This symbolism is evident in the Book of Revelation, where St. John describes the elders holding "gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the holy ones" (Revelation 5:8). Additionally, the smoke of incense is associated with sanctification and purification, connecting to the idea of prayer as a sweet aroma rising to God.
The use of incense in Christian liturgy continued to evolve over the centuries. In the 5th century, the rituals of the Divine Liturgies of Saint James and Saint Mark included the use of incense. The 7th-century Ordo Romanus VIII of Saint Amand also mentions the use of incense during the procession of a bishop to the altar on Good Friday. The documented history of incensing the Evangeliary (Book of Gospels) during Mass dates back to the 11th century.
Today, the use of incense in Christian liturgy is still practiced in various denominations, including the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, Anglican churches, and Lutheran churches. While its use has declined in some parishes, it continues to hold symbolic value and is often associated with special occasions or devotional practices.
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Incense in the home
Incense has been used in many religions and cultures throughout history, and it continues to be used in homes today. In Catholicism, for example, incense is used to symbolise the purification of the prayers of the faithful rising to heaven. Incense is also used in Orthodox Christianity, where it is believed to be an acceptable offering to God.
There are various methods of burning incense in the home, and you can choose the one that feels right for you. A popular way to burn incense is to use a hand censer, which can be purchased at some parish churches or from monastic communities. The censer is held in the right hand to make the sign of the cross over whatever you are censing, then switched to the left hand to repeat the action, before bowing. If you are censing others, make the sign of the cross with the censer and then bow to those people. The ashes should be disposed of thoughtfully, perhaps by scattering them along the foundation of your building or burying them in the ground.
In Orthodox Christianity, the head of the household may carry the hand censer with burning incense through the entire dwelling, including the basement and attic, making the sign of the cross on the four walls of each room and over the beds. They may say, "This room (or bed) is blessed by the sign of the Holy Cross", while other household members chant and bear icons or candles.
In addition to its religious significance, incense can also be used in the home to create a sacred space and enhance spiritual experiences. Incense has a distinctive scent that can evoke a sense of holiness and help with meditation and focus.
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Incense in other religions
Incense has been used in religious contexts for thousands of years, with the first recorded use in 3600 BC by the Indus Valley Civilisation. Since then, its use has spread across the world, playing a significant role in various religious ceremonies and rites.
Buddhism
Incense is frequently mentioned in the Pali Canon, scriptures that date back to the life of the Buddha. It is offered at altars and is thought to purify the surrounding space, creating a tranquil atmosphere for meditation. In some schools of Buddhism, incense may also carry symbolic meaning—for example, three sticks burned together may represent the Three Treasures: the Buddha, the dharma, and the sangha. The type of incense used varies, with stick and loose incense being common, and coils of burning incense hung from the ceilings of some temples.
Hinduism
Incense, or 'agarbatti', is an integral part of all Hindu rituals. The aromas of the incense sticks are believed to have healing powers, creating a calming and soothing atmosphere that aids concentration. The incense is usually made from a masala, a mixture of ground ingredients, and is burned on top of hot charcoal.
Islam
The use of incense is recommended in Islam to perfume mosques and houses. However, seeking blessings or using incense to ward off evil eye or fear is considered an act of polytheism and is not permitted.
Judaism
Incense has been used in Judaism since ancient times, with offerings of incense mentioned in the Old Testament. It is often used as part of a purification ritual, with the smoke symbolising the prayers of the faithful rising to heaven.
Christianity
The use of incense in Christian worship is inspired by passages in the Bible and carries symbolic meaning. Incense has been used in various denominations of Christianity, including Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran, and Anglican churches.
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Frequently asked questions
The use of incense in religious worship predates Christianity by thousands of years, with the practice first emerging in China around 2,000 BC and later in the West. Incense has been used in Christian liturgy from its earliest days, continuing the Jewish tradition that came before it. The ancient Jews used holy incense to accompany prayers at the Temple, and the practice is mentioned in the Bible.
Holy incense is a symbol of sanctification and purification. It also symbolises the prayers of the faithful rising to God or heaven.
Incense is burned using a censer, which can be hand-held or swinging. A server called a thurifer approaches the person conducting the service with the thurible (a type of censer) containing burning charcoal. The incense is blessed with a prayer, spooned onto the coals, and then swung towards what or who is being censed.
The type of incense used in holy practices varies. In the Bible, God commands Moses to make an altar of incense using "sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum, sweet spices with pure frankincense". Other sources mention myrrh, cassia, and sandalwood.
