Katrina Rosales
Incense has been used in religious ceremonies for thousands of years, dating back to the Indus Valley Civilisation in 3600 BC. Its use in Christian worship is inspired by passages in the Bible, and it is often used as part of a purification ritual. Incense is burned on Holy Thursday during the procession with the Blessed Sacrament to the altar of repose. It is also used during the Mass of the Lord's Supper, after the Liturgy of the Word and the homily, and again at the end of the liturgy during the Transfer of the Eucharist.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Incense use in religious ritual | Originated in the Indus Valley Civilisation in 3600 BC, and was later discovered by Egyptians in the 5th Dynasty |
| Incense use in Christianity | Inspired by the Bible; used in prayer and worship |
| Incense use in Catholicism | Used during Holy Thursday, Easter Vigil, and Easter Sunday |
| Incense use during Holy Thursday | Used during the procession with the Blessed Sacrament to the altar of repose, during the Mass of the Lord's Supper, and during the Transfer of the Eucharist |
| Incense alternatives | Monastery Incense ® is a special type of incense that is less likely to trigger allergies |
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What You'll Learn
Incense is used during the liturgy for Holy Thursday
The smoke from the incense is believed to symbolise prayer rising to heaven and is used to aid worshippers in their prayers. Incense is also used to symbolise the holiness of the sacrifice on the altar, creating a haze or veil, reminiscent of the huge curtain in the Temple in Jerusalem.
On Holy Thursday, incense is used during the Mass of the Lord's Supper, specifically during the Presentation of the Gifts as part of the Eucharistic Preparation. It is also used during the procession with the Blessed Sacrament to the altar of repose, and again at the end of the liturgy during the Transfer of the Eucharist.
The use of incense is an important part of Judeo-Christian heritage, but it is recognised that it can present health concerns for some individuals. Some churches have obtained special incense that is less likely to cause allergies, but they may also suggest that those with sensitivities participate from a chapel seating area or move to a different area during the liturgy.
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It symbolises prayer rising to heaven
Incense has been used in religious rituals since ancient times. The use of incense in Christianity is inspired by passages in the Bible, and its use in prayer and worship carries a Christian symbolism. Incense is often used as part of a purification ritual.
The visual imagery of the smoke and smell reinforce the transcendence of the Mass, linking Heaven and Earth, allowing people to enter into the presence 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."
The use of incense on Holy Thursday symbolises prayer rising to heaven. On Holy Thursday, during the procession with the Blessed Sacrament to the altar of repose, incense is used. It is also used during the Mass of the Lord's Supper, after the Liturgy of the Word and the homily have finished. It is used again at the end of the liturgy during the Transfer of the Eucharist.
The use of incense during the Mass is deeply embedded in Catholic tradition. The haze and veil created by the incense smoke illustrate the holiness of the sacrifice on the altar.
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Incense is used during the Presentation of the Gifts
The use of incense during the Presentation of the Gifts adds to the transcendence of the Mass, linking Heaven and Earth, and allowing worshippers to enter into the presence of God. The visual imagery of the smoke and the smell reinforce this transcendence. Incense is also used in many other areas outside of the Mass, including in private prayer.
The use of incense in Christian worship is inspired by passages in the Bible, and its use in prayer and worship carries a Christian symbolism. Incense has been used in Christian worship for centuries, with its roots in the earlier traditions of Judaism. In the Temple, the Jews would offer incense twice a day, in the morning and evening. Incense is mentioned over a hundred times in the Bible, notably as the frankincense and myrrh presented to the infant Jesus by the Magi.
The smell of frankincense is deemed pleasing, and its aroma is biblical. In Ephesians 5, St. Paul refers to Christ's sacrificial love for mankind as "a fragrant offering", referring to the practice of burning incense in the temple.
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It is also used during the Transfer of the Eucharist
Incense is used during the Transfer of the Eucharist on Holy Thursday. This day is the most complex and profound of all religious observances, second only to the Easter Vigil. It celebrates the institution of the Eucharist and the priesthood by Christ during his Last Supper with his disciples.
The Transfer of the Eucharist involves a procession through the church, led by a cross-bearer, with candles and incense. The Blessed Sacrament is carried to the place of reposition, which has been prepared in a suitably decorated chapel. The hymn Pange, lingua, or another Eucharistic song, is sung during the procession. When the procession reaches its destination, the priest sets down the ciborium, a vessel containing the Eucharist, and puts incense in the thurible. The priest then kneels and incenses the Blessed Sacrament while Tantum Ergo Sacramentum is sung. The use of incense during this ceremony is symbolic of prayers rising up to God. The visual imagery and smell of the incense reinforce the transcendence of the Mass, linking Heaven and Earth, and allowing entry into the presence of God.
After incensing the Blessed Sacrament, the priest closes the tabernacle of reposition. This is followed by a period of silent adoration, after which the priest and ministers genuflect and return to the sacristy. The altar is then stripped, and the crosses are removed from the church or covered if they cannot be moved. The faithful are invited to spend time in adoration, and vespers are not said by those who participate in the evening Mass.
The use of incense during the Transfer of the Eucharist on Holy Thursday is a significant part of the Catholic liturgy, engaging the sense of smell to enhance the sacredness of the Mass and reinforce the connection between Heaven and Earth.
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Incense is used in other religions too
Incense is used in many religions, including Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Shinto, Neopaganism, and Satanism.
In Christianity, incense is used in the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Catholic Church, Orthodox Christian churches, Lutheran Churches, Old Catholic/Liberal Catholic Churches, and some Anglican Churches. It is also increasingly used in other Christian groups, such as Methodism. The smoke from burning incense is interpreted as a symbol of prayer rising to heaven. Incense is used during the celebration of the Eucharist, at solemn celebrations of the Divine Office, funerals, and the consecration of churches or altars, among other services.
In Hinduism, incense is used in almost all pujas, prayers, and other forms of worship. It is offered to God in His deity forms, such as Krishna and Rama. This practice is mentioned in the Bhagavad-Gita and is still common in modern-day India.
Buddhists burn incense at festivals, initiations, and daily rites. It holds an invaluable role in East Asian Buddhist ceremonies and rites.
In Chinese Taoist temples, the inner spaces are scented with thick coiled incense, hung from the ceiling or placed on special stands. Worshippers light and burn sticks of incense in small or large bundles, which they wave or raise above their heads while bowing to statues or plaques of deities or ancestors.
Japanese Shinto shrines also use incense in rituals for the deity Inari Okami, or the Seven Lucky Gods.
Neopagans and Wiccans use incense to create a magical atmosphere for the invocation of deities and spirits.
Finally, some Satanists use incense, particularly Patchouli (Graveyard Dust), to create an atmosphere that is believed to bring forth demons to perform tasks such as telling the future or healing.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, incense is used on Holy Thursday. It is used during the procession with the Blessed Sacrament to the altar of repose.
The smoke from burning incense is seen as a symbol of prayer rising to heaven. It is also used as a part of purification rituals.
The first recorded use of incense was in 3600 BC by the Indus Valley Civilisation. It was also used by the Egyptians in the Fifth Dynasty, 2345-2494 BC.
The use of incense in Christianity is inspired by passages in the Bible. It is mentioned over a hundred times in the Bible, notably as the gifts of the Magi to the infant Jesus.
Incense is used on Good Friday, Easter Vigil, and Easter Sunday. However, some churches choose not to use it during certain masses to accommodate those with allergies or sensitivities.
