Heidi Norton
Incense has been used in Christian liturgy since its earliest days, continuing the Jewish tradition that came before it. In the Catholic Church, incense is used during Mass and other liturgical services to symbolise sanctification and purification. The smoke of the incense is believed to symbolise the prayers of the faithful drifting up to heaven. Incense is also used to purify the coffin at funerals and to bless statues and images.
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What You'll Learn
Incense is a prayer in itself
The smoke of the incense, wafting through the air, is a powerful and evocative symbol of sanctification and purification. It represents the prayers of the faithful rising up to heaven, connecting the earthly realm with the divine. The sense of mystery and awe evoked by the smoke and fragrance of incense adds solemnity and beauty to the Mass, creating an ambiance reminiscent of heaven.
The use of incense in Catholic worship continues the Jewish tradition that came before it, as commanded by God in Sacred Scripture. In the Old Testament, God instructed Moses on how to build the Tabernacle, the traveling temple of God, which included an altar of incense. The burning of incense was a ritual cleansing, purifying the sacred space and making it worthy for the worship of God.
Incense is also used during adoration and prayer, as well as to bless and purify objects such as the bread and wine used in the Eucharist. The sweet smoke that rises and surrounds the holy objects is a sign of devotion and reverence, acknowledging the presence of God. The fragrance of incense is believed to symbolize Christ Himself, as the aroma of Christ to God.
The use of incense in the Catholic Church is not just a symbolic act but also a practical one. It is used to train altar servers in the graceful and prayerful art of serving during Mass. The consistency and ritual of their actions are important in maintaining their grace and knowledge of their role in the liturgy. Thus, incense plays a vital role in the spiritual and practical aspects of Catholic worship.
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Incense symbolises sanctification and purification
Incense is a powerful symbol in the Catholic Church, and its use in Catholic liturgy has a long history. The practice of burning incense during religious ceremonies was first recorded in the Indus Valley Civilisation in 3600 BC, and it has been used in Christian liturgy from its earliest days. The use of incense in the Catholic Church is steeped in symbolism and ritual significance.
The smoke from burning incense is symbolic of sanctification and purification. In the Old Testament, God commanded Moses to build an altar of incense for worship in the Tabernacle, with specific instructions on how to make the incense. This was to be a ritual cleansing and purification of the sacred space, making it worthy for the worship of God. The smoke from the incense symbolically purifies all that it touches, and this is evident in the practice of those receiving Holy Communion in the Chaldean Rite of the Catholic Church who first purify their hands by holding them over a bowl of burning incense.
The use of incense also adds a sense of solemnity and mystery to the Mass, with the visual imagery of the smoke and the smell creating a multisensory experience that reinforces the transcendence of the Mass, linking Heaven and Earth. The fragrance of the incense is believed to symbolise Christ Himself, with the smoke representing the burning zeal of faith that should consume all Christians.
The act of burning incense is also a prayer in itself, with the smoke symbolising the prayers of the faithful drifting up to Heaven. This is illustrated in the Book of Revelation, where an angel is described as offering incense at the altar of God, along with the prayers of the holy ones. Thus, the use of incense in the Catholic Church symbolises sanctification and purification through the cleansing of sacred spaces and individuals, as well as the offering of prayers to God.
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Incense is used to bless and pray for purification
Incense is used in the Catholic Church to symbolise sanctification and purification. The smoke of incense is believed to purify all that it touches. The use of incense in the Catholic Church has its roots in antiquity. 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 non-Asian users of incense.
Incense is used during adoration as a blessing and prayer. The smoke of incense is symbolic of sanctification and purification. It also symbolises the prayers of the faithful drifting up to heaven. Incense is believed to create the ambiance of heaven. 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."
The use of incense in the Catholic Church is also linked to the Old Testament, where God commanded Moses to build an altar of incense to stand beside the altar of sacrifice. Incense was to be burned on this altar morning and evening when the priest entered the tabernacle to tend to the lamps. This constant pillar of smoke was a sign of God's presence. Incense is also used to bless and pray for the purification of the bread and wine used in the Eucharist, as well as the spiritual gifts placed on the altar.
The visual imagery and smell of incense reinforce the transcendence of the Mass, linking Heaven and Earth and allowing worshippers to enter the presence of God. The fragrance of incense symbolises Christ, and the smoke symbolises the burning zeal of faith that should consume all Christians. Incense is also used to bless statues and images, and to purify coffins at funerals.
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Incense is used to venerate and sanctify
The use of incense in Catholic worship is a practice that has been observed since the early days of the Church. It is believed that the use of incense was influenced by Jewish Temple rituals, as well as ancient practices from Egypt, China, and India. In the Catholic faith, incense is employed as a sacramental—a tangible symbol that conveys spiritual realities and connects the earthly and the divine.
The smoke of burning incense is a powerful symbol of sanctification and purification. It represents the prayers of the faithful rising to Heaven and the presence of God. This symbolism is reflected in the Book of Revelation, where an angel is described as offering incense at the altar of God, along with the prayers of the holy ones. The act of burning incense thus becomes a prayer in itself, creating an ambiance of Heaven on Earth and uniting the worshippers with the angels and saints.
The practical use of incense in Catholic liturgy serves multiple purposes. It is used during processions, at the beginning of Mass to incense the altar, during the proclamation of the Gospel, at the offertory to bless and purify the offerings, and during the elevation of the Sacred Host and chalice. Incense is also used during funeral Masses, where it symbolises honour for the deceased and the faithful's prayers for them. Additionally, grains of incense are placed in new altars during their consecration, symbolising the prayers of the saints whose relics are entombed within.
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Incense symbolises the fragrance of Christ
Incense has been used in Christian liturgy since its earliest days, continuing the Jewish tradition that came before it. In the Old Testament, God commanded Moses to build an altar of incense to stand beside the altar of sacrifice. The use of incense in the Catholic Church is therefore steeped in tradition and symbolism.
The fragrance of incense in procession symbolises the fragrance of Christ Himself. This is supported by 2 Corinthians 2:14-15, which says, "we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing". Incense is used during adoration as a blessing and prayer.
The smoke of incense is also symbolic of sanctification and purification. It symbolises the prayers of the faithful drifting up to heaven. This is illustrated in Psalm 141, "Let my prayer come like incense before you; the lifting up of my hands, like the evening sacrifice". The smoke of incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, rises up to God. Incense is therefore used to purify the coffin at funerals and to bless statues and images.
The visual imagery of the smoke and the smell reinforce the transcendence of the Mass, linking Heaven with Earth, and allowing Catholics to enter into the presence of God. Incense also helps to support an atmosphere of solemnity and beauty that is fitting to the greatest gift given by Christ to His Church.
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Frequently asked questions
The smoke from incense symbolizes the prayers of the faithful drifting up to heaven. Incense also creates the ambiance of heaven.
Burning incense is a prayer in itself. It is also used to symbolize sanctification and purification. Incense is also burned to venerate, bless, and sanctify.
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 the use of incense. The use of incense in the Catholic Church can be traced back to the 5th century.
God gave Moses instructions on how to make incense through a "holy recipe". The recipe includes "sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum, sweet spices with pure frankincense".
Incense is used during processions, 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 after the consecration. Incense is also used during funeral masses.
