Katrina Rosales
Incense burners, also known as censers or thuribles, have been an integral part of Catholic worship for centuries. The use of incense in Catholic churches is believed to symbolise the prayers of the faithful rising to heaven, serving as a link between Heaven and Earth. Incense is burned during religious services using a thurible, a metal censer suspended from chains, which is swung gently by the priest or thurifer to spread the fragrant smoke. The use of incense in Catholic liturgical celebrations is believed to have been influenced by Jewish temple worship, with the earliest documented history of its use in the Eastern branch of the Church, dating back to the 5th century.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To symbolise the prayers of the faithful rising to heaven, as well as the presence of the Holy Spirit |
| Usage | Burned during Mass and other religious ceremonies to create a sense of reverence and awe |
| Types of Incense Burners | Incense boat, thurible, censer |
| Materials | Metal, brass, bronze, silver, gold |
| Size | Varies depending on the amount of incense and the size of the space |
| Incense Type | Frankincense, a natural, aromatic resin from Boswellia trees |
| History | Used in the Catholic Church since ancient times, with the earliest documented history coming from the Eastern branch of the Church in the 5th century |
| Rituals | The priest or deacon prepares the incense burner, lights the incense, then swings it back and forth to create a cloud of fragrant smoke |
| Swings | The number of swings varies depending on what or who is being censed, with three double swings for the Blessed Sacrament, relics, and images of the Saints |
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What You'll Learn
Incense used in Catholic worship for centuries
Incense has been used in religious ceremonies for thousands of years, and it has been an important part of Catholic worship for centuries. The practice is rooted in the earlier traditions of Judaism in the time of the Second Jewish Temple. 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.
The smoke and fragrance of the incense are meant to symbolise the prayers of the faithful rising up to heaven, as well as the presence of the Holy Spirit. Incense is also used to purify the altar and the sacred vessels used in the Mass. The Bible mentions incense 170 times, and the use of incense in Jewish temple worship continued well after the establishment of Christianity. The earliest documented history of using incense during a Catholic sacrificial liturgy comes from the Eastern branch of the Church. The rituals of the 5th-century Divine Liturgies of Saint James and Saint Mark 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. The first strictly liturgical use in the West dates from the 7th century, when thuribles were employed in ritual gestures of honour for the bishop and the book of Gospels. In the Eastern liturgies, the thurible plays a far more prominent role than in the West.
The Roman Missal, as revised in 1969, allows the use of incense at any Mass. Incense burners come in a variety of sizes and materials, including brass, bronze, silver, and gold. The size of the burner depends on the amount of incense being burned and the size of the space. During Mass, the priest or deacon will usually prepare the incense burner by placing a small amount of incense in the bowl of the thurible or censer. He will then light the incense, allowing it to smoulder and release its fragrance. The priest or deacon will then swing the incense burner back and forth, using the chain or cord to create a cloud of fragrant smoke. Incense is used during many parts of the Mass, including the entrance procession, the Gospel reading, the Offertory, and the Consecration.
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Incense at Mass and other religious ceremonies
Incense has been used in religious ceremonies since ancient times, with the first recorded use by the Indians in the Indus Valley Civilisation in 3600 BC. The practice is rooted in the earlier traditions of Judaism in the time of the Second Jewish Temple. The use of incense in religious ritual was further developed in China, and eventually transmitted to Korea, Japan, Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines.
The use of incense in Christian worship was first recorded in the 4th century, when the Roman emperor Constantine donated several thuribles to the Church of San Giovanni in Laterano (St. John Lateran) in Rome. The first liturgical use in the West dates from the 7th century, when thuribles were employed in ritual gestures of honour for the bishop and the book of Gospels.
Incense burners have been an essential part of Catholic worship for centuries. They are used during Mass and other religious ceremonies to create a sense of reverence and awe. The smoke and fragrance of the incense are meant to symbolise the prayers of the faithful rising up to heaven, as well as the presence of the Holy Spirit. Incense is also used to purify the altar and the sacred vessels used in the Mass.
During Mass, the priest or deacon will usually prepare the incense burner by placing a small amount of incense in the bowl of the thurible or censer. He will then light the incense, allowing it to smoulder and release its fragrance. The priest or deacon will then swing the incense burner back and forth, using the chain or cord to create a cloud of fragrant smoke. Incense is used during many parts of the Mass, including the entrance procession, the Gospel reading, the Offertory, and the Consecration.
The number of swings of the thurible to be used when incensing persons or objects is specified in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal. For example, the priest incenses the altar with single swings of the thurible: if the altar is freestanding, the priest incenses it by walking around it; if it is not freestanding, the priest incenses it by walking first to the right and then to the left. The priest incenses the offerings with three swings of the thurible or by making the Sign of the Cross over the offerings.
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Incense during the Eucharistic celebrations
The use of incense in religious worship is ancient, predating Christianity by thousands of years. The practice is rooted in the traditions of Judaism during the time of the Second Jewish Temple. The first recorded use of incense was by the Indus Valley Civilisation in 3600 BC, and it was also used in ancient China, Egypt, India, and by the Hindus.
Incense is burned during worship services using a thurible (a metal incense burner suspended from chains). The practice is common in Christian churches, including those of the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Assyrian Church of the East, Oriental Orthodox, Lutheran, Old Catholic, Methodist, and Anglican denominations.
The use of incense during the Eucharistic celebrations, or the Mass, is optional for most Catholic Masses. The Roman Missal, as revised in 1969, allows the use of incense at any Mass. Incense may be used during the entrance procession, at the beginning of Mass to incense the cross and the altar, at the Gospel procession and proclamation, after the bread and chalice have been placed on the altar, to incense the offerings, the cross, the altar, the priest, and the people. It is also used at the elevation of the host and the chalice after the consecration.
The gesture of incensing is a venerable tradition and a profound symbol. The smoke of burning incense is interpreted by Western Catholic and Eastern Christian churches as a symbol of the faithful's prayers 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." Incense is also used as part of a purification ritual.
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Incense as a symbol of prayer
Incense has been used in religious ceremonies since ancient times, and its use in Catholic worship is centuries old. Incense is burned during Mass and other religious ceremonies to create a sense of reverence and awe. The smoke and fragrance of the incense symbolize the prayers of the faithful rising up to heaven, as well as the presence of the Holy Spirit. Incense is also used to purify the altar and the sacred vessels used in the Mass.
The use of incense as a symbol of prayer has its origins in antiquity. The first recorded use of incense was by the Indians in the Indus Valley Civilisation around 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, which was already being used by Hindus for centuries. Incense use in religious ritual was further or simultaneously developed in China and spread to other parts of Asia, including Korea, Japan, Vietnam, and Indonesia.
In the Catholic Church, incense is used during Mass to symbolize the prayers of the faithful. The priest or deacon will prepare the incense burner by placing a small amount of incense in the bowl of the thurible or censer and lighting it to allow it to smolder and release its fragrance. The priest or deacon will then swing the incense burner back and forth, using the chain or cord to create a cloud of fragrant smoke. This action of swinging the incense is meant to symbolize the lifting up of prayers to God.
The use of incense as a symbol of prayer is also seen in the Book of Revelation, where the apostle John writes about the elders holding "gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the holy ones" (Revelation 5:8). The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God's people, rises up to God. This symbolism is also present 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."
Incense is used at various points during Mass in the Catholic Church, including during the entrance procession, the Gospel reading, the Offertory, and the Consecration. It is also used during funeral Masses to honor the body of the deceased and as a sensory sign of the faithful's prayers for the departed.
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Incense in ancient times
The use of incense has been prevalent in various cultures since ancient times. The word "incense" comes from the Latin "incendere", meaning "to burn". Incense is an aromatic biotic material that releases fragrant smoke when burnt. It is composed of aromatic plant materials, often combined with essential oils. The forms and methods of burning incense vary across different cultures.
Incense was first used by the Indians in the Indus Valley Civilisation around 3600 BC. It was also used in ancient China, where the earliest documented evidence of incense usage was found. The ancient Chinese used incense made from herbs and plant products such as cassia, cinnamon, styrax, and sandalwood in formalized ceremonial rites. Incense usage in China reached its peak during the Song dynasty, with numerous buildings erected specifically for incense ceremonies.
In ancient Egypt, incense was introduced around 2345-2494 BC and was used for both pragmatic and mystical purposes. It was employed to counteract unpleasant odours, drive away demons, manifest the presence of gods, and offer sacrifices to deities. Incense was also an important part of Egyptian mortuary rites, where it was believed to aid in the souls' ascent to heaven. One of the oldest extant incense burners originates from the 5th dynasty, and Egyptian graves have been found to contain traces of fragrant resins such as frankincense and myrrh.
Incense was also used in ancient Greece and Rome. The Greeks burned woods and resins to protect against demons, while the Romans used imported incense in public and private sacrifices and in the cult of the emperor.
In Japan, incense was incorporated into Shinto rituals, and in India, it has been a fundamental part of Hinduism for thousands of years. Incense is also used in Buddhist ceremonies and rites, as well as in Taoist temples in China.
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Frequently asked questions
A thurible is a vessel used in the Christian liturgy for the burning of incense strewn on lighted coals.
Frankincense, a natural, aromatic resin from Boswellia trees, is a commonly used type of incense in Catholic churches.
Incense may be used during the entrance procession, at the beginning of Mass to incense the cross and the altar, at the Gospel procession and proclamation, after the bread and chalice have been placed on the altar, during the Offertory, and at the Consecration.
