Heidi Norton
Incense has been burned in religious ceremonies for thousands of years, with the first recorded use in India in 3600 BC. The practice has been adopted by many religions, including Christianity, where it is used in Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican churches. The burning of incense in a church is called censing, and the incense is burned in a censer, also known as a thurible. The person who carries the censer is called a thurifer. The incense is burned during specific parts of the Mass or liturgy and is used to symbolise the purification and sanctification of the congregation and their prayers rising to heaven.
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What You'll Learn
Incense is used for purification rituals
Incense has been used in religious rituals for thousands of years, with its earliest recorded use by the Indians in the Indus Valley Civilisation in 3600 BC. The use of incense in Christian worship is inspired by passages in the Bible, such as 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 often used as part of purification rituals. The smoke from burning incense is believed to symbolise the prayer of the faithful rising to heaven. This belief is rooted in the earlier traditions of Judaism during the time of the Second Jewish Temple. In the Revelation of John, the "golden bowl full of incense" symbolises the prayers of the saints in heaven, which infuse upwards towards the altar of God.
In the Catholic Church, incense is used to purify the coffin at funerals and to bless statues and images. The smoke is also believed to symbolise the purification of all that it touches. For example, in the Chaldean Rite of the Catholic Church, those preparing to receive Holy Communion first purify their hands by holding them in the smoke above a bowl of burning incense. Similarly, in the Maronite Rite, liturgical vessels are inverted over burning incense to catch the fragrant smoke as part of the purification process before liturgical use.
In the Eastern Orthodox Church, grains of blessed incense are placed in the Paschal candle and were formerly placed in the sepulchre of consecrated altars. In the Lutheran Church, incense is used at virtually every service, including funerals, where the smoke is believed to symbolise the faithful's prayers for the deceased rising to God.
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Incense symbolises prayer
Incense has been used in religious contexts for thousands of years, predating Christianity. In the ancient world, it was used to keep demons away, and its use was recorded among the Assyrians, Babylonians, Indians, Egyptians, and in China.
The use of incense in Christian worship is inspired by passages in the Bible. In the Old Testament, God instructs Moses to build an altar of incense to stand beside the altar of sacrifice. In the New Testament, frankincense was one of the gifts brought by the Three Kings to the Baby Jesus.
Incense is used in many Christian denominations, including 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 being used in other Christian groups, such as Methodism.
Incense is used at various points during Mass and other liturgical services. It is burned during processions, at the beginning of Mass, during the proclamation of the Gospel, at the offertory, during the elevation of the Sacred Host and chalice of Precious Blood, and during funeral Masses.
The smoke of burning incense is interpreted as a symbol of the prayers 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." Incense is also used as part of a purification ritual, symbolically purifying all that it touches.
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Incense is used in Catholic masses
Incense has been used in religious worship for thousands of years, with its first recorded use by the Indians in the Indus Valley Civilisation in 3600 BC. The use of incense in Christian worship is inspired by passages in the Bible, with the practice having been adopted from Jewish temple worship. The Bible mentions incense 170 times, with the first instance appearing in the Book of Exodus, where God instructs Moses to build an altar of incense to stand beside the altar of sacrifice.
The use of incense in Catholic masses is symbolic and serves multiple purposes. Firstly, it is used to purify the coffin at funerals and to bless statues and images. The smoke of burning incense symbolises the prayers of the faithful rising to heaven, as 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 to create the ambiance of heaven, as described in the Book of Revelation, where an angel brings incense to the altar of gold in front of the throne of God.
The use of incense during Catholic masses also adds a sense of solemnity and mystery to the service. The visual imagery of the smoke and the aroma remind worshippers of the transcendence of the Mass, linking heaven and earth and allowing them to enter into the presence of God. Incense is often used at specific points during the mass, such as during the entrance procession, at the beginning of Mass to incense the altar, during the procession and proclamation of the Gospel, and at the offertory to incense the offerings, altar, priest, and people.
The type of incense used in Catholic masses typically includes a blend of frankincense (gum olibanum) with myrrh, benzoin, and other aromatic ingredients, such as styrax and opoponax, as well as essential oils.
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Incense is used in Orthodox Christian churches
The burning of incense in a church is called censing. Incense is used in Orthodox Christian churches for its symbolism, veneration, and purification.
Symbolism
Incense is a symbol of prayer in Orthodox Christian churches. The smoke from burning incense is interpreted 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." In the Revelation of John, incense symbolises the prayers of the saints in heaven, the "golden bowl full of incense" which are "the prayers of the saints" that infuse upwards towards the altar of God.
Veneration
Incense is used during processions and when censing icons, clergy, and the congregation as a mark of honour and respect, acknowledging the presence of the Holy. It is a reminder to the faithful that they are part of a continuum, a tradition that reaches back through history and to a heavenly reality that awaits.
Purification
History
The use of incense in religious worship predates Christianity by thousands of years. The first recorded use of incense was by the Indians in the Indus Valley Civilisation in 3600 BC. The use of incense was also common in the pagan worship rituals of the ancient Greeks, Egyptians, Phoenicians, Assyrians, and Babylonians. Incense was later used in Jewish temple worship, as mentioned in the Book of Exodus, and continued well after the establishment of Christianity. The earliest documented history of using incense during a Catholic liturgy comes from the Eastern branch of the Church, dating back to the 5th century. The use of incense in Christian liturgy was also mentioned in the 7th century Ordo Romanus VIII of Saint Amand. By the 4th century, texts and church teachings began referencing incense within a Christian context, and church fathers like St. John Chrysostom and St. Basil the Great wrote about the purpose and symbolism of incense, cementing its use in Orthodox worship.
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Incense is used in Hindu worship
The burning of incense in a church is called censing. Incense is burned during religious ceremonies in many faiths, including Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, and Taoism.
The use of incense in Hindu worship has been traced back to the Indus Valley Civilization in India around 3600 BC. It is believed that the natural aromas of the incense help improve the mood and focus the mind. The incense sticks are also considered to have healing powers, providing a calming effect that leads to heightened concentration.
In addition to its use in worship, incense is commonly used in India as an air freshener. The country is the world's main incense producer, and the brightly coloured sticks and scents can be found in temples and households across India.
The specific type of incense stick used in Hindu rituals is called agarbatti. However, it is important to note that bamboo agarbatti is not permitted within rituals as bamboo is banned from being burnt in Hinduism.
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Frequently asked questions
The burning of incense in a church is called censing.
The burning of incense in churches is believed to symbolise the prayers of the faithful rising to heaven. It is also used as a part of purification rituals.
The use of incense in religious worship predates Christianity by thousands of years. The first recorded use of incense was by the Indus Valley Civilisation in India in 3600 BC.
The use of incense is common in the Roman Catholic Church/Eastern Catholic Church, Orthodox Christian churches, Lutheran Churches, Old Catholic/Liberal Catholic Churches and some Anglican Churches.
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