Heidi Norton
Incense has been used in religious rituals for thousands of years, with the earliest recorded use in Egypt around 2400 BC. It is believed that incense was used to counteract bad odours, drive away demons, manifest the presence of gods, and gratify them. In Catholic rituals, incense is used to venerate, bless, and sanctify, and its smoke conveys a sense of mystery and awe. The type of incense used in consecration rituals varies and often includes frankincense, benzoin, myrrh, styrax, copal, or other aromatics.
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What You'll Learn
Incense in Catholic masses
The use of incense in Catholic mass is believed to have been adapted from the Jews, who used incense in their temple rituals. The earliest mention of incense in the Bible is in Exodus 24, where God comes down as a large cloud covering Mount Sinai. The first instance of incense being used appears over a thousand years before Jesus.
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal states that incense may be used during the entrance procession, at the beginning of Mass to incense the altar, at the procession and 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. During funeral masses, the priest may also incense the coffin as a sign of honour to the deceased and as a symbol of the faithful's prayers rising to God.
The use of incense adds a sense of solemnity and mystery to the Mass. The smoke and smell are believed to symbolise the transcendence of the Mass, linking heaven and earth, and allowing the congregation to enter the presence of God. In the Eastern Rites, the altar and sanctuary area are incensed at the beginning of Mass while Psalm 50, the "Miserere", is chanted to invoke God's mercy. The smoke is believed to symbolise the prayers of the faithful rising to heaven, as mentioned in Psalm 141: "Let my prayer come like incense before you; the lifting up of my hands, like the evening sacrifice".
Incense is typically made from aromatic resins such as frankincense and myrrh, along with aromatic wood, bark, seeds, roots, and flowers.
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Incense in other religions
The use of incense in religious rituals is an ancient tradition, with the first recorded use in the Indus Valley Civilisation in 3600 BC. Incense holds an important place in Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity.
Hinduism
Incense is offered to God in his various forms, such as Krishna and Rama, during daily ritual worship within the Hindu tradition. Traditionally, the Benzoin resin and resin obtained from the Commiphora wightii tree were used as incense in ancient India. These resins were burned over embers to release perfumed smoke.
Buddhism and Chinese Taoism
In Chinese Taoist and Buddhist 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, bowing to statues or plaques of a deity or ancestor while raising them above their heads. Individual sticks of incense are then placed vertically or horizontally into individual censers located in front of the statues or plaques.
Shintoism
Incense is used in Japanese Shinto shrines dedicated to the deity Inari Okami or the Seven Lucky Gods. The sticks of incense are placed horizontally into censers on top of the ash since the sticks lack a supporting core that does not burn.
Islam
Incense is also used in Islamic traditions, although specific details on its usage are not readily available.
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Incense ingredients
Incense has been used in religious rituals for thousands of years, with the first recorded use in Egypt around 2400 BC. It has since been used in Catholic, Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, Taoist, and Shinto ceremonies.
Incense is often used as part of a purification ritual, to symbolise the ascent of prayers to the heavens, and to manifest the presence of gods. In the Bible, incense symbolises the prayers of the saints in heaven:
> "Let my prayer come like incense before you; the lifting up of my hands, like the evening sacrifice" (Psalm 141).
The chief substances used as incense are resins such as frankincense and myrrh, along with aromatic wood and bark, seeds, roots, and flowers. The incense used by the ancient Israelites was a mixture of frankincense, storax, onycha, and galbanum, with salt added as a preservative. God gave Moses this recipe, according to the Book of Exodus:
> "Take these aromatic substances: storax, onycha and galbanum, these and pure frankincense in equal parts; and blend them into incense. This fragrant powder, expertly prepared, is to be salted and so kept pure and sacred. Grind some of it into fine dust and put this before the covenant in the tent of meeting where I will meet with you. This incense shall be treated as most sacred by you" (Exodus 30:34-36).
Other common ingredients in incense include benzoin, styrax, copal, and other aromatics. In the 17th and 18th centuries, natural substances began to be replaced by chemicals used in the perfume industry, and this trend towards synthetic substitutes continues today.
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Incense in the Bible
The use of incense in the Bible is well-documented, and it is often associated with divine command and holy acts of worship. According to the Bible, God gave Moses and Aaron specific instructions for the times, places, and methods of burning incense (Exodus 30). It was to be burned perpetually before the Lord as a sacred act.
Incense played a significant role in the Tabernacle and later in the Temple (1 Kings 9:25). However, when the people fell into sin and idolatry, God despised their offering of incense, as it lacked sincerity and true devotion (Isaiah 1:13). The prophet Isaiah, however, foretold that incense would once again be accepted by God, this time from all nations worshipping the Lord in his true Temple (Isaiah 60:6-7; Malachi 1:11).
The Bible describes the composition and usage of incense in the Temple as "ketoret." While the exact ingredients are not specified in the Bible, midrash, Talmudic literature, and subsequent rabbinic sources provide further details. The ancient Israelites used a mixture of frankincense, storax, onycha, galbanum, and salt as a preservative.
Incense is also mentioned in the New Testament. In the Gospel of Luke, Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, was chosen to offer incense on the altar in the temple (Luke 1:9-16). This act of worship led to the announcement of John's birth. Additionally, the Magi offered incense to the newborn Christ, symbolising his divinity (Matthew 2:11).
Incense is often associated with prayer and the relationship between God and His people. The Psalms, for example, compare prayers to incense rising up to God (Psalm 141:2, 141:1-2). Similarly, in the Book of Revelation, incense symbolises the prayers of the saints rising towards God's altar (Revelation 5:8, 8:3-4).
The use of incense in Christian liturgical rites evolved over time. By the fifth century, incense was mentioned in the liturgies of Saints James and Mark. Its use continued to be incorporated into various rituals and processions in the following centuries.
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Incense in history
Incense has been used in religious rituals for thousands of years, with the first recorded use of incense for worship dating back to Egypt around 2400 BC. It was also used in ancient China and has played a significant role in Buddhist, Shinto, and Taoist ceremonies. Hindus have also incorporated incense into their worship practices since ancient times.
In ancient Egypt, incense was burned during daily liturgies before the cult image of the sun god Amon-Re and in mortuary rites, where it was believed to help the souls of the dead ascend to heaven. The Babylonians used incense extensively while offering prayers or divining oracles, and it was also employed to counteract unpleasant odours and drive away demons. Incense was imported into Israel before the Babylonian Exile (586–538 BC), and altars were set apart for incense offerings in the 5th century BC. The ancient Israelites used a mixture of frankincense, storax, onycha, galbanum, and salt as a preservative.
The use of incense is mentioned in the Bible, with the "ketoret" described for use in the Temple. God instructed Moses on how to make incense in the Book of Exodus:
> "Take these aromatic substances: storax, onycha and galbanum, these and pure frankincense in equal parts; and blend them into incense. This fragrant powder, expertly prepared, is to be salted and so kept pure and sacred. Grind some of it into fine dust and put this before the covenant in the tent of meeting where I will meet with you. This incense shall be treated as most sacred by you" (Ex 30:34-36).
Incense continued to be used in Jewish rituals throughout the Old Testament period, first in the tabernacle and then in the Temple in Jerusalem. However, it no longer plays a role in the Jewish liturgy.
Incense was also incorporated into early Christian rituals, with the first documented use in the Eastern branch of the Church in the 5th century by Saints James and Mark. The use of incense during processions and at the Gospel reading is mentioned in the Ordo Romanus VIII of Saint Amand from the 7th century. The burning of incense symbolised the ascent of the prayers of the faithful and the merits of the saints.
Today, incense continues to be used in Catholic liturgies and ceremonies, such as the consecration of altars, the blessing of holy oils, and during funeral Masses. It is also common in Hindu and Buddhist rituals, with Hindus offering incense to various forms of God, such as Krishna and Rama, and Buddhists burning incense at festivals, initiations, and daily rites.
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Frequently asked questions
Incense used in Catholic rituals includes frankincense, myrrh, benzoin, styrax, copal, and other aromatics.
Incense is used to purify the surroundings and sanctify the ritual. The smoke is believed to symbolise the prayers of the faithful drifting up to heaven.
Incense is burned atop new altars as they are undergoing the process of consecration prior to their first use. It is also used to incense the offerings, the cross, the altar, the priest, and the people.
The earliest documented history of using incense during a Catholic sacrificial liturgy comes from the Eastern branch of the Church, dating back to the 5th century. The use of incense within the liturgies continued to be developed over many years into what is recognised today.
