Antonio Mcgowan
Burning incense has been a common practice in religious rites for thousands of years, with the first recorded use dating back to 2400 B.C. in Egypt. In Catholicism, priests burn incense during Mass to purify and sanctify the altar, honouring it as the place of sacrifice. The incense also represents prayers rising to heaven and symbolises God's presence, as described in the Biblical book of Exodus. In other religious traditions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Shintoism, incense is offered to various deities or spirits and is believed to serve as a spiritual offering or sacrifice.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Symbolic or sacrificial offering to various deities or spirits, or to serve as an aid in prayer |
| Religious Use | Catholic, Mandaean, Hindu, Buddhist, Shinto, Taoist, Jewish, Christian |
| Use in Catholic Mass | During the entrance procession, 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, at the elevation of the Sacred Host and chalice of Precious Blood after the consecration, to incense the Crucifix and the Paschal Candle, during funeral Masses |
| Use in Mandaeism | During rituals such as masbuta (baptism) and masiqta (death mass), as well as during priest initiation ceremonies |
| Use in Hinduism | Offered to God in his various forms, such as Krishna and Rama |
| Use in Buddhism | Thick coiled incense hung from the ceiling or on special stands, sticks of incense placed vertically or horizontally into censers |
| Use in Shinto | Sticks of incense placed horizontally into censers on top of the ash |
| Use in Taoism | Thick coiled incense hung from the ceiling or on special stands |
| Use in Judaism | Included in the thanksgiving offerings of oil, rain, fruits, wine |
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What You'll Learn
To symbolise prayers rising to heaven
Burning incense is a common practice in many religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism, Taoism, Mandaeism, Judaism, and Christianity. In Catholicism, priests burn incense during Mass, at the beginning to incense the altar, during the entrance procession, 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. During funeral Masses, the priest incenses the coffin as a sign of honour to the deceased and as a symbol of the faithful's prayers for the departed rising to God.
The use of incense during Mass adds a sense of solemnity and mystery, with the visual imagery of smoke and the scent of incense reminding worshippers of the transcendence of the Mass, linking heaven and earth, and allowing them to enter the presence of God. The smoke is believed to symbolise prayers rising to heaven, representing the pillar of smoke that led the Israelites through the wilderness in the day and the column of fire that guided them at night, as described in the Bible.
The practice of burning incense during religious rituals is believed to have originated in the ancient world, with the first recorded use by the Indians in the Indus Valley Civilisation around 3600 BCE. Egyptians during the Fifth Dynasty (2345-2494 BCE) were the first non-Asian civilisation to use incense, and it was later adopted in ancient China and other parts of East Asia.
In Hinduism, incense is offered to God in his various forms, such as Krishna and Rama. In Mandaeism, priests offer incense on stands called kinta to establish communion between humans and celestial beings during rituals such as baptism and death masses. While the use of incense is optional for most Catholic Masses, it holds a significant role in other religions and is believed to symbolise the faithful's prayers rising to heaven.
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To bless/sanctify objects
Burning incense is a common practice in many religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism, Taoism, Judaism, Christianity, and Mandaeism. In Catholicism, priests burn incense during Mass at various points, including during the entrance procession, at the beginning of Mass to incense the altar, and at the proclamation of the Gospel.
The act of burning incense is rooted in the belief that it sanctifies and purifies the objects it comes into contact with. In Catholicism, the altar is the holiest location inside any Catholic Church, and the incense sanctifies it, preparing it for the sacrifice and honouring it as the place of that sacrifice.
Burning incense is also used to bless statues and images, as well as the coffin during funeral Masses. The smoke from the incense is believed to symbolise prayers rising to heaven, connecting the earthly and the divine.
In Mandaeism, incense is offered on stands called kinta by priests to establish communion between humans and celestial beings during rituals such as baptism and death masses.
In Hinduism, incense is offered to God as a symbolic prayer offering, and it is believed that Krishna accepts these offerings made with love. Similarly, in ancient China, incense was burned in Taoist and Buddhist temples to create a sacred atmosphere and to honour deities and ancestors.
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To purify the coffin at funerals
Burning incense has been a part of religious ceremonies for thousands of years. The practice originated in India as part of the Indus Valley Civilisation in 3600 BC and was later discovered by the Egyptians in the Fifth Dynasty (2345-2494 BC). The use of incense in religious contexts spread to China, Korea, Japan, Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines.
Incense is used in Catholic funeral Masses to purify the coffin. During the final commendation, as the cantor chants the In paradisum, the celebrant takes the thurible and incenses the casket in which the remains of the deceased lie. The incense is believed to symbolise prayers rising to heaven and is also used to bless and sanctify objects and locations.
In the Old Testament, God instructed Moses on how to build a tabernacle, or travelling temple. The Book of Exodus describes an altar of incense that stands beside the altar of sacrifice. Priests were commanded to offer incense each morning and evening when they entered the tabernacle to tend to the lamps. The incense was to be made from "storax, onycha and galbanum, these and pure frankincense in equal parts".
In Mandaeism, incense is offered on stands called kinta to establish communion between humans and celestial beings during rituals such as baptism and priest initiation ceremonies. In Hinduism, incense is offered to God as part of daily ritual worship, and in Buddhism, incense is used to scent inner temple spaces.
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To drive away demons and appease gods
Burning incense has been a common practice in religious rites for thousands of years. The use of incense to drive away demons and appease the gods has been observed in various religious traditions, including paganism, Hinduism, Mandaeism, Buddhism, Taoism, Shintoism, and Christianity.
In pagan religions, priests burned incense as a spiritual offering to the gods. The fragrant smoke was believed to drive away demons, who were marked by a sulfurous stench, and to please the beneficial gods, who would then grant protection and prosperity to the worshippers. This practice is similar to the New Age concept of "smudging," which is believed to have originated from Native American traditions of using fragrant smoke to purify an area and drive away negative energies.
In Hinduism, the use of incense has been a traditional and integral part of worship for centuries. Incense is offered to various forms of God, such as Krishna and Rama, by rotating the sticks thrice in a clockwise direction. This practice is based on the principle mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita, where Krishna accepts offerings made to him with love.
Mandaean priests use incense during rituals such as baptism and death masses, as well as during priest initiation ceremonies. The incense is offered on stands called kinta to establish a communion between humans on Earth and celestial beings in the World of Light.
In Buddhist, Taoist, and Shinto temples, incense is used to scent the inner spaces, with thick coils of incense hung from the ceiling or placed on special stands. Worshippers light and burn sticks of incense, which they wave or raise above their heads while bowing to statues or plaques of deities or ancestors. The sticks of incense are then placed into individual censers located in front of the statues, either vertically or horizontally depending on the tradition.
In the Christian tradition, the use of incense is rooted in the Old Testament, where God commanded its use in the Book of Exodus. In the Catholic Church, priests burn incense during Mass to sanctify the altar, preparing it for the sacrifice of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ. The incense also symbolizes the prayers of the faithful rising to heaven and adds a sense of solemnity and mystery to the Mass.
Overall, the burning of incense to drive away demons and appease the gods is a longstanding tradition in various religious and spiritual practices, with each tradition incorporating its own unique rituals and interpretations.
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To symbolise sacrifices
Burning incense is a traditional practice in many religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism, Catholicism, Mandaeism, and ancient pagan religions. In these faiths, incense is often used to symbolise sacrifices and offerings to deities and spirits.
In Catholicism, priests burn incense during Mass to symbolise the prayers of the faithful rising to heaven. This practice is rooted in the Book of Exodus, where God commands Moses to build an altar for burning incense, placed beside the altar of sacrifice. The priest incenses the altar to sanctify it and prepare it for the Sacrifice of the Mass, which includes the consecration of bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ (The Eucharist). The incense also symbolises God's presence, reminiscent of the pillar of smoke that guided the Israelites during the day and the column of fire at night.
In Hinduism, incense has been used since ancient times as a sacrificial offering to various forms of God, such as Krishna and Rama. The practice is described in the Bhagavad Gita, where Krishna accepts offerings made to him with love. Temple priests or individuals with home altars offer incense daily, usually by rotating the sticks thrice in a clockwise direction.
In Mandaeism, priests offer incense on stands called "kinta" to establish communion between humans and celestial beings during rituals such as baptism and death masses.
In ancient pagan religions, incense was believed to be a spiritual offering that served as an intermediary between earth and air. The fragrant smoke was thought to drive away demons and please the gods, who would then grant protection and prosperity to the worshippers.
Additionally, in various East Asian traditions, such as Chinese Taoist and Buddhist ceremonies, incense plays a significant role. Worshippers light and burn sticks of incense, waving or raising them above their heads while bowing to statues or plaques of deities or ancestors. The sticks of incense are then placed into individual censers located in front of the statues, either vertically or horizontally, depending on the tradition.
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Frequently asked questions
A Catholic priest would burn incense during Mass, at the beginning to incense the altar, at the entrance procession, at the proclamation of the Gospel, at the offertory, and at the elevation of the Sacred Host and chalice of Precious Blood after the consecration. Incense is also used to bless statues and images, and at funeral Masses, to purify the coffin.
A Hindu priest would burn incense during daily ritual worship, usually by rotating the sticks thrice in a clockwise direction.
A Mandaean priest would burn incense during rituals such as masbuta (baptism) and masiqta (death mass), as well as during priest initiation ceremonies.
