Seamus Hammond
Incense has been used in religious rituals since ancient times, with the practice rooted in the traditions of Judaism and Hinduism. In Christianity, the use of incense 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 used in various Christian denominations, including Anglican churches, where its use often indicates how 'high' or 'low' the church is in terms of liturgical style. Anglican churches of Anglo-Catholic churchmanship are known to use incense generously, while some middle-of-the-road Anglican churches use it sparingly for special occasions. The incense is burned during specific parts of the service, such as the reading of the gospel, and is believed to symbolise cleansing and purification, as well as the fragrance of Christ's robe of righteousness.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for use | Inspired by the Bible; its use in prayer and worship carries Christian symbolism |
| Use in Anglican churches | Used in Anglo-Catholic churches, with some other Anglican churches using it occasionally |
| Symbolism | The smoke is interpreted as a symbol of the prayer of the faithful rising to heaven; it also symbolizes "cleansing and purification" |
| Incense ingredients | Frankincense, benzoin, myrrh, styrax, copal or other aromatics |
| Use in services | Used at the celebration of the Eucharist, solemn celebrations of the Divine Office, Solemn Vespers, Solemn Evensong, funerals, benediction, consecration of a church or altar, and other services |
| Use at specific points in services | Used at the reading of the gospel, the offertory, and the entrance procession |
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What You'll Learn
- Incense is used in Christian worship during the celebration of the Eucharist
- It is a symbol of the prayer of the faithful rising to heaven
- Incense is used in purification rituals
- Its use in Anglican churches is a guide to churchmanship
- Incense is used in some Anglican churches at the reading of the gospel
Incense is used in Christian worship during the celebration of the Eucharist
In Christian worship, incense is burned during the Eucharist, which is the ritual of giving and receiving Holy Communion. Incense is used to symbolise the prayers of the faithful rising to heaven, as well as for cleansing and purification. The smoke of the incense is believed to carry the prayers of the worshippers up to God. In some traditions, incense is also used as part of a purification ritual, where it is believed to uplift the souls of pilgrims.
During the celebration of the Eucharist, the thurifer, or acolyte, leads the procession into the church with the thurible, a metal incense burner suspended from chains. The thurifer approaches the person conducting the service and the incense is burned during the worship service. The altar is then censed by the priest, and the incense is burned again during the Gospel reading. The gifts, altar, and congregation are also censed during the Offertory.
The use of incense varies among Anglican churches, with Anglo-Catholic churches using generous quantities of incense and some middle-of-the-road Anglican churches using it occasionally for special occasions. The number of points within the liturgy at which an Anglican church may use incense varies, and if incense is used at the entrance procession, the bishop or priest presiding censes the altar upon arrival.
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It is a symbol of the prayer of the faithful rising to heaven
The use of incense in Anglican churches is a tradition rooted in the earlier traditions of Judaism during the time of the Second Jewish Temple. The smoke from burning incense is interpreted as a symbol of the faithful's prayers rising to heaven. This symbolism is drawn from 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 in Christian worship during the celebration of the Eucharist, solemn celebrations of the Divine Office, such as Solemn Vespers and Solemn Evensong, funerals, benediction, and the consecration of churches or altars. In Anglican churches of Anglo-Catholic churchmanship, incense is used at almost every service. Anglo-Catholic churches may use generous amounts of incense, while some middle-of-the-road Anglican churches use it sparingly for special occasions.
The act of burning incense may also be intended as a symbolic offering to deities or spirits, or to aid in prayer. In the Revelation of John, incense symbolises the prayers of the saints in heaven, with the "golden bowl full of incense" representing "the prayers of the saints" that rise towards the altar of God.
The use of incense and the accompanying rituals, such as the procession and censing of the altar, contribute to the symbolic nature of the worship experience in Anglican churches. The fragrance of incense is also significant, as it can suggest "Christ's robe of righteousness" that covers the sins of humankind.
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Incense is used in purification rituals
Incense is used in religious rituals and ceremonies by a variety of faiths, including Anglicanism, Catholicism, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Shintoism, and Mandaeism. In these faiths, incense is burned during worship as a symbol of prayer and as a means of purification and sanctification.
The use of incense in Christian worship can be traced back to the early Church, with the practice being rooted in the earlier traditions of Judaism during the time of the Second Temple. In the Old Testament, God instructed Moses to build an altar of incense to stand alongside the altar of sacrifice (Exodus 30:1-10). The priest was commanded to offer incense each morning and evening when he entered the tabernacle to tend to the lamps, with the smoke representing God's constant guiding presence.
In the Anglican tradition, incense is used in Anglo-Catholic churches at virtually every service. It is also used in some other Anglican churches, where it is seen as a sacred symbol and aid to worship. The practice of using incense in Christian worship was abandoned for a time due to its association with paganism, but it made a comeback in the fifth century.
Incense is often used as part of purification rituals in various religious traditions. In Catholicism, for example, incense is used to purify the coffin during funeral Masses. In Hinduism, incense is offered to God as part of daily ritual worship. In East Asian Buddhist ceremonies and Chinese Taoist and Japanese Shinto rites, incense is used to purify the surroundings and drive away evil spirits. The New Age practice of "smudging" also uses fragrant smoke to purify the atmosphere and create a positive mood.
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Its use in Anglican churches is a guide to churchmanship
The use of incense in Anglican churches varies and is a good indicator of how 'high' (more Catholic in liturgical style) or 'low' (more Reformed) the church is in its churchmanship. Incense has been used in Christian worship since ancient times, and its use in Christianity is inspired by passages in the Bible.
Anglo-Catholic churches, which are considered 'high' churches, tend to use incense generously and frequently, with some using it every Sunday and on feast days. The incense is burned during the procession into the church, during the Gospel reading, at the Offertory, and at Solemn Evensong.
On the other hand, some 'middle-of-the-road' or 'broad church' Anglican churches use incense sparingly, reserving it for special occasions or feast days like Easter. These churches may only use incense at one point during the service, typically at the Offertory.
The number of points within the liturgy at which an Anglican church uses incense can vary, and its use is not universal among all Anglican churches. However, its presence or absence can give a good indication of the church's liturgical style and churchmanship.
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Incense is used in some Anglican churches at the reading of the gospel
Incense has been used in Christian worship since ancient times, and its use is inspired by passages in the Bible. In Christianity, incense is used to symbolise "'cleansing and purification', and its fragrance is thought to represent "Christ's robe of righteousness" that covers the sins of humanity. The smoke from burning incense is interpreted by Western Catholic and Eastern Christian churches as a symbol of the faithful's prayers rising to heaven.
Incense is used in some Anglican churches, particularly those of Anglo-Catholic churchmanship, and its usage varies. Some Anglican churches use incense at every service, while others use it occasionally, such as at Easter Vigil, or a few times a year for special occasions.
Anglican churches that use incense generally do so at the reading of the gospel. After the announcement of the gospel, the book is censed left, centre, and right. The priest then censes the altar, followed by the burning of incense during the reading of the gospel. The altar is censed again during the offertory, along with the gifts, the priest, other clergy, the choir, and the congregation.
The use of incense in Anglican churches is often a guide to how '"high" or "low"' the church is in terms of liturgical style. Anglo-Catholic churches tend to use generous quantities of incense, while middle-of-the-road Anglican churches may use it sparingly for special occasions.
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Frequently asked questions
The use of incense in Anglican churches is a matter of churchmanship, indicating how 'high' (more Catholic in liturgical style) or how 'low' (more Reformed) the church is.
The smoke of burning incense is interpreted as a symbol of the prayer of the faithful rising to heaven. It is also used as part of a purification ritual, symbolising "Christ’s robe of righteousness" that covers the sin of humankind.
The practice has its roots in the traditions of Judaism during 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 frequency varies. Anglo-Catholic churches may use generous quantities of incense, sometimes burning it every Sunday. Some middle-of-the-road Anglican churches use it a few times a year for special occasions, while others use it only occasionally.
Incense is burned during worship services, often using a thurible (a metal incense burner suspended from chains). The thurifer (server) leads the procession into the church with the thurible, and the altar is censed by the priest. The incense is then burned during the Gospel, and the altar, gifts, altar party, and congregation are censed at the Offertory.
