Katrina Rosales
Incense has been used in Christian liturgy since its early days, continuing the Jewish tradition that came before it. In Catholicism, incense is waved around a casket during funeral Masses as a sign of honour to the deceased, whose body became the temple of the Holy Spirit at Baptism. It also symbolises the faithful's prayers for the deceased rising to God and adds a sense of solemnity and mystery to the Mass. The smoke of incense is also symbolic of sanctification and purification.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Symbolism | The smoke symbolizes the prayers of the faithful drifting up to heaven. |
| The smoke also symbolizes sanctification and purification. | |
| It creates the ambiance of heaven. | |
| It adds a sense of solemnity and mystery to the Mass. | |
| It is a sign of honour to the body of the deceased. | |
| It is a sign of the faithful's prayers for the deceased rising to God. | |
| History | The first recorded use of incense for worship is from Egypt around 2400 B.C. |
| Incense was also used in ancient China and plays a part in Buddhist, Shinto, and Taoist ceremonies. | |
| Hindus have also used incense in worship from ancient times. | |
| In the Old Testament, God instructed Moses on how to build an altar of incense. | |
| The use of incense was mentioned in James and Mark, which in their present form originate in the fifth century. | |
| A Roman Ritual of the seventh century marks its usage in the procession of a Bishop to the altar and on Good Friday. | |
| Its usage was extended to the incensing of the celebrant and assisting clergy. |
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What You'll Learn
Incense is used to bless and sanctify the casket
Incense has been used in Christian liturgy since its early days, continuing the Jewish tradition that came before it. In the Book of Exodus, God commands Moses to build a golden altar for the burning of incense. This altar was placed in front of the veil to the entrance of the meeting tent where the ark of the covenant was kept. God also gave Moses a "holy recipe" for making the incense, which included sweet spices, stacte, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense.
The use of incense is mentioned in the fifth century by James and Mark, and its usage gradually extended over the centuries to include incensing the celebrant and assisting clergy. During funeral Masses, the priest at the final commendation may incense the casket as a sign of honour to the body of the deceased, who became the temple of the Holy Spirit at Baptism. The incense also represents the faithful's prayers for the deceased rising to God.
The smoke of incense is symbolic of sanctification and purification, creating the ambiance of heaven. It is an outward sign of spiritual realities, which is why it has its place in Christian liturgy. The Book of Revelation describes the heavenly worship, with an angel holding a censer of gold and depositing incense on the altar of gold before the throne, along with the prayers of God's holy ones.
The use of incense adds a sense of solemnity and mystery to the Mass. It is an important part of Catholic worship, connecting our worship on earth with the worship of heaven. The prophecy of Malachi is fulfilled, who spoke the Lord's words: "From the rising of the sun to its setting, my name is great among the nations; Incense offerings are made to my name everywhere, and a pure offering".
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It is a sign of honour to the deceased
The use of incense during Catholic funeral Masses is a sign of honour to the deceased. During these funeral rites, the priest incenses the coffin as a sign of respect for the body of the departed, which became the temple of the Holy Spirit at Baptism.
The use of incense in Catholic liturgies is steeped in history, with the practice being used in ancient Egypt around 2400 BC, 400 years before the time of Abraham. The ancient world also saw its use, particularly in religious rites, where it was employed to ward off demons. The Greeks, Assyrians, Babylonians, and Egyptians are among the ancient civilizations that Herodotus, a Greek historian, documented as using incense.
Incense has been an integral part of Jewish rituals since ancient times, as evidenced by the Book of Exodus, which recounts God's instructions to Moses on constructing an altar of incense to be placed beside the altar of sacrifice. This tradition was continued by early Christians in their own Temple rituals, and it has since been incorporated into Catholic liturgies.
The smoke from the incense carries symbolic significance, representing the sanctification and purification of the sacred space, as well as the prayers of the faithful ascending to heaven. This symbolism is reflected in Psalm 141, which compares prayer to incense: "Let my prayer come like incense before you; the lifting up of my hands, like the evening sacrifice." The Book of Revelation further emphasizes this connection, describing heavenly worship with angels offering incense alongside the prayers of the holy ones.
The use of incense during Catholic funeral Masses is thus a meaningful tradition that serves as a sign of honour to the deceased, while also symbolizing the purification of the sacred space and the ascension of prayers to heaven.
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The smoke symbolises the deceased's prayers rising to heaven
The use of incense during Catholic funeral Masses is steeped in tradition and symbolism. The smoke of the incense is believed to symbolise the deceased's prayers rising to heaven. This belief is derived from the Book of Psalms, where the Psalmist prays, "Let my prayer come like incense before you; the lifting up of my hands, like the evening sacrifice" (Psalm 141). Similarly, in Sirach 39:13-14, we find the words, "Send forth fragrance like frankincense, and put forth blossoms like a lily. Scatter the fragrance, and sing a hymn of praise; bless the Lord for all his works."
The use of incense in religious rites has a long history, dating back to ancient Egypt around 2400 B.C., and was also practised by the Assyrians, Babylonians, and Egyptians, according to the Greek historian Herodotus. In the Jewish faith, incense was included in thanksgiving offerings and God instructed Moses to build a golden altar for burning incense, as mentioned in Exodus 30:1-10. This tradition continued in the Temple in Jerusalem during the Old Testament period.
In Catholic liturgy, the smoke of incense is believed to symbolise not only the prayers of the faithful rising to heaven but also purification and sanctification. During funeral Masses, the priest incenses the casket as a sign of honour to the body of the deceased and as a symbol of the faithful's prayers for the departed, rising to God. This act adds a sense of solemnity and mystery to the Mass.
The use of incense in Catholic worship is an important tradition that connects earthly worship with heavenly worship, as described in the Book of Revelation. The apostle John writes, "the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each of the elders held a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the holy ones" (Revelation 5:8). Thus, the smoke of incense serves as a powerful reminder of the connection between our prayers and the divine realm.
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Incense creates the ambiance of heaven
Incense has been used in Christian liturgy since its earliest days, continuing the Jewish tradition that came before it. In the Book of Exodus, God commands Moses to build a golden altar for the burning of incense, which was placed in front of the veil to the entrance of the meeting tent where the ark of the covenant was kept. God also provided Moses with a "holy recipe" for the incense. The use of incense was also popular among the Assyrians, Babylonians, and Egyptians, as recorded by the Greek historian Herodotus.
The smoke of incense is believed to symbolize the sanctification and purification of the sacred space, making it worthy of worshipping God. It also represents the prayers of the faithful rising up to heaven, as described in Psalm 141: "Let my prayer come like incense before you; the lifting up of my hands, like the evening sacrifice." The apostle John also writes about this symbolism in the Book of Revelation, where the elders hold "gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the holy ones."
During funeral Masses, priests may incense the coffin as a sign of honour to the body of the deceased, who became the temple of the Holy Spirit at Baptism. The incense also symbolizes the faithful's prayers for the deceased rising to God. By using incense, the worship on earth becomes connected with the worship of heaven, providing a glimpse of glory.
The fragrant and visually compelling nature of incense makes it a powerful liturgical gift. It adds a sense of solemnity and mystery to the Mass, enhancing the ambiance of heaven. The use of incense in Catholic liturgies is thus symbolic and meaningful, with nothing being superfluous or "just for show."
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It is a continuation of ancient Jewish and non-Jewish traditions
The use of incense during Catholic funeral Masses is a continuation of ancient Jewish and non-Jewish traditions. The practice of burning incense can be traced back to ancient Egypt around 2400 B.C., 400 years before the time of Abraham, and was also prevalent in ancient China and various religious ceremonies, including Buddhist, Shinto, Taoist, and Hindu traditions.
In the Jewish faith, the use of incense was commanded by God in the Book of Exodus, where God instructed Moses on how to build a golden altar for burning incense, known as the Altar of Incense or the Tabernacle. This altar was placed in front of the veil at the entrance of the meeting tent where the ark of the covenant was kept. God also provided a "holy recipe" for the incense, which included sweet spices, stacte, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense, with specific instructions for its preparation and use.
The use of incense continued throughout the Old Testament, first in the Tabernacle and then in the Temple in Jerusalem. The Book of Exodus recounts the instructions to build an altar of incense to stand alongside the altar of sacrifice. The prophet Malachi also prophesied about incense offerings, saying, "From the rising of the sun to its setting, my name is great among the nations; Incense offerings are made to my name everywhere, and a pure offering" (Mal 1:11).
In Catholic liturgy, the use of incense is deeply symbolic and carries theological significance. The smoke of the incense represents the prayers of the faithful rising up to heaven, as described in Psalm 141: "Let my prayer come like incense before you; the lifting up of my hands, like the evening sacrifice." Incense is also used to bless and sanctify objects and spaces, creating an ambiance of heaven on earth and connecting the worship on earth with the worship of heaven.
Therefore, the use of incense during Catholic funeral Masses, where the priest incenses the coffin, is a continuation of these ancient traditions. It serves as a sign of honour to the deceased, who was baptised and became the temple of the Holy Spirit. The incense also symbolises the faithful's prayers for the deceased, rising up to God.
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Frequently asked questions
Waving incense around a casket during a funeral Mass is done as a sign of honour to the body of the deceased. It also symbolises the faithful's prayers for the deceased rising to God.
The smoke of the incense symbolises sanctification and purification. It also symbolises the prayers of the faithful rising to heaven.
The use of incense in Catholic rituals was adapted from Jewish traditions. In the Bible, God instructed Moses to build a golden altar for burning incense. The first recorded use of incense for worship dates back to Egypt around 2400 B.C.
Incense is used during the entrance procession, at the beginning of Mass to incense the altar, during the procession and proclamation of the Gospel, at the offertory, and at the elevation of the Sacred Host and chalice of Precious Blood after the consecration.
