Lance Carson
Incense is burned in many Christian churches, including Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, and Anglican churches. The practice is rooted in the traditions of Judaism during the time of the Second Jewish Temple. Incense is often burned in a thurible, a metal incense burner suspended from chains. During funeral services and memorial services, the censer is swung almost continuously. The smoke from the incense is interpreted as a symbol of sanctification, purification, and the prayers of the faithful rising to heaven. In the Roman Missal, incense may be used at any Mass, including during the entrance procession, at the beginning of Mass to incense the cross and the altar, and at the Gospel procession and proclamation.
| Characteristics | Values | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Symbol of sanctification and purification | |
| Symbol of prayers of the faithful rising to heaven | ||
| Symbol of reverence and homage towards God | ||
| Symbol of cleansing and purification | ||
| Symbol of Christ's robe of righteousness | ||
| Used in purification rituals | ||
| Used in funeral services | ||
| Used to perfume the air and uplift the souls of pilgrims | ||
| Used in the regular rite of cleansing the Ka'aba in Makkah | ||
| Used in Christian liturgy from its earliest days | ||
| Used in several events such as the Tahfidh graduation ceremony | ||
| Used in worship by Christians since antiquity | ||
| Used to honour sacred persons or objects | ||
| Used to incense persons or objects |
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What You'll Learn
- Incense is used to symbolise sanctification and purification
- It is a demonstration of reverence and homage towards God
- The practice is rooted in the traditions of Judaism
- Incense is used at almost every service in some churches
- The number of swings of the thurible is specified in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal
Incense is used to symbolise sanctification and purification
Incense is used in Christian churches, including those of the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Assyrian Church of the East, Oriental Orthodox, Lutheran, and Old Catholic denominations. It is also used in some Continental Reformed, Presbyterian, Methodist, and Anglican churches. The practice is rooted in the traditions of Judaism dating from the time of the Second Jewish Temple, and it is still used ceremoniously in some Renewal communities.
The use of incense in Christianity is inspired by passages in the Bible, and its use in prayer and worship carries Christian symbolism. Incense has been employed in Christian worship since antiquity. In the New Testament, frankincense was one of the precious gifts brought by the Three Kings to the Baby Jesus. The use of incense in Christian liturgy is also mentioned in the Book of Sirach:
> Listen to me, O you holy sons, and bud like a rose growing by a stream of water; 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. —Sirach 39: 13-14
> "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 a purification ritual. In the Revelation of John, incense symbolises the prayers of the saints in heaven:
> "The golden bowl full of incense [...] are the prayers of the saints" (Revelation 5:8, cf. Revelation 8:3)
Which infuse upwards towards the altar of God.
The use of incense is also symbolic of "cleansing and purification", as well as its fragrance suggesting "Christ’s robe of righteousness" that covers the sin of humankind. Incense is used to honour a sacred person or object, and it is first and foremost a demonstration of reverence and homage towards God.
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It is a demonstration of reverence and homage towards God
The use of incense in churches is deeply rooted in the traditions of Judaism dating back to the time of the Second Jewish Temple. It is also mentioned in the Bible, with God commanding Moses to make an Altar of Incense for worship in the Tabernacle. The practice of burning incense has been interpreted as a symbol of sanctification, purification, and reverence towards God.
In Christian liturgy, the smoke from burning incense represents the prayers of the faithful rising to heaven, as mentioned 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." This symbolism is further supported by the Revelation of John, where incense symbolizes the prayers of the saints in heaven, with the "golden bowl full of incense" representing "the prayers of the saints" (Revelation 5:8, cf. Revelation 8:3).
The act of swinging incense during Mass or liturgical services is a demonstration of reverence and homage towards God. The number of swings and the direction of the smoke are specified in liturgical books, such as the General Instruction of the Roman Missal. For example, during the offertory in Anglican churches, the gifts and the altar are first censed, followed by the priest, other clergy, the choir, and the congregation, each with a specific number of swings.
The use of incense and the associated rituals, such as swinging it during services, is a way to honour God and demonstrate devotion. It is a physical representation of the spiritual act of prayer, sanctification, and purification, making it an integral part of Christian worship.
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The practice is rooted in the traditions of Judaism
The practice of swinging incense in church is indeed rooted in the traditions of Judaism. The use of incense in Christian liturgy has its origins in the earlier traditions of Judaism, dating back to the time of the Second Jewish Temple. This tradition was commanded by God and recorded in Sacred Scripture, such as in Exodus 30:34-38, where God instructed Moses on how to make incense as a ritual cleansing and
In the Book of Exodus, God provided a "holy recipe" for incense, which included sweet spices, stacte, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense. This incense was to be burned on an Altar of Incense, which God commanded Moses to make for worship in the Tabernacle. The use of incense in the Tabernacle is also mentioned in the New Testament, where frankincense was one of the gifts brought by the Three Kings to the Baby Jesus, recognising his role as a priest.
The practice of swinging incense continues this tradition, with the smoke of burning incense interpreted by Western Catholic and Eastern Christian churches as a symbol of the prayers of the faithful rising to heaven. This symbolism is reflected 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." Additionally, in the Revelation of John, incense symbolises the prayers of the saints in heaven, with the "golden bowl full of incense" representing their prayers rising towards the altar of God.
The use of incense in Christian liturgy is thus a continuation of the Jewish tradition, with the act of swinging incense representing reverence and homage towards God. The swinging motion helps to keep the charcoal burning and directs the aromatic smoke towards the person or object being censed, such as the bread and wine offered for the Eucharist, the clergy, the congregation, or the Paschal candle.
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Incense is used at almost every service in some churches
Incense is used in Christian liturgy and has been since its earliest days, continuing the Jewish tradition that came before it. In the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, Lutheran churches of Evangelical Catholic churchmanship, Anglican churches of Anglo-Catholic churchmanship, and Old Catholic/Liberal Catholic churches, incense is used at almost every service.
The smoke of burning incense is interpreted by both the Western Catholic and Eastern Christian churches as a symbol of the prayer 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 often used as part of a purification ritual, with the smoke of incense symbolic of sanctification and purification. In the Revelation of John, incense symbolises the prayers of the saints in heaven – the "golden bowl full of incense" are "the prayers of the saints" (Revelation 5:8, cf. Revelation 8:3) which infuse upwards towards the altar of God.
The use of incense is also symbolic of "cleansing and purification", as well as its fragrance suggesting "Christ’s robe of righteousness" that covers the sin of humankind. Incense is burned during worship services in a thurible, a metal incense burner suspended from chains. The acolyte or altar server who carries the thurible is called the thurifer.
The Roman Missal, as revised in 1969, allows the use of incense at any Mass. Incense is used at the entrance procession; at the beginning of Mass to incense the cross and the altar; at the Gospel procession and proclamation; after the bread and the chalice have been placed upon the altar, to incense the offerings, the cross, and the altar, as well as the priest and the people; at the elevation of the host and the chalice after the consecration.
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The number of swings of the thurible is specified in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal
The use of incense in Christian churches is symbolic of "cleansing and purification", as well as its fragrance suggesting "Christ's robe of righteousness" that covers the sin of humankind. The practice is rooted in the traditions of Judaism dating from the time of the Second Jewish Temple.
A thurible is a metal incense burner suspended from chains, in which incense is burned during worship services. The acolyte or altar server who carries the thurible is called the thurifer. The number of swings of the thurible to be used when incensing persons or objects is specified in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal.
The Roman Missal, as revised in 1969, allows the use of incense at any Mass. The number of swings of the thurible to be used when incensing persons or objects is specified in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal. Three double swings are specified for the Most Blessed Sacrament, a relic of the Holy Cross, and images of the Lord. The priest incenses the offerings with three swings of the thurible or by making the sign of the cross over the offerings with the thurible, then moving on to incense the cross and the altar.
The Ceremonial of Bishops (Nos. 84-98) adds further details to these general indications for Mass. Incense is used for the rite of the dedication of a church or altar, in the rite of blessing of oils and consecrating the chrism, at the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament when the monstrance is used, during solemn processions such as the feast of the Presentation, Palm Sunday, and Corpus Christi, and during the singing of the Gospel canticle at solemn Morning or Evening Prayers. The new missal clarifies that only the bishop may put incense into the thurible while seated, and that the Blessed Sacrament is incensed from a kneeling position.
The norms before the council, and still applicable when using the extraordinary form, were similar but more detailed and with some complex distinctions. Although the official documents do not specifically mandate the "double swing," it does describe the mode of incensing, in which each "ductus" consists of two "ictus," or swings. Hence, the thurible is raised, swung twice toward the object or person incensed, and then lowered.
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Frequently asked questions
The smoke from burning incense is interpreted as a symbol of the prayer of the faithful rising to heaven.
The incense smoke symbolises sanctification, purification, and reverence towards God.
Incense is used in several religious events and is mentioned in the Bible. It is believed to have been used since the time of the Second Jewish Temple.
The vessel used to burn incense is called a thurible. It is a metal incense burner suspended from chains.
Incense is used at various points in church services, including during processions, at the beginning of Mass, at the Gospel procession, after the bread and chalice are placed on the altar, during the elevation of the host and chalice, and at other significant moments.
