Katrina Rosales
Incense has been used in religious ceremonies for thousands of years, dating back to 3600 BC in India. It is a key component of Christian worship, with the first recorded use in the liturgies of Saints James and Mark in the fifth century. Incense is burned in a thurible, a metal censer suspended from chains, and is used to symbolise the act of purification and sanctification. In Christian worship, incense is burned at the celebration of the Eucharist, at funerals, and during the consecration of a church or altar.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Symbolism, purification, sanctification, devotion |
| Religious Use | Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Shinto |
| Religious Materials | Frankincense, benzoin, myrrh, styrax, copal, aromatics |
| Bible References | Malachi 1:11, Exodus 30:34, Psalms 50, Psalms 141 |
| History | Used in ancient India, Egypt, China, Korea, Japan, Southeast Asia |
| Usage | Burned during processions, masses, funerals, worship services, consecration |
| Vessels | Thurible, censer, perfuming pan |
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What You'll Learn
- Incense is used to symbolise the act of purification and sanctification
- It is used during the celebration of Mass
- Incense is burned during the Gospel procession and proclamation
- It is used to incense the Altar, which represents Christ and his five wounds
- Incense is also used during funeral Masses to incense the coffin
Incense is used to symbolise the act of purification and sanctification
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 use of incense in Christian worship can be traced back to its roots in Judaism, dating from the time of the Second Jewish Temple.
The use of incense in Christian liturgy is biblical and liturgical. The Lord instructed Moses on how to use incense to mark and keep space sacred. In liturgy, incense is used to symbolise the act of purification and sanctification. The smoke is said to symbolise the prayer rising up so that blessings can come down. The smell and smoke cloud in the room bring to mind heaven and all things that take us to higher ground. It brings to mind the solemnity and mystery of communing with God almighty.
In the Eastern Rites, at the beginning of Mass, the altar and sanctuary area are incensed while Psalm 50, the "Miserere", is chanted, invoking the mercy of God. The smoke symbolises the prayers of the faithful drifting up to heaven. This is reflected in Psalm 141, which prays, "Let my prayer come like incense before you; the lifting up of my hands, like the evening sacrifice".
Incense is also used to symbolise purification in East Asian Buddhist ceremonies and rites, as well as in Chinese Taoist and Japanese Shinto shrines. In these traditions, the inner spaces of temples are scented with thick coiled 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 a deity or ancestor.
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It is used during the celebration of Mass
Incense is used during the celebration of Mass for a variety of reasons, both symbolic and practical. The use of incense in Christian worship is rooted in the traditions of Judaism, dating back to the time of the Second Jewish Temple. In the Old Testament, God instructed Moses on how to use incense to mark and keep space sacred. In the Book of Exodus, God commanded Moses to build a tabernacle—a travelling temple—and to offer incense on an altar of incense placed beside the altar of sacrifice.
The use of incense in Christian worship was likely influenced by these Jewish traditions, with early Church writings mentioning its use. The practice may have been abandoned for a time due to its association with paganism, but it made a comeback in the fifth century, with its use increasing in both the East and the West.
During Mass, incense is used at various points, including during the entrance procession, at the beginning of Mass to incense the altar, during 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. The priest may also incense the Crucifix, the Paschal Candle, and the coffin during funeral Masses.
The symbolic value of incense and its smoke is that of purification and sanctification. The smoke is believed to symbolize the prayers of the faithful rising up to heaven, connecting our worship on earth with the worship of heaven. It adds a sense of solemnity and mystery to the Mass, engaging our senses and reminding us of the transcendence of the Mass, which links heaven and earth.
The use of incense during Mass is not mandatory and some Catholic priests choose not to use it. However, it remains an important part of Catholic worship, with its roots in biblical and liturgical traditions.
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Incense is burned during the Gospel procession and proclamation
The use of incense during the Gospel procession and proclamation also adds a sense of solemnity and mystery to the Mass. The sweet smoke brings to mind the solemnity and mystery of communing with God almighty. It also reminds us of the upper room, a city called heaven, and all things that take us to higher ground.
The practice of burning incense during the Gospel procession and proclamation is rooted in the earlier traditions of Judaism, dating back to the time of the Second Jewish Temple. It is also mentioned in the liturgies of Saints James and Mark, which in their present form originate in the fifth century.
The burning of incense during the Gospel procession and proclamation is a way to bless and honour the Word of God, who will imminently be present through His words, the Holy Gospel. It is a visual connection to the use of incense in the Book of Revelation, where angels offer incense as a sacrifice at the altar of God.
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It is used to incense the Altar, which represents Christ and his five wounds
Incense has been used in Christian worship for centuries, with its roots in earlier Jewish Temple rituals. The practice is also rooted in the Bible, where the Lord instructs Moses on how to use incense to mark and keep spaces sacred.
The Altar in Christian worship represents Christ and his five wounds, indicated by the five crosses on the altar top. Incensing the Altar is a way to reconnect with the original dedication of the church, as well as with the angels and saints in heaven. During the consecration of an altar, the Bishop covers it with Sacred Chrism Oil and places five braziers on the five wounds (crosses). He then pours a large amount of incense into the braziers, symbolising the use of incense in the Book of Revelation.
The act of incensing is also a way to symbolise the act of purification and sanctification. The smoke 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 used to purify and sanctify people and objects, such as the bread and wine offered for the Eucharist, the Gospel during its proclamation, the clergy, and the congregation.
In addition to its symbolic and ritualistic purposes, incense also helps to create an atmosphere of solemnity and beauty during worship services. It adds a sense of mystery and heightens the importance of the ministry in the world.
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Incense is also used during funeral Masses to incense the coffin
The use of incense in churches is biblical and liturgical. In the Bible, the Lord instructed Moses to use incense to purify the Tabernacle, where the Ark of the Covenant was kept, making it a worthy place of worship. The Lord also described the ingredients for incense, which included "sweet spices" and "pure frankincense".
Incense is used during funeral Masses to incense the coffin as a sign of honour to the deceased's body, which became the temple of the Holy Spirit at Baptism. The incense also symbolises the faithful's prayers for the deceased rising to God. The smoke from the incense is believed to symbolise the transcendence of the Mass, linking heaven and earth, and allowing people to enter the presence of God.
The use of incense is also rooted in the earlier traditions of Judaism dating from the time of the Second Jewish Temple, and it is still ceremoniously used in some Renewal communities. In the liturgies of Saints James and Mark, which in their present form originate in the fifth century, the use of incense is mentioned. A Roman Ritual of the seventh century also marks its usage in the procession of a Bishop to the altar and on Good Friday.
The visual imagery of the smoke and the smell of incense remind us of heaven, as described in the Book of Revelation: "Another angel came in holding a censer of gold. He took his place at the altar of incense and was given large amounts of incense to deposit on the altar of gold in front of the throne, together with the prayers of all God's holy ones."
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Frequently asked questions
Incense is used in churches to symbolise the act of purification and sanctification. It is also used to incense people and things that are considered holy.
The first recorded use of incense was by the Indians in the Indus Valley Civilisation in 3600 BC. Egyptians during the Fifth Dynasty, 2345-2494 BC, were the first in the non-Asian world to discover the use of incense.
Incense is burned during worship services in a thurible, a metal incense burner suspended from chains. The smoke from the incense symbolises the prayers of the faithful drifting up to heaven.
