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DonCochran
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I have been questioned on why we sometimes burn incense during Mass. Can anyone offer insight?
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Revelation 5:8.I have been questioned on why we sometimes burn incense during Mass. Can anyone offer insight?
F
fellowChristian
Guest
Exodus 30:8
"When Aaron trims the lamps at twilight, he shall burn incense. There shall be perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations.
**Frankincense as a sign of His Divinity, and myrrh to portend His Passion and Death, were two of the three gifts the Magi brought to Baby Jesus – **
Matthew 2:11
And entering into the house, they found the child with Mary his mother, and falling down they adored him: and opening their treasures, they offered him gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
From
**Incense **
fisheaters.com/incense.html
Where to find “incense” in Scripture.
biblegateway.com/keyword/?search=incense&version1=49&searchtype=all
"When Aaron trims the lamps at twilight, he shall burn incense. There shall be perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations.
**Frankincense as a sign of His Divinity, and myrrh to portend His Passion and Death, were two of the three gifts the Magi brought to Baby Jesus – **
Matthew 2:11
And entering into the house, they found the child with Mary his mother, and falling down they adored him: and opening their treasures, they offered him gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
From
**Incense **
fisheaters.com/incense.html
Where to find “incense” in Scripture.
biblegateway.com/keyword/?search=incense&version1=49&searchtype=all
T
TheDoctor
Guest
- Thurification or incensation is an expression of reverence and of prayer, as is signified in Sacred Scripture (cf. Ps 141 [140]:2, Rev 8:3).
- General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM)
L
Lux_et_veritas
Guest
I can’t comment much on the Ordinary Form (OF) in this regard, but I can tell you that I have to believe my pastor who incensed the altar in the beginning of Mass and before the Offertory (as is done in th Extraordinary Form (EF). I’m fiairly certain these prayers were said, or something similar, even in the OF.
In the Extraordinary Form after the priest ascends the steps to the altar in solemn Masses (except for Masses of the Dead), the altar is incensed the first time. While blessing the incense the priest prays (with + signifying the sign of the cross made by the priest):
“Be blessed + by Him in Whose honor thou art burnt. Amen.”
My 1962 Missal sidebar commentary, in part, reads:
Incense represents the grace and the effects of grace.
The most beautiful use of incense in the EF is during the Incensing of the Offerings at High Mass. Now the blessing by the celebrant reads:
May the Lord, by the intercession of St. Michael the Archangel, who steandeth at the right side of the altar of incense, and of all His elect, vouchsafe to bless this incense and receive it as an odor of sweetness: through Christ our Lord. Amen.
As he incenses the bread and wine, he says:
May this incense, which Thou has blessed, O lord, ascend to Thee, and may Thy mercy descend upon us.
Then he incenses the altar saying:
Let my prayer, O Lord, be directed as incense in Thy sight: the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.
Set a watch, O Lord, before mymouth, and a door round about my lips.
Incline not my heart to evil words: to make excuses for sins.
The Missal commentary goes on to read:
"…The clouds of incense rise to heaven, descend on the faithful, and spread throughout the Church, as we pray that the Eucharistic Sacrifice be accepted for salvation of the faithful and for the whole world.
The gifts are first incensed in the form of a cross and then in the form of a circle. Then the crucifix or the tabernacle, the altar, the celebrant and ministers, the clergy present, and finally the people are incensed, expressing the Church’s desire that the divine mercy sweetly and plentifully descend on all assisting at Mass, flowing form the altar to the priests and through them to the baptized.
The incense symbolizes our prayer, whose source is in the love of God, the divine fire that our Lord came to cast upon the earth."
I have quite a few photos from our Laetare Sunday Mass (Rose Vestments), and there are several shots involving incense.
You can also see some awesome post-Mass incense shots at Assumption Grotto, following a liturgy celebrated by Archbishop Raymond Burke upon a visit to remember Fr. John A. Hardon. I caught the incense lurking after everyone was gone and lights were out, just revealing itself in the window light. This was early January 2007.
In the Extraordinary Form after the priest ascends the steps to the altar in solemn Masses (except for Masses of the Dead), the altar is incensed the first time. While blessing the incense the priest prays (with + signifying the sign of the cross made by the priest):
“Be blessed + by Him in Whose honor thou art burnt. Amen.”
My 1962 Missal sidebar commentary, in part, reads:
Incense represents the grace and the effects of grace.
The most beautiful use of incense in the EF is during the Incensing of the Offerings at High Mass. Now the blessing by the celebrant reads:
May the Lord, by the intercession of St. Michael the Archangel, who steandeth at the right side of the altar of incense, and of all His elect, vouchsafe to bless this incense and receive it as an odor of sweetness: through Christ our Lord. Amen.
As he incenses the bread and wine, he says:
May this incense, which Thou has blessed, O lord, ascend to Thee, and may Thy mercy descend upon us.
Then he incenses the altar saying:
Let my prayer, O Lord, be directed as incense in Thy sight: the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.
Set a watch, O Lord, before mymouth, and a door round about my lips.
Incline not my heart to evil words: to make excuses for sins.
The Missal commentary goes on to read:
"…The clouds of incense rise to heaven, descend on the faithful, and spread throughout the Church, as we pray that the Eucharistic Sacrifice be accepted for salvation of the faithful and for the whole world.
The gifts are first incensed in the form of a cross and then in the form of a circle. Then the crucifix or the tabernacle, the altar, the celebrant and ministers, the clergy present, and finally the people are incensed, expressing the Church’s desire that the divine mercy sweetly and plentifully descend on all assisting at Mass, flowing form the altar to the priests and through them to the baptized.
The incense symbolizes our prayer, whose source is in the love of God, the divine fire that our Lord came to cast upon the earth."
I have quite a few photos from our Laetare Sunday Mass (Rose Vestments), and there are several shots involving incense.
You can also see some awesome post-Mass incense shots at Assumption Grotto, following a liturgy celebrated by Archbishop Raymond Burke upon a visit to remember Fr. John A. Hardon. I caught the incense lurking after everyone was gone and lights were out, just revealing itself in the window light. This was early January 2007.
V
Vixit
Guest
"Be blessed + by Him in Whose honor thou art burnt. AmenI can’t comment much on the Ordinary Form (OF) in this regard, but I can tell you that I have to believe my pastor who incensed the altar in the beginning of Mass and before the Offertory (as is done in th Extraordinary Form (EF). I’m fiairly certain these prayers were said, or something similar, even in the OF.
In the Extraordinary Form after the priest ascends the steps to the altar in solemn Masses (except for Masses of the Dead), the altar is incensed the first time. While blessing the incense the priest prays (with + signifying the sign of the cross made by the priest):
“Be blessed + by Him in Whose honor thou art burnt. Amen.”
My 1962 Missal sidebar commentary, in part, reads:
Incense represents the grace and the effects of grace.
The most beautiful use of incense in the EF is during the Incensing of the Offerings at High Mass. Now the blessing by the celebrant reads:
May the Lord, by the intercession of St. Michael the Archangel, who steandeth at the right side of the altar of incense, and of all His elect, vouchsafe to bless this incense and receive it as an odor of sweetness: through Christ our Lord. Amen.
As he incenses the bread and wine, he says:
May this incense, which Thou has blessed, O lord, ascend to Thee, and may Thy mercy descend upon us.
Then he incenses the altar saying:
Let my prayer, O Lord, be directed as incense in Thy sight: the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.
Set a watch, O Lord, before mymouth, and a door round about my lips.
Incline not my heart to evil words: to make excuses for sins.
The Missal commentary goes on to read:
"…The clouds of incense rise to heaven, descend on the faithful, and spread throughout the Church, as we pray that the Eucharistic Sacrifice be accepted for salvation of the faithful and for the whole world.
The gifts are first incensed in the form of a cross and then in the form of a circle. Then the crucifix or the tabernacle, the altar, the celebrant and ministers, the clergy present, and finally the people are incensed, expressing the Church’s desire that the divine mercy sweetly and plentifully descend on all assisting at Mass, flowing form the altar to the priests and through them to the baptized.
The incense symbolizes our prayer, whose source is in the love of God, the divine fire that our Lord came to cast upon the earth."
I have quite a few photos from our Laetare Sunday Mass (Rose Vestments), and there are several shots involving incense.
You can also see some awesome post-Mass incense shots at Assumption Grotto, following a liturgy celebrated by Archbishop Raymond Burke upon a visit to remember Fr. John A. Hardon. I caught the incense lurking after everyone was gone and lights were out, just revealing itself in the window light. This was early January 2007.
Could you please tell me how this is said in Latin? I heard Archbishop Sheen tell a story about it. He said there was a priest that some visiting Protestants asked to bless them. He tried to explain that he couldn’t really bless Protestants- it wouldn’t do any good since they lacked the Grace to see Heaven. They insisted, so finally he blessed them with the above blessing used for incense, only saying, ‘in whose honor you shall burn’
M
MarkThompson
Guest
Ab illo benedicaris, in cujus honore cremaberis."Be blessed + by Him in Whose honor thou art burnt. Amen
Could you please tell me how this is said in Latin? I heard Archbishop Sheen tell a story about it. He said there was a priest that some visiting Protestants asked to bless them. He tried to explain that he couldn’t really bless Protestants- it wouldn’t do any good since they lacked the Grace to see Heaven. They insisted, so finally he blessed them with the above blessing used for incense, only saying, ‘in whose honor you shall burn’
I think the story is usually told about Bl. Pius IX.
P
Pregustator
Guest
I’ve also heard it was Pius IX. I think the anecdote is supposed to be of dubious authenticity, however. Amusing, nonetheless.Ab illo benedicaris, in cujus honore cremaberis.
I think the story is usually told about Bl. Pius IX.
F
FirstCalled
Guest
The above answers are great. Simply it symbolizes our prayers rising to heaven, and has basis in offerings to the Lord and in Revelations.
I use it all the time in my home shrine.
I use it all the time in my home shrine.
V
Vixit
Guest
Yes, I think it was a pope actually. Thanks!Ab illo benedicaris, in cujus honore cremaberis.
I think the story is usually told about Bl. Pius IX.
T
tonyk84
Guest
Malachi 1:11I have been questioned on why we sometimes burn incense during Mass. Can anyone offer insight?
For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense is offered to my name, and a pure offering; for my name is great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts
I think this prophecy of Malachi really relates to the Mass, there is a Mass all over the world, at every minute of every day. In other words from the rising of the sun to its setting, in all the nations. At every Catholic Mass throughout the world a perfect offering made to God, we re-offer Christ death on the cross, his body, blood, soul and divinity in the Eucharist. Incense being used at the Mass, I think really fulfills this prophecy.
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