Smelling incense?

[PraiseB2God]

Gifts have nothing to do with worth. None of us are more worthy than any other!

I think you might have to have a certain degree of openness. If you are going to consider yourself too unworthy to be sent anything unusual, then you will always discount it, won’t you? Unless it was too powerful to ignore, in which case God would require you as part of a particular plan.

I have smelled nothing today, but neither have I had the time to just relax in quiet and pray in a calm setting. Of course, it might never happen again, but now I wish for it to happen. lol. My sinuses, I am pleased to report, are doing much better.

 

[CleansedByMercy]

If I can recall correctly, I believe I too have had the pleasure of coming into contact with random scents of incense. I also burn incense in my room Frankincense, or other types that are completely created simply for the aroma… But occasionally, I smell incense when there is no incense around…

One time I was burning a rose scented oil, however, and I was either praying the rosary or simply talking to Jesus about the Blessed Virgin and I think I was looking for an answer as to whether or not I should be praying to/with Mary and at the moment I received my answer, I smelled the incense of roses… I have heard that roses are typically associated with Mary and until this moment I had almost forgotten it was even burning…

 

[goforgoal]

**Praisedbe2God, ** I’m really glad you are feeling much better. Could it be the stress of the Christmas Season (shopping, baking, and so forth) that is making you feel ill? I don’t mean to be rude in asking this but could it be your sinuses that have been effecting your scences? Whenever I have sinus problems that will effect my scences/smell but it is always a funky, gross, Yech smell.

Praisedbe2God, I mentioned and asked do you think that St. Francis de Sales and Our Lord is trying to tell you something? <— I don’t know if you got the “message” but I was trying to “hint” that perhaps St. Francis de Sales and Our Lord is trying to tell you to go to the Sacrament of Reconcilation? ← I don’t mean this in a critical, judgemental, negative way but you stated on Post # 32 I have not been particularly devoted to my prayer life and whatnot lately. Praisebe2God, I don’t know you nor do I know your exact situation but I do believe in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Perhaps St. Francis de Sales is trying to tell you something after all one of his Patronage is Confessors. It took “The Sermons of St. John Marie Vianney” among God’s other workings to get me back into the Sacrament of Confession. Now**, Praisedbe2God **I’m not saying that you don’t go to Confession either.

Praisedbe2God, would you be able to discuss this with your parish Priest? Perhaps, he can shed some light…Keep your eyes and heart on HIM always.

randirhoadesGod bless you for sharing your wonderful story. God blesses each one of us in His own way. You asked a very good question indeed…Does it really matter if we are open to such things? Do you think Priests, Religious Brothers, Religious Sisters, Nuns, and so forth are opened to such things? If not does it truly matter?

Yes, I always look for a logical explantion a scented candle, air freshner, perfume/cologne, my own imagination or my “wanting” to smell a particular smell? Sinuses? is it just a coincidence? or an act of God?

I have also smelt other scents as well while it wasn’t present.

At a weekend retreat with The Sisters of the Presentation of Mary (2005-2006) we had to reflect on Scripture and how it speaks with us today. I was blessed to sit in their small chapel. The first thing I did was knelt down to Pray – than I did my “homework” I could smell a strong odor of Sweet Grass burning but it wasn’t present at the time and I smelled Sweet Grass burning again while in Confession.

This evening while walking down the back alley I was hit with a strong odor of roses.

CleansedByMercy, God bless you for sharing this too. By the way, where do you get rose and frankincense oil from? Do you have these blessed? or do you just use them for burning? Thank you in advance for answering my questions.

God bless,

goforgoal

 

[Paul_theApostle]

I used to visit a Franciscan friary church quite a bit and they have a very adorned church,inside the church there is a strong particular smell.

At that time i used to pray to St Francis alot,one day at the cemetary where my grandparents are buried,i went walkabouts and came across a grave with a young man named Francis buried there,he had a big headstone with a picture of St Francis carved into the stone

well anyway as i was in front of his tomb ,i could smell strongly the same fragrance or scent that is inside the Church at the Franciscan friary

I was happy to have this experience

although its possible the family knew about the friary and perhaps sprinkled some of the same perfume around the grave or otherwise it could have been St Francis being my good friend again as he seemed to be always

i sensed he really was alive in spirit and that he would hear my prayers when i used to pray to him alot

God bless

 

[CleansedByMercy]

CleansedByMercy, God bless you for sharing this too. By the way, where do you get rose and frankincense oil from? Do you have these blessed? or do you just use them for burning? Thank you in advance for answering my questions.

Well I simply get them from…wherever I can haha. Sometimes I purchase them at a local mall… I believe the oils I have purchased are mostly from out-of-state vendors (vacations near the oceans). No, they are not blessed and I do not always use them for prayer. I suffer from depression and some anxiety and Frankincense I believe has a calming effect… I also use other forms of incense that are simply for the scent (i.e. sage, super hit, Nag Champa, etc.). The rose incense I cannot remember exactly where it came from but since it is an oil and not a burning incense, I assume I picked it up from out-of-town. You can probably get them off the internet though as well.

The oils are really nice in comparison to the burning incenses because the oils are heated from below (candle), or I have read some can be dropped onto a warm lightbulb… Anyways, they evaporate clear and produce a very fragrant scent with just a small bit…

So, sometimes I use the incense for prayer and when I do it is normally Frankincense but the others are simply used like candles honestly…

 

[Matthew_Justin]

Some time after I bought my prayer book maybe a month or two it started to smell like incense. I accept it as my own miracle to let me know God hears me and is pleased. Rejoice in your miracle:thumbsup:

 

[JerrySeibert]

Praised be Jesus Christ!

For some time now I think I may have been smelling incense where there is no incense. Sometimes after I pray I can swear I can smell incense – this also happens during prayer. I can only smell it for a fraction of a second. However it is just long enough to get my attention. It feels like it is just on the tip of my nose. This sometimes happens when I am thinking of God throughout the day. It happened to me once as I was walking to mass.

I am probably just imagining it, or there may be some kind of natural explanation. (My body spray does smell kind of like incense, but I have smelt it while not wearing it.)

Or perhaps the incense from mass is getting stuck in my nose, and I am just smelling its residue.

I am an extremely credulous person, so I am always inclined to rule out all natural phenomenons.

Now I know there are countless reports of God actually making people smell things – which I believe are quite genuine. I know there are people that are close to Saint Theresa that wake ups smelling flowers. I also know some people smell flowers while in adoration where there are no flowers. (Attributed to the presence of Mary.)

But are there any reports of anyone smelling incense for no reason?

Yours in Christ,

Matthias

This thread came up after searching “Smelling incense” This happened to me and I was so shaken by the event. I was wondering if I were losing my mind. Before the tabernacle I sat praying the LOTH… stressed out of my mind at work, wondering how I would provide for my family if I were to be let go do to cutbacks etc.
I finished the morning prayer and just sat staring at the tabernacle wondering how I could be a better person in spite of the trouble I were facing. How could I give more than I take and set a better example for my family…I prayed for my manager that he would be given wisdom to help teach us all how to be better leaders to help the team. Lost in thought I smelled incense, just as strong as it were in the same room. Scared out of my wits I looked frantically thinking, if this is a joke someone has a horrible sense of humor.
The amazing part of the story is that this happened at four in the morning. I have a door key that lets me in for adoration. It still gives me chills when I think about it. So amazing the entire experience, I am so grateful, for it gave me this feeling of peace that I desired. The next few days were so amazing, I had this clarity of thought which amazed the entire team. And when I told a few people about it they said it was weird and one said it even freaked him out.
I am so glad to know others have had this blessing.

 

[goforgoal]

This thread came up after searching “Smelling incense” This happened to me and I was so shaken by the event. I was wondering if I were losing my mind. Before the tabernacle I sat praying the LOTH… stressed out of my mind at work, wondering how I would provide for my family if I were to be let go do to cutbacks etc.

I finished the morning prayer and just sat staring at the tabernacle wondering how I could be a better person in spite of the trouble I were facing. How could I give more than I take and set a better example for my family…I prayed for my manager that he would be given wisdom to help teach us all how to be better leaders to help the team. Lost in thought I smelled incense, just as strong as it were in the same room. Scared out of my wits I looked frantically thinking, if this is a joke someone has a horrible sense of humor.

The amazing part of the story is that this happened at four in the morning. I have a door key that lets me in for adoration. It still gives me chills when I think about it. So amazing the entire experience, I am so grateful, for it gave me this feeling of peace that I desired. The next few days were so amazing, I had this clarity of thought which amazed the entire team. And when I told a few people about it they said it was weird and one said it even freaked him out.

I am so glad to know others have had this blessing.

Thank you and God bless you for sharing this this is so remarkable.

For me, you can take this as it is a coincidence, a sign from Our Lord to know He is still with you, or who knows. ----> For me (personally) it is a sign from Our Lord that He is still with us even and especially in trying times.

JerrySeibert here is a thread I started Please Pray for those who are struggling Financially

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=355988

When I first started the thread it was for my loved ones but there are so many people who are in finacial need so therefore it is for everyone.

Please do take note, though JerrySeibert that you are not obligated to go there.

I also wanted to let you know JerrySeibert that I am Praying for you, your family, and all of your intentions.

 

[Julia_Mae]

Now I know there are countless reports of God actually making people smell things – which I believe are quite genuine. I know there are people that are close to Saint Theresa that wake ups smelling flowers. I also know some people smell flowers while in adoration where there are no flowers. (Attributed to the presence of Mary.)

But are there any reports of anyone smelling incense for no reason?

Yours in Christ,

Matthias

There are reports of all kinds of scents if it gets your attention. God wants to tell communicate with us, He made a whole Church and a Book. He wants you to know He’s real and with you. Incense might get your attention in a special way because as a Catholic, you might expect roses, but, then you might think you imagined it. You’d be so unlikely to imagine incense, because you think it’s unusual, actually gives it more credibility.

 

[Luis_G]

Hello I just want to say that this has been happening to me lately. That’s how I ended up on this site because I was trying to dig up answers for why this keeps happening.
I was ignoring the slight incense aroma at first. But now I Smell it too often. It hasn’t only been during prayer but sometimes at complete random situations like just walking outside, at work, in my car etc… I wasn’t linking it with my prayers though but this past year I’ve been studying the faith everyday. I’m constantly reading the bible, the catechism of the Catholic Church, studying history of the church, biographies of the saints, and early church fathers etc. this has become my whole life. I’m assuming that this has something to do with it. I’m not sure exactly why it’s happening but I don’t think that’s its coincidence. My best guess would be that it’s the Holy Spirit blessing me with the awareness of its presence.

Luis