What is the Purpose of Incense?

[Angela77]

What is the purpose of burning incense at Mass? What does it represent?

 

[Credo_in_Deum]

Our prayers and supplications rising up to the Heaven.

“and the smoke of the incense rose with the prayers of the saints… before God” (Revelations 8:3-4).

 

[Pfaffenhoffen]

What is the purpose of burning incense at Mass? What does it represent?

In the old times, the incense was considered perfume. Do you like it?
Now, with Channel n.5 it is outdated but I still like it.
Perfums were expensive and it ws offered to God.

 

[Tomcmaj]

Just don’t inhale too deeply.

 

[daCatholicGuard]

What is the purpose of burning incense at Mass? What does it represent?

Hello Angela 77, et al,

The adoption of the practice of incensation in the Christian Church is unknown; however, the earliest documented evidence of it dates back to the Fifth Century. It symbolically represents our Christian zeal; the sweet smell of virtue and an “offering up” of the Church’s prayers and supplications.

During High Mass: the Altar, Gospel, Celebrant, acolytes and congregation are all blessed with incensation. It is also done during the Consecration. It is also practiced during the Holy Office prayers of Lauds and Vespers.

I usually burn a Frankincense incense cone when I say a Rosary. You could also do when reciting the Divine Mercy Chaplet or the St. Michael Chaplet.

Hope this helps.

Oremus pro invicem,

Sean C. :knight2:

Technical data provided by “A Catholic Dictionary” by Donald Attwater; TAN Publishing, 1997. (Reprinted from Macmillan Edition, 1931, 1949, 1958).

 

[DeAquin]

What is the purpose of burning incense at Mass? What does it represent?

The Holy Mass by Dom Prosper Gueranger, has a beautiful section in it where the author explains that the church having had the veil between this world and the next lifted a little in the Book of Revelations uses incense in order to copy the practices of the Angels in heaven ‘assisting’ at the Heavenly Altar. The verse he references is Revelations Chapter verses 3-4 ‘And another angel came, and stood before the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given to him much incense, that he should offer of the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar, which is before the throne of God. [4] And the smoke of the incense of the prayers of the saints ascended up before God from the hand of the angel’

It’s certainly a beautiful idea!

 

[ProVobis]

The Holy Mass by Dom Prosper Gueranger, has a beautiful section in it where the author explains that the church having had the veil between this world and the next lifted a little in the Book of Revelations uses incense in order to copy the practices of the Angels in heaven ‘assisting’ at the Heavenly Altar. The verse he references is Revelations Chapter verses 3-4 ‘And another angel came, and stood before the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given to him much incense, that he should offer of the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar, which is before the throne of God. [4] And the smoke of the incense of the prayers of the saints ascended up before God from the hand of the angel’

It’s certainly a beautiful idea!

Yes, this is the way I understand it as well. When the priests was offering sacrifice in the Old Testament, it was the burnt offerings that he could actually see rising to please God. That could be extended to our prayers as well.

 

[Angela77]

Thanks everyone! This really helps!

To answer Pfaffenhoffen’s question, I do like it! It smells good, in my opinion.

 

[OraLabora]

Incense has been around, as part of prayer, since pre-Christian times:

Ps. 140:

Let my prayer be directed as incense in thy sight; the lifting up of my hands, as evening sacrifice.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

It also had filled a more practical need in those days of large crowds and no deodorants and at funerals before embalming.

There was some mention of this when the Pope recently visited St James shrine in Spain . They have a huge censor which the monks swing back and forth over the heads of the crowds. In earlier time the church would be packed with pilgrims who had been walking several days in the hot sun to get there.

 

[At_Trent]

Our prayers and supplications rising up to the Heaven.

“and the smoke of the incense rose with the prayers of the saints… before God” (Revelations 8:3-4).

In the old times, the incense was considered perfume. Do you like it?
Now, with Channel n.5 it is outdated but I still like it.
Perfums were expensive and it ws offered to God.

Hello Angela 77, et al,

The adoption of the practice of incensation in the Christian Church is unknown; however, the earliest documented evidence of it dates back to the Fifth Century. It symbolically represents our Christian zeal; the sweet smell of virtue and an “offering up” of the Church’s prayers and supplications.

During High Mass: the Altar, Gospel, Celebrant, acolytes and congregation are all blessed with incensation. It is also done during the Consecration. It is also practiced during the Holy Office prayers of Lauds and Vespers.

I usually burn a Frankincense incense cone when I say a Rosary. You could also do when reciting the Divine Mercy Chaplet or the St. Michael Chaplet.

Hope this helps.

Oremus pro invicem,

Sean C. :knight2:

Technical data provided by “A Catholic Dictionary” by Donald Attwater; TAN Publishing, 1997. (Reprinted from Macmillan Edition, 1931, 1949, 1958).

The Holy Mass by Dom Prosper Gueranger, has a beautiful section in it where the author explains that the church having had the veil between this world and the next lifted a little in the Book of Revelations uses incense in order to copy the practices of the Angels in heaven ‘assisting’ at the Heavenly Altar. The verse he references is Revelations Chapter verses 3-4 ‘And another angel came, and stood before the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given to him much incense, that he should offer of the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar, which is before the throne of God. [4] And the smoke of the incense of the prayers of the saints ascended up before God from the hand of the angel’

It’s certainly a beautiful idea!

Yes, this is the way I understand it as well. When the priests was offering sacrifice in the Old Testament, it was the burnt offerings that he could actually see rising to please God. That could be extended to our prayers as well.

Incense has been around, as part of prayer, since pre-Christian times:

Ps. 140:

All correct. And one of the most wonderful things about the Gregorian Rite (TLM/EF) is it’s all there, all tied together in 4 short solemn prayers !

** May the Lord, by the intercession of blessed Michael the Archangel, who standeth 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 Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

May this incense, which Thou hast blessed, O Lord, ascend to Thee and may Thy mercy descend upon us.

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 my mouth, and a door round about my lips.
May my heart not incline to evil words, to make excuses for sins.

May the Lord enkindle within us the fire of His love, and the flame of everlasting charity. Amen.**

rubrics here mysite.verizon.net/missale/order.html

 

[daCatholicGuard]

Hello At Trent,

Thanks for posting those prayers- I may incorporate some of them into my prayers.

Oremus pro invicem,

Sean C. :knight2:

 

[Bezant]

What is the purpose of burning incense at Mass? What does it represent?

The Mass is formal and dry: it’s pre-structured, we recite it the same way most of the time, and unless you’re on the altar, it can be easy to tune out.

Incense, along with other motions, heightens the physical sense of the Mass, and keeps us engaged.

We touch (Sign of Peace, Sign of the Cross, kneeling, standing, sitting), we listen (music, dialog, prayer, bells), we see (Scripture, icons/statues, priestly vestments, altar server’s vestments), we taste (the Eucharist), and we smell (incense).

Unfortunately my church is too small and enclosed to use incense regularly, and our priest restricted it to only important occasions. On Corpus Cristi a few years ago, a woman fainted, and several people are allergic to it.

 

[ProVobis]

Perhaps this doctrinal statement from Session 22 of the Council of Trent may help.

CHAPTER V.

On the solemn ceremonies of the Sacrifice of the Mass.

And whereas such is the nature of man, that, without external helps, he cannot easily be raised to the meditation of divine things; therefore has holy Mother Church instituted certain rites, to wit that certain things be pronounced in the mass in a low, and others in a louder, tone. She has likewise employed ceremonies, such as mystic benedictions, lights, incense, vestments, and many other things of this kind, derived from an apostolical discipline and tradition, whereby both the majesty of so great a sacrifice might be recommended, and the minds of the faithful be excited, by those visible signs of religion and piety, to the contemplation of those most sublime things which are hidden in this sacrifice.

 

[Edward_H]

to pray with all our body, our senses.

 

[paul11b]

I don’t know for sure but this is MY guess. In the Bible it says that our prayers rise up to God as incense. My guess is that it is symbolic of our prayers rising up to God.

 

[At_Trent]

Hello At Trent,

Thanks for posting those prayers- I may incorporate some of them into my prayers.

Oremus pro invicem,

Sean C. :knight2:

Quite welcome

 

[ProVobis]

FWIW, these are the overlooked prayers at the Incensation of the Gifts and the Altar:

R. Benedicite, Pater reverende.

(if a bishop) … Benedicite, Pater reverendissime ;
(if a cardinal) … Benedicite, Pater eminentissime. …

V. Per intercessionem beati Michaelis Archangeli, stantis a dextris altaris incensi, et omnium electorum suorum, incensum istud dignetur Dominus bene dicere, et in odorem suavitatis accipere. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen. (“Through the intercession of Blessed Michael the Archangel, standing at the right hand of the altar of incense, and of all His elect may the Lord vouchsafe to bless this incense and to receive it in the odor of sweetness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.”)

Incensum istud a te benedictum ascendat ad te, Domine et descendat super nos misericordia tua. (“May this incense blessed by Thee, arise before Thee, O Lord, and may Thy mercy come down upon us.”)

(Psalm 140)
Dirigatur, Domine, oratio mea sicut incensum in conspectu tuo: elevatio manuum mearum sacrificium vespertinum. Pone, Domine, custodiam ori meo, et ostium circumstantiae labiis meis: ut non declinet cor meum in verba malitiae, ad excusandas excusationes in peccatis accendat in nobis Dominus ignem sui amoris, et flammam aeterne caritatis. Amen. (“May my prayer be an incense-offering in Thy sight, my uplifted hands, as an evening sacrifice. Set, O Lord, a watch over my mouth, and a guard over the door of my lips. Permit not my heart to turn to evil, seeking pretexts for wickedness, with men who work iniquity. May the Lord enkindle in us the fire of His love and the flame of everlasting charity. Amen.”)

sanctamissa.org/en/tutorial/missa-cantata/missa-cantata-photos-3.html

(Loose translations from St. Joseph Missal)

 

[EzraJacob]

I have never been to a mass where incense was burnt

 

[paul11b]

I have never been to a mass where incense was burnt

You gotta go to a Traditional Latin Mass (High Mass). Not only is it beautiful and (in my opinion) the best, most solemn, devout, Mass you will ever attend. They will burn incense there. Low mass they do not buen incense but still it is very solemn, devout, and beautiful, but I think that Latin Mass is the best form of Mass that there is.