Purpose of Incense in Catholic Church
Each of the seven Sacraments of the Roman Catholic faith includes tangible "sacramentals," which are outward signs of spiritual occurrences. For example, Baptism includes the sacramentals of oil and water. The Eucharist includes the sacramentals of bread and wine. Incense, an "aromatic substance which is obtained from certain resinous trees", is another sacramental that augments celebration of the Sacraments in the Catholic Church.
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History
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As members of the Jewish faith used incense in their rituals before the time of Christ, the use of incense is a custom that Christians probably inherited. The earliest documented use of incense in a Christian Mass was in the fifth century liturgies of Saints James and Mark. In the eleventh through fourteenth centuries, the variety of liturgical uses for incense increased. Today, incense is a widely used throughout the Catholic Church.
Scriptural Significance
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The use of incense has scriptural significance. In the Old Testament, for example, Moses built an altar of incense for the Ark of the Covenant. King David prayed in Psalm 141, "May my prayer be set before you like incense." In the Book of Revelation, which depicts St. John's vision of Heaven, he wrote, "From the angel's hand, the smoke of the incense went up before God, and with it the prayers of God's people" (Rev. 8:4). These passages connect the sweet aroma and rising smoke of incense to veneration and prayer.
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Purpose
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The purpose of incense is twofold. First, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops describes the purpose of incense as an "expression of reverence and of prayer." Not only does blessing with incense pay homage to holy objects or people, but the vision of the rising smoke of incense alludes to prayers being lifted to Heaven. Secondly, as written by Fr. William Saunders, "Incense also creates the ambiance of heaven." One is able to associate the sweet aroma of incense with Heaven, as depicted in Revelation. Employing the sense of smell increases the full experience of the Sacraments as pieces of Heaven on earth.
Manner
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As with all Catholic rituals, the process of incensing (called "incensation") is outlined for uniform administration throughout the Church. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops provides strict guidelines for incensation during liturgies. They call for a reverent bow before or after the incensation. They prescribe a different number of swings of the thurible (the gold vessel containing the burning incense) for different holy objects or people. They also outline precisely how incensing of an altar should be accomplished.
Liturgical Uses
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The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops allows for the use of incense within any Mass, including weddings and funerals, and during Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Within the Mass, incense may be used during the entrance procession, at the beginning of Mass, at the Gospel proclamation, at offertory, and at the showing of the consecrated Body and Blood of Christ. Likewise, incense may be used to venerate the Blessed Sacrament during Adoration.
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References
- Photo Credit Aroma smoke on a dark background image by Kavita from Fotolia.com
