Why Is Incense Historically Used in the Church?
The earliest mention of incense in the Bible is in the Book of Exodus, when God gives Moses instructions for making a "fragrant incense." Incense is also mentioned in the New Testament: the Book of Matthew tells us that the Magi brought gifts of "gold and of incense and of myrrh." Incense is a gift to God, a pleasing aroma to Him.
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Churches
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Several modern churches still use incense. The best-known use is probably by the Catholic Church, but it's also used in some Lutheran, Anglican and Orthodox churches, among others.
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Rising Upward
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In a Catholic church, the incense is placed in a censer that the priest will swing. This causes the smoke to circle and rise upward to Heaven.
Prayer
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Incense in the Old Testament was used for prayer. This tradition has continued to the modern church, as prayers are said while incense is in use. Like the smoke from the incense, prayer also rises.
Grace
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The fragrance of the incense represents the grace of God, which is poured out to all just as the fragrance fills the church.
Sanctification
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Incense also stands for sanctification and purification. That's why it's used in blessings.
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- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Eustaquio Santimano
