ASK FR BITAJU | KAIROS GLOBAL | FEBRUARY 2020

Author: Fr Bitaju

Q 25. What is the significance of burning incense during Mass?

Fatima Mendoza, Dallas, USA

Judaism and many ancient religions used incense as an important element of their worship. According to the scriptures, God directed Aaron the high priest, ‘to burn a perpetual incense before the Lord throughout the generations’ (Ex 30:8). A well-known passage from the book of Psalms is found in 141:2: “Let my prayer be counted as incense before thee, and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice”. Another important reference is found in the book of Revelation where St. John describes, “the smoke of the incense rose with the prayers of the saints from the hand of the angel before God” (8:4). 

In the light of these biblical passages, the primary meaning of the use of incense is to symbolize our prayers rising up to God. Secondly, incense reminds us that the priest is there to gather up our prayers and petitions and offer them up to our merciful and loving God. Thirdly, incense calls to mind the heavenly reality of Mass; our celebration of the liturgy being the meeting place between heaven and earth as pictured in the book of Revelation (8:3-4). A fourth purpose of incensing is purification and sanctification – of the Alter, sanctuary, offerings and the people of God. A fifth meaning of incensing is that it adds a sense of solemnity and mystery to the celebration of Mass. A sixth point of significance is that the sweet fragrance and the visual imagery of the smoke remind us of the transcendence of Mass, that connects heaven and earth letting us enter into the presence of God. Finally, the smoke symbolizes the intense faith of the people of God and the fragrance represents Christian virtue.

Keeping in mind the above purposes and meaning of incensing, let us look at the different occasions when incensing is recommended during Holy Mass, which should help us appreciate incensing during Mass. As per the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, incense may be used during the entrance procession; at the beginning of Mass to incense the Alter; at the procession and proclamation of the Gospel; at offertory to incense the offerings, Alter, priest and people; and at the elevation of the Sacred Body and Blood of Christ after the consecration. The priest may also incense the crucifix and the paschal candle.  

It is not very clear when exactly incense became a regular sacramental in the liturgy of the Church. In the persecution accounts of early Christians, their refusal to offer incense to false gods show that they recognized the use of incense as symbolic of prayer. For Christians incensing was a solemn gesture to be offered only to the true God.  Moreover, the Jewish rituals continued to use incense in their temples during New Testament times (Lk 1:9-11). Therefore, it would be safe to conclude that Christians might have adapted its usage for their own rituals from Jews.