Why incense in church

Prayers rise, blessings come down Father David Jones Catholic Practices One has to chuckle when a Catholic complains that the use of incense bothers him or her. Recent Reflections. Want to Learn More? Why aren't people kneeling at church? Why going to Sunday Mass matters Why did Jesus have to get baptized? When to bow, when to genuflect When are we instructed to pray in the Mass? What does this mean? What are Sacraments? What are Sacramentals?

What is Ordinary time? The demons were marked by a sulfurous stench, and the fragrant incense would drive them away; meanwhile, the beneficial gods would be appeased and grant the worshiper protection and prosperity. The pagans offered sacrifices to gain benefits from the gods.

He was taking his turn serving in the Temple when the angel Gabriel appeared, informing him of the pregnancy of his wife, Elizabeth. The Temple duty he was performing at the time was the evening offering of incense.

The psalmist expresses the true meaning of the offering of sacrifice. It is not to appease angry false gods or to drive away the fearsome demons. Instead, the rising smoke is a symbol of prayer. That a priest of the Old Covenant was offering incense when the birth of the forerunner of the New Covenant is announced links the use of incense as a prayer offering to the worship of Christ the Lord.

The fulfillment of this worship is pictured in the Book of Revelation when St. John has a vision of the worship in heaven see Chapter 4. He understands the worship in heaven to be a completion of the Jewish worship in the Temple. Because of his vision and because the first Christians were Jews, it would make sense to assume that the early Christians used incense in their Eucharistic ceremonies.

The offering of incense as viewed in the first few centuries of Church writings is usually negative. Here are some numbers: 20 million users around the world read Aleteia. As you can imagine, these numbers represent a lot of work.

We need you. It only takes a minute. Thank you! Donate now! And today we celebrate Prayer for this morning. Daily meditation. Prayer for this evening. The visual imagery of the smoke and the smell remind us of the transcendence of the Mass which links heaven with earth, and allow us to enter into the presence of God. Religious Catalogue. See of Peter. Daily Readings. Seasons and Feast Days. Prayer Requests. Author: Fr. William Saunders. Father William Saunders Why do priests use incense at Mass?