A-Z of the Mass: Incense

The burning of incense is rich in symbolism. The above verse from the Book of Judges describes the incident when Samson’s father Manoah makes a burnt offering before the angel of the Lord. The angel represents an intermediary function between God and man, and rises up to heaven in flame and smoke. This incident is alluded to in Eucharistic Prayer I when the priest says “Almighty God, we pray that your angel may take this sacrifice to your altar in heaven.” The burning of incense is a symbol of prayer going up to the Lord and being borne before Him by intercessory angels. The smell of incense is pleasing to the Lord and represents the achievement of a peaceful relation between God and man.

In the temple of Solomon, there was an altar in front of the Holy of Holies on which incense was burnt every morning and evening. The incense marked the presence of God. This is also true in the Mass: we acknowledge the presence of God in the incarnate Word proclaimed in the Gospel, the presence of God in the action of the priest, the presence of God in the sanctification of the people, and the presence of God in the Eucharistic species. This is something quite remarkable. In the Old Testament, there is the marvellous saying “What great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is to us, whenever we call upon him?” (Deuteronomy 4:7). How much truer this is for us! The burning of incense represents the fulfilment of the prophecy in the book of Malachi: “From the rising of the sun to its setting my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense is offered to my name and a pure offering; for my name is great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts” (Malachi 1:11).