Why Do We Use Incense For Prayers And Worship?

Rev. Fr. Stan-William Ede

The burning and offering of incense in the Catholic Church during liturgical celebrations and other prayers, have, like many other Catholic beliefs and practices, elicited many questions seeking clarification and understanding. As much as we have tried to show even from the Bible the authority of the Church to teach and show the faithful the way to God, many people still insist on getting the biblical basis of the use of incense in the Catholic Church, and by Catholic members for prayers in their homes and Basic Christian Communities.
Regarding the question of the significance of incense and its Scriptural support, it is not far-fetched in any way. God himself commanded the making and burning of incense as a holy offering fitting for His service in Exodus 30:34-37: “The Lord said to Moses: Take sweet spices, stacte and onycha, and galbanum, sweet spices with pure frankincense (an equal part of each), and make an incense blended as by the perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy; and you shall beat some of it into powder, and put part of it before the covenant in the house of worship where I shall meet with you … it shall be regarded as holy to the Lord.”
The above instruction on the composition of incense and its status before God is a follow-up of the command earlier given by God that the incense is a fragrant offering which should be offered not only during the days of Moses and Aaron, but throughout their generations and beyond.
The Sanctuary of God's presence which had the mercy seat that is over the Ark of the Covenant, was where God met regularly with Moses and the chosen people of Israel. In addition to the content of the Sanctuary, the Lord commanded the making of an altar on which to offer incense (Ex. 30:1). Then He instructed that; “Aaron (and in fact, the priests) shall offer fragrant incense on it every morning and evening as a regular incense offering before the Lord throughout their generations” (Ex. 30:7-9), and all the people must know that this offering of incense is most holy to the Lord (cf. Ex. 30:10). It is also greatly beneficial and enriching to the people because the Lord said: “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud” (cf. Ex. 19:9), and the cloud of incense that usually covers the sanctuary rises up to the pleasure of God, and therefore becomes a veritable offering for atonement (cf. Lev. 16:12-13), a rich fundamental aid for prayer (cf. Ps. 141:2), protection against dangers and deliverance from the power of evil (cf. Tobit 8:1-3), and fruitful petition (Rev. 8:3-4).
The world is full of sin and wickedness, and the people of this world are very easily given to their weak human nature, thus separating themselves from God's love and mercy. But God who is all merciful welcomes the penitent when he makes the ritual of atonement and actuates the Sacrament of Reconciliation. As part of the rites of atonement, “crushed sweet incense is to be put into a censer full of coals of fire, and offered to the Lord so that the cloud of the fragrant (sweet-smelling) incense may cover the Sanctuary of God, and rise up to God (Lev. 16:12,13), for the fragrant smoke of incense along with the genuine intention of the people is pleasing to the Lord (cf. Ex. 30:37).
The chosen people of God in the Old Testament got so used to God's abiding presence in the offering of incense and a greater efficacy of their prayers when they are said along with the burning of incense, that the Psalmist had to declare with heartfelt surety: “I call upon you O Lord, come quickly to help me; Let my prayer rise like incense before you, and the lifting of my hands as an evening sacrifice” (Ps. 141:2). It is pertinent to note that during the rites of evening sacrifice or oblation also mentioned here, the burning and offering of incense was a major activity.
To demonstrate how pleasing the offering of incense is to God, and how speedily God comes to the rescue and aid of his people when they offer incense, let us turn to the blessings of Zechariah and Elizabeth who gave birth to John the Baptist, who in turn, became the forerunner of the Messiah, the Redeemer of the World and giver of life to us all (cf. Lk. 1:5-24, 39-44, 57-80; 3:1-18; Matt. 3:1-17; Mk. 1:2-11).
Zechariah and Elizabeth who were both far advanced in years had no child, for which reason people called Elizabeth barren. When all hope had been lost as a result of old age, God's favour came upon them when Zechariah was serving as a priest and was in the Sanctuary of the Lord, offering incense (Lk. 1:5-10). As Zechariah graciously offered the incense, angel of the Lord appeared to him to give him the news of the approaching morn, first with the news of the conception and birth of John the Baptist to Zechariah and Elizabeth (Lk. 1:11-15), and then the news that John the Baptist would prepare a people fitting for the Lord at his coming (cf. Lk. 1:16-17).
Indeed, all that was told Zechariah when he was offering incense to the Lord, came to fulfillment, for the glory of the Lord has been revealed (cf. Is. 40:5) by Christ his Son, whose way was prepared by John the Baptist through his ministry and proclamation (cf. Is. 40:3-5; Mk. 1:3-8).
Significantly too, even in heaven, the angels and saints are continually dedicated to the offering of incense for the worship of the Mighty One who is seated on the throne. This was especially revealed by Jesus Christ to John in the Book of Revelations. In describing his experience, John said: “Then I saw in the right hand of the One seated on the throne a scroll written on the inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals” (Rev. 5:1); “When the Lamb had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of all the saints” (Rev. 5:8). Let us note firmly that the bowls full of incense constitute the prayers of all the saints, and by extension, the people of God on earth.
Again, it was revealed and declared to John that: “Another angel with a golden censer came and stood at the altar; he was given a great quantity of incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar that is before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of all the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel” (Rev. 8:3-4).
Now, it is my turn to ask: Who can question or stand against God's desires? Who can doubt the truth of what God has revealed? Who indeed, can refuse to obey and practice God's commands? Such persons who turn their faces or hearts away from the truths of Scripture and the Church's teaching authority are rightly described by St. Paul as those who are perishing because they do not understand the language and message of the cross (cf. 1 Cor. 1:18) which the Bible translates for our assimilation and response. But for those who are being saved by believing and practicing the truth, the power of God will always be upon them to protect, strengthen and uphold them.