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Question 24: What is incense and why is it used at Mass?
Answer: Incense is an aromatic substance obtained from resinous trees found in Eastern tropical countries. Placed upon a burning piece of charcoal in a thurible, it gives forth a heavy smoke of a most fragrant odor. It is symbolic of a good Christian's prayer, which ascends on high to the throne of God, and is pleasing in His sight. The Psalmist sings: "Let my prayer be counted as incense before thee, and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice!" (Ps. 141:2). Because the smoke of burning incense ascending to heaven reminded men of the ascent of prayer to God, we find records of its use very early in the Old Testament, with minute directions for building the altar on which the incense is to be offered (Ex. 30:1-10). Incense was used extensively in the Jewish ritual (Lev.6:15), and although not mentioned by any Christian writer until the fourth century, the early Church must have adopted it from the Temple.
The Book of Revelation has an angel offering incense to God with "the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar" (Rev. 8:3).
