Since we are using incense at Sunday Mass during the Lent and Easter seasons, I like to give my once-a-year overview of its importance in Scripture and our Catholic liturgy. And, since some people cannot be around incense for health issues, I point out that we do not use it during the Saturday evening Mass. The use of incense is an expression of prayer, and it is in fact very scriptural. In Psalm 141, for example, we pray “Let my prayer rise before you like incense, O Lord.”
During the Mass we incense both things and people as a sign of reverence. Burning of incense is a prayer in action. That action becomes ever more present through the visual and sensual experience of incense. Not only does the rising smoke symbolize the prayers of the faithful drifting up to heaven, burning incense is also meant to create the ambiance of heaven. The Book of Revelation describes heavenly worship as follows: "The angel took his place at the altar and was given large amounts of incense to deposit on the altar in front of the throne, together with the prayers of all God’s holy ones. The smoke of the incense went up before God and with it the prayers of God’s people." Hence, incense connects us to God’s altar in heaven and allows us to utilize all our senses in our prayer.
The usage of incense adds a sense of solemnity and mystery to the Mass. The visual imagery of the smoke and the smell remind us of the transcendent aspect of the Mass which links heaven with earth…as we enter into the Presence of God. Try and visualize your own prayers (and life) being raised to heaven when you see and pray with the incense rising! God’s Peace, Fr. Jim Deiters