Author Topic: Incense in the Early Church (Read 1206 times)

jhfromsf68 · « **on:** August 30, 2013, 03:13:21 PM »

When did the church first start to use incense in it's sacred liturgy? I read somewhere that this practice started because the laity back then didn't have proper hygiene and were stinky. The incense was used to mask the bad odor coming from the congregation during mass. How true is this? Also was there different practices in western and eastern churches regarding this?

God bless
James

songbird · « **Reply #1 on:** August 30, 2013, 03:54:29 PM »

Incense goes back before Christ. Jews in their sacrifices. I would have to do some deep search. But all the sacrifices from Adam and Eve bring us to prepare and to understand the Savior who would be the sacrificial lamb.

My question is: Did a New Order priest tell you this? Smells like their is a Rat somewhere!

songbird · « **Reply #2 on:** August 30, 2013, 03:58:10 PM »

Incense is a symbol that our prayers are ascending to God.

Sigismund · « **Reply #3 on:** August 30, 2013, 08:20:34 PM »

The hygiene thing may have been a practical benefit, but it certainly was not that reason. As has been stated above, Incense was used hi Jєωιѕн worship before the CHurch and symbolized our prayers rising to God. It also engaged the whole body in prayer, including the sense of smell. I have never heard a Latin rite person observe this, but it is frequently identified as part of the reason we use incense among eastern rite Catholics.

Stephen Francis · « **Reply #4 on:** August 31, 2013, 12:01:55 AM »

Nothing masks strong, well-fermented body odors. The only thing incense would have done back then would be to make people smell like armpits and smoke.

By the way, of course Latin-rite Catholics have said incense stimulates their sense of smell in a meaningful way... haven't you been told we only care about the old Mass because we miss the "smells and bells"?

Immaculate Heart of Mary, triumph soon!

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.