At a funeral, we incense the remains of the faithful departed. At exposition of the Blessed Sacrament we incense the monstrance. During solemn processions, incense takes the lead. In the scriptures, incense symbolizes prayer. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel.
Incense delights the eye as well as the nose.
As smoke rises mysteriously to the heavens, it bears our prayers aloft. Paul Turner, pastor of St. John Regis Parish in Kansas City, MO, holds a doctorate in sacramental theology from Sant' Anselmo University in Rome. Inc. May not be reproduced in any form without permission.