In liturgical furniture, accessories are fundamental to create the sacred atmosphere that characterizes the celebration of Mass. Among them, incense burners play an essential role. Thanks to their elegant shape and the fragrance of incense that they spread in the air, these sacred objects contribute to creating an atmosphere of devotion and spirituality.
These church furniture are used at different times of the celebration, such as during the opening procession, the offertory and the proclamation of the Gospel.
Incense burners: the symbolic meaning of a thousand-year-old act.
An incense burner is a liturgical accessory of fundamental importance in the celebration of Catholic Mass. In addition to the practical function of containing charcoal and incense, this object is rich in its symbolic meaning. In fact, the gesture of incensing the altar and sacred objects during the Holy Mass represents the offering of prayer that is raised to God. Moreover, it evokes purification and holiness, symbolizing the divine presence among the faithful.
History and evolution of the incense burner
Incense burners, or censer, have been used for centuries in many cultures and religions all around the world as a ritual tool for air purification and as a means of spreading incense.
In Ancient Egypt, incense was considered as a gift from the gods and was used in funeral rituals to purify the air and ward off evil spirits. In Greece and ancient Rome, it was burned in temples as an offering to the gods and as a means of creating a sacred atmosphere during religious ceremonies.
In Christianity, its use has a long history dating back to the first Christian communities. In the New Testament, incense is mentioned as a symbol of prayer and worship of God. In the Roman Catholic tradition, it is used during Mass, processions, and other religious celebrations to symbolize the offering of prayers of the faithful to God and to purify the air of the church building. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, this sacred accessory is an important element of liturgical celebrations and is used to purify the altar and liturgical objects, to sanctify the church environment and to symbolize the presence of the angel who ascends to heaven bringing the prayers of the faithful to God.
