I attended Easter services at the big downtown Episcopal cathedral yesterday. It was a beautiful service and I am looking forward to going back next Sunday. But, having grown up in a non-liturgial, protestant church there were a lot of things that I didn't understand, and I have a million questions.
In particular, I'm curious about the incense. What is the significance of incense? Why did they have it? Was it just something special for Easter, or do they have it every week?
2007-04-09 02:02:31 · 10 answers · asked by jjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
i heard in the east incense is sometimes used like a timer for meditation.
patchouli and that blue box called Nam something are my favorites. sandalwood and strawberry are nice too.
2007-04-09 02:06:01 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am Catholic, but there are many similarities between the liturgies of Catholics and Episcopaleans.
Depending on the church, incense is used only during Lent and the Easter Mass. It is used as a means of blessing people and objects. It also represents the prayers of the people ascending to heaven.
Feel free to contact me and ask any question.
2007-04-09 09:06:46 · answer #2 · answered by Sldgman 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is symbolic of prayers ascending to God through the veil.
Incense penetrates the veil whereas a person of the old testament could not enter through the veil.
It is a hold over from the old testament.
Rev 5:8 And when He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, having each one a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
2007-04-09 09:27:30 · answer #3 · answered by chris p 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The smoke from the burning incense is symbolic of the prayers of Christians rising up to God. He accepts them (prayers) like we accept a pleasing aroma. This is an ancient tradition, as is the lighting of candles.
IDK if the Episcopals use incense all the time or not.
2007-04-09 09:24:18 · answer #4 · answered by MamaBear 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Incense began to be used a lot in church where ventilation was not too good at a time when body hygiene was scarce.
Getting many people together in confined space became....unpleasant.
The tradition remains. In some cathedral, like Santiago de Compostelle, they burn it in a big silver burner suspended to a very long cable attached to the ceiling and they sling the burner around. Very spectacular.
2007-04-09 09:11:30 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
A giving to God. Incense will bring the sweet scents of Earth up to God to get his attention...or at least that's what Ive been told. Churches Ive been to only do it on special occasions
2007-04-09 09:07:49 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Incense was adopted by the catholics from the pagans in the first century. It was integrated in to the mass to assist in keeping it's members.
2007-04-09 10:23:06 · answer #7 · answered by Icey 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The smoke from the insense rising is symbolic of our prayers raising up to heaven. It is symbolic and is used only on special occasions. I love the smell.
God bless,
Stanbo
2007-04-09 09:13:58 · answer #8 · answered by Stanbo 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It adds another component to the social engineering ritualistic act. If they can associate a sense to church, then they are one step closer to making someone think that they have to go to church.
2007-04-09 09:07:57 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
It's another one of those things they stole from some other religion.
Supposed to keep evil spirits away I heard.
2007-04-09 09:11:27 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋