Incense belongs to the worship of Israel before it belongs to the Church. The psalmist asks that his prayer rise like incense before the Lord, the Book of Revelation shows an angel offering incense with the prayers of all the saints, and the Magi bring frankincense to the child at Bethlehem. In the liturgy incense is a sign of reverence and of prayer offered to God; the General Instruction of the Roman Missal permits its use at any Mass and names the moments — during the entrance procession, at the beginning of Mass to incense the cross and the altar, at the Gospel procession and proclamation, at the offertory to incense the gifts, the cross, the altar, the priest, and the people, and at the showing of the host and the chalice after the consecration. It is used as well at Benediction, at the dedication of a church, at the Exsultet, and at the final commendation of a funeral, where the body is honored as a temple of the Holy Spirit. The incensation of persons is itself a piece of teaching. The priest is incensed because he acts in the person of Christ, and the assembly is incensed because the baptized are a holy people and their prayer rises with the same reverence. The practice is bodily and unmistakable, and the Church has always valued signs that address the senses rather than the mind alone. Candles carry the other sign. The Instruction requires at least two candles on or near the altar, and permits four or six, or seven when the diocesan bishop of the place celebrates; candlesticks may be carried in the entrance procession and set by the ambo for the Gospel. The sanctuary lamp burns continually near the tabernacle, fed by oil or wax, to indicate and honor the presence of Christ. The Paschal candle, the candle given at baptism, the candles carried at the Presentation of the Lord on February 2, and the candles blessed on that day for use in homes all belong to the same language. The meaning is stated by the Lord himself: he is the light of the world, and whoever follows him will not walk in darkness. Real flame matters here. Wax and fire consume themselves in giving light, which is why the liturgy prefers them to artificial substitutes, and why the Church has kept these ancient materials while so much else has changed.

Symbolism

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symbolism