Frankincense was a perfume and spiritual incense, burned in temples throughout the East. Myrrh was a sacred anointing oil. Frankincense and Myrrh are both mentioned in the biblical book of Exodus as sacred articles in the early Jewish and Christian faiths. A Frankincense tree perched on a hilltop in modern-day Oman.
Each of these precious gifts has a symbolic meaning. Frankincense was used for worship in the Temple; it is symbolic of Christ the High Priest. Gold is symbolic of Christ the King. Myrrh a perfume, was used to anoint dead bodies, it is symbolic of His death for the sake of truth, and therefore of Christ the Prophet.
Since ancient times, burning of frankincense and myrrh in places of worship for spiritual purposes and contemplation (a ubiquitous practice across various religions) had hygienic functions, to refine the smell and reduce contagion by purifying the indoor air.
In Christianity
In later Christian typology the smoke of incense in the tabernacle typically signifies offered prayer.
The frankincense represents Jesus' deity. In the Old Testament, frankincense was traditionally burned in the temple as an offering to God (Leviticus 2:2). By bringing this gift, the Magi affirmed Jesus was no ordinary man; he is both fully man and fully God.
The sacred trees that produce Frankincense and Myrrh are almost impossible to grow outside of the Arabian Peninsula, which meant they were constantly in short supply and high demand. According to a famous Roman historian, the sap made the Arabians the richest people on earth by Jesus's time, more valuable than gold.
The magi knelt down for the baby Jesus and “offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Their gifts are possibly an allusion to Isaiah's vision of nations rendering tribute to Jerusalem: “A multitude of camels shall cover you.
Bible Gateway Leviticus 10 :: NIV. Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command. So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.
In liturgy, incense is used to symbolize the act of purification and sanctification. We incense people and things that we want to make and keep holy by our prayers. The smoke, as the psalmist reminds us, is a sign of the prayer rising up so the blessings can come down.
The Samaritans still burn incense in their synagogues at certain times, but among Rabbinic Jews the custom came to an end, probably in the Middle Ages. Burning incense in the synagogue was a point of controversy between the Karaites and the Rabbinic Jews.
It has been used to treat arthritis, heal wounds and strengthen the female hormone system. Offering benefits to the wider community, Indian communities would often burn frankincense to purify the air. More recently, a 2008 study found that frankincense smoke helped to relieve depression and anxiety in mice.
What Incense Symbolizes in Christian Liturgy. The smoke of incense is symbolic of sanctification and purification. It also symbolizes the prayers of the faithful. It is an outward sign of spiritual realities, which is why it has its place in Christian liturgy.
Since ancient times, those who are religious or spiritual have turned to the usage of frankincense as a means to facilitate communication with God, their spiritual practitioners, ancestors, angels, and loved ones who have passed away. Frankincense is known to bring one closer to the lord.
There is a story that the myrrh given to Jesus as a child was used in his burial. A more practical story is Joseph used the presents to finance the family's flight to Egypt.
Frankincense is often mentioned together with it's cousin myrrh, another aromatic and earthy scent derived from the resin of the Commiphora tree which also has a long history in religion and spirituality. When comparing the two scents, frankincense is considered sweeter and warmer while myrrh is more earthy and bitter.
Myrrh gum is commonly harvested from the species Commiphora myrrha. Another commonly used name, Commiphora molmol, is now considered a synonym for Commiphora myrrha.
Catholics do not pray to Mary as if she were God. Prayer to Mary is memory of the great mysteries of our faith (Incarnation, Redemption through Christ in the rosary), praise to God for the wonderful things he has done in and through one of his creatures (Hail Mary) and intercession (second half of the Hail Mary).
Incense is prayer in action:
As Catholics, we express our worship of Almighty God in words and gestures. The burning of incense is a prayer in itself; a prayer in action. Furthermore, for Catholics prayer is action, and that action becomes ever more present through the visual and sensory experience of incense.
The practice is rooted in the earlier traditions of Judaism in the time of the Second Jewish Temple. The smoke of burning incense is interpreted by both the Western Catholic and Eastern Christian churches as a symbol of the prayer of the faithful rising to heaven.
In Leviticus 10, Aaron's sons ignore the instructions for the sacrifice, offering “strange fire” to God. God burns them up. When Aaron's sons offered “strange fire” (aish zarah) as a sacrifice, God responded by smiting them with fire, killing them.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego fell into the fire. They were tied up very tightly. Then King Nebuchadnezzar jumped to his feet. He was very surprised and he asked his advisors, “We tied only three men, and we threw only three men into the fire.
According to the Second Book of Samuel, the Levite Uzzah touched the Ark with his hand in order to steady it, and God instantly killed him.
Myrrh is very much like an evergreen scent to me... some pine or spruce, slightly citrusy. Same family as vetiver, but less overtly masculine and less citrusy. Definitely unisex, definitely makes me think of the christmas season.
Balthasar, king of Ethiopia or Saba, land of spices, was 40 and brought frankincense in a censer. He is traditionally depicted as black.
At the time of Jesus' birth, gold, frankincense and myrrh were traditional gifts given to royalty in the Middle East, says Fred Horton, John T. Albritton Professor of the Bible at Wake Forest.