Frankincense, the fragrant resin that has accompanied sacred rites and moments of prayer for millennia, is facing an unprecedented crisis. While its sweet, mysterious aroma continues to fill the air of markets and shops, the high-quality raw material used in sacred liturgies is becoming increasingly rare.
According to a study published in “Nature Sustainability,” frankincense production is declining at an alarming rate. It is estimated that within twenty years the available quantity will be reduced by 50%, with a downward trend that could lead to its extinction within half a century.
The causes
The causes of this crisis are manifold:
• Fires and uncontrolled grazing: these natural phenomena damage Boswellia trees, from which frankincense is obtained.
• Harmful insects: the larvae of some insects burrow into tree trunks, compromising the trees’ health and resin production.
• Wars and conflicts: frankincense-producing areas, such as Somalia, Yemen, Ethiopia, Sudan, and northern India, are often the scene of war and violence. Conflicts cause the destruction of fields, crop losses, and the blockade of exports, encouraging illegal trade.
Frankincense in the liturgy
The importance of frankincense in sacred liturgies is undeniable. The fragrant smoke rising to heaven represents a metaphor for prayer ascending to God. As Psalm 140 says: “May my prayer rise before You like incense.”
The use of frankincense in Christian liturgy is optional, but strongly recommended to lend solemnity to celebrations. It is mandatory in certain specific rites, such as funeral rites and the consecration of a new church. During funeral rites, frankincense represents honor and respect for the deceased and for the life they offered to God.
May frankincense be not merely a fragrance, but an element with profound symbolic significance:
• Order and beauty: the aroma of frankincense creates an atmosphere of prayer, symbolizing order, cleanliness, and beauty, linking fragrance to moral order.
• Honor and respect: frankincense is a sign of honor and respect toward God, ministers of worship, signs of Christ’s presence (such as the cross and the altar), the people, and the deceased during funeral rites.
• Sacrifice: frankincense evokes the sacrifice of praise that is the life of the righteous.
Frankincense in the Christian tradition
The use of incense has not always been accepted throughout the history of Christianity. The first Christian communities viewed it with suspicion because they associated it with pagan rites and the worship of the Roman emperor.
During the persecutions, the offering of incense became a symbol of apostasy, and many Christians preferred death to burning it before pagan idols.
Only in the 4th century, when Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire, was incense gradually introduced into the liturgy.
It is associated with:
• The gift of the Magi: one of the gifts offered to Jesus by the Magi was incense, a symbol of veneration and worship.
• Revelation: in Revelation, incense symbolizes worship.
• Exodus: this book of the Bible explains how to prepare incense.
The quality of incense
It is determined by several factors. When burned, incense releases an intense fragrance that varies depending on its botanical origin and the quality of the raw materials. 100% pure and natural incense produces a good fragrance thanks to the quality of the resin. There are particularly high-quality incenses, such as those made by the Monks of Bethlehem according to the ancient traditional methods of the Christian East.
Various fragrances are available commercially, such as rose, amber, honeysuckle, spikenard, myrrh, jasmine, sandalwood, and magnolia. High-quality scents, including those mentioned and others made by artisans, are delicate, pleasant, elegant, and incredibly long-lasting. These characteristics indicate that the product is of excellent quality and made with the finest materials. Not all scents are the same, and their origin and production method greatly influence the final result. When choosing incense, it is important to consider not only the fragrance but also the quality of the smoke output. Incense grains of any size should produce a good amount of smoke without becoming bothersome. The power of incense also lies in producing smoke that rises upward, symbolizing prayer to God. High-quality incense, such as artisan-made incense, combines a pleasant fragrance with excellent smoke output.
The scarcity of incense represents both a practical and cultural challenge.
The incense crisis invites us to reflect on the value of this sacred symbol and commit ourselves to preserving it for future generations.
