Y SISTER BECAME a Bible Christian and tells us that she is
'born again'. Last week, Dad got sick and she went home to
visit him. When she saw him praying with sweetgrass, she
threw it into the fire. She told him that using sweetgrass
was wrong, and that it wasn't in the Bible. Dad was pretty
upset and I just don't know what to think...."
I heard this story from a friend on the reserve. What had happened had disturbed her deeply. Could we Catholics use these kind of things or not? Does the Bible really forbid it?
We Catholics have always used the things of the earth to help us in a spiritual way. We use all kinds of things: oil, ashes, salt, palms, pictures, statues, candles, and on and on. How come? We believe the invisible God reached out to us in Jesus. He, whom no eye can see, came to us in human form; a form made out of the dust of the earth. This is how God comes to rescue us. There is a basic truth here. God uses the stuff of the earth to bring us healing and salvation. We do it because God did it first.
Certain things that we use in a spiritual way we call sacramentals. They can be things like wedding rings, holy water, and crucifixes or even actions like making the sign of the cross or kneeling, etc. These are in some way connected to the seven great Sacraments and yet they are very different. Sacramentals have only the power that the prayer of the Church, and our own faith give them. Sacramentals convey to us certain truths of faith. They focus our minds on spiritual realities. They help us to express what is in our hearts. They can create an atmosphere to help us enter more deeply into prayer and worship.
Fragrant smoke is one of these sacramentals. It has been used by peoples all over the world for thousands of years. Sweet grass, sage, cedar, etc. are forms of incense found in many First Nations cultures. It is used as a way of honouring the Creator, as a sign of prayer rising to God, and of the sweetness of prayer. It is a sign of humility (the humbleness of plants) and purity (the purifying effect of fire). Also for Christians, smoke is a reminder of the shining cloud that veils the glory of God.
Some Bible Christians see all these signs as being useless at best and from the devil at worst. They tell us that God does not need this stuff and we do not either. We should just put our faith in Jesus, stick to the Bible, and forget the rest. But, when we turn to the Bible, we see Jesus himself using the humble things of the earth to convey meaning and power and healing. Water is used to baptise and oil to heal. In the Gospel of John (9:6) Jesus even spits on some dirt, makes it into a paste, and rubs it onto the blind man's eyes to heal them. Why, when a word would have been enough? He uses ordinary things in still greater ways, even changing bread and wine into his own Body and Blood, the greatest Gift of all.
So what about this holy smoke? In the Old Testament God commands that incense be offered to him every day (Ex 30:1-8). David, the great Hebrew king, compares his own prayer to this fragrant smoke. Let my prayer rise like incense before you. The lifting of my hands like the evening offering (Ps 141:1,2). God, through the prophet Malachi (who lived centuries before Jesus), foretold what would happen when the Christ would come:
From the rising to the setting of the sun my name shall be honoured among the Nations, and in every place incense shall be offered to my name, and a pure offering too, since my name shall be honoured among the Nations (Ml 1:11,12).
Among Catholics of every nation incense is indeed offered to the Lord, and the 'pure offering' too, which is the Holy Mass, at all times and in every land.
When the angel Gabriel brings the first word we hear of the coming Saviour it is at the altar of incense and at the time of the evening offering. (Lk 1:8-12) In the book of Revelations (8:3-4) we see the angels in heaven doing what the Church on earth also does in its worship:
Another angel, who had a gold censer came and stood at the altar. A large quantity of incense was given to him to offer with the prayers of the saints on the golden altar that stood in front of the throne. And so from the angel's hand, the smoke of the incense went up, and with it the prayers of the saints.
The Catholic practice of using incense is based on both the Bible and long Christian tradition. God is the author of its use. He does nothing uselessly, and if you ridicule the practice, you ridicule God.
Catholics are often told, "But, these things are of pagan origin. They were used in the worship of false gods and demon spirits. The Romans blessed water and offered incense to idols. That is why you should stay away from them." We have to say, "Yes, it is true, many of these signs have been common to the whole human race and sometimes people have used them wrongly."
Christians feel free to adopt these things to their own use. It is that, really, they all belong to Jesus Christ! Think about it. He is Lord of all creation. Not only that, scripture says that Jesus is the true source of everything that is (cf. Rv 3:14), and that through him all things came into being, and not one thing came to be except through him (cf. Jn 1:3). All things display his handiwork; it is fitting to use them to honour him.
When the Nations turn to Christ and accept him, he reclaims and purifies all the good things of their cultures as well. Evil things he begins to crowd out of the picture. We begin to see that some of our most cherished customs find their true meaning in him. Some have reached their fulfilment and slowly fade away. Others find a new home in his Church, making richer this great family of faith.
So, as you see this holy smoke rising up and filling our Catholic places of worship, may it call to your mind the presence and beauty of our God, and may your prayers rise up with it.