Our prayers as incense...

"Incense is used because of the likeness that is has to prayer. 

So it is said in the psalm, Let my prayer be directed as incense 

in thy sight.It is also used to represent the glory of God, 

for in the Old Testament He often showed Himself in a cloud." 

- St Robert Bellermine

 

Incensation of the Offertory gifts ~ Paschal Vigil, Roma - 2013

"We do not use incense as if we were following ceremonies commanded by the Old Law, but because this custom has been ordained by the Church.  It is used, first, out of reverence for the sacrament, since its sweet smell blots out any physical stench that might be present in the place, which would be repellent.  Next, it serves to represent the effect of grace.   For Christ was full of grace, as of a sweet smell, according to the prophecy of Jacob. Behold, the smell of my son is as the smell of a plentiful field. This grace passes to the faithful through the work of Christ's ministers.  So St Paul says, He sprinkles the odour of his knowledge by us in every place. For this reason, first the altar, which represents Christ, is incensed completely, then all present are incensed in order of rank." - St Thomas Aquinas

 Bishop Alexander K. Sample

"The prayers of the saints bring us to an eternal crown through the 

burning charity of our Lord's passion, and so the priest swings the censer both in the shape of a cross and of a crown." - Durandes, Bishop

"When you smell the pleasant odour of incense, you should think

how Christ suffered for us so patiently , and how sweet was the scent

of His soul's sacrifice before God and the holy angels in heaven

and the holy fathers in Limbo." - St Vincent Ferrer

Cardinal Timothy Dolan

"He incenses the offerings with threefold swings, to recall how Mary Magdalene thrice brought spices to anoint the body of Jesus.  Once, when she anointed his feet at the house of Simon the Pharisee; once when she poured ointment upon his head in the house of Simon the leper; and once when she went with spices to anoint Jesus after he had been placed in the tomb - for there the intention is counted for the deed.  And he goes on to incense the altar on every side, since the fame of the deed has been spread throughout the Church, as our Lord himself foretold." - Durandus, Bishop