The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

""""CEREMONIES, ETC. 31"Throughout all the Churches of the East, beforethe reading of the Gospel, candles are lighted atmid-day, not to dispel darkness, but as a sign ofjoy."You also noticed the priest incensing the altar.Incense is a striking emblem of prayer, which shouldascend to heaven from hearts burning with love, justas the fragrant smoke ascends from the censer.Let my prayer," says the Royal Prophet, ascendllike incense inThy Godsight."enjoined in theOld Law the use of incense : Aaron shall burnsweet-smelling incense upon the altar in the morn2"Hence we see the priest Zachariah offering."incense on going into the temple of the Lord. Andall the multitude were praying without at the hourof incense." 3You perceive that the altar is decorated to-daywith vases and flowers, because this is a Festival ofthe Church. There is one spot on earth which cannever be too richly adorned, and that is the sanctuary in which our Lord vouchsafes to dwell amongus. Nothing is too good, nothing too beautiful,nothing too precious for God. He gives us all wepossess, and the least we can do in return is to ornament that spot which He has chosen for His abodeupon earth. The Almighty, it is true, has no needof our gifts.He is rich without them. The earthis the Lord s, and the fulness thereof." Nevertheless, He ispleased to accept our offerings when they1 PB. cxl.2Exod. xxx. 7.8Luke i. 9, 10.