The incense which the Church appoints to be offered at her altars at her holy services is attractive in its fragrancy, and edifying in its Scriptural significance, to the devout worshipper; but there is no incense more sweet, and more acceptable to God, than our loving confidence in Him. A Christian who finds himself in the great mercy of God, partaker of the divine nature, and transforming through the sanctifying grace of the Holy Ghost into the divine image, takes a real delight in God his Saviour, and in communion with Him. He can say of Christ. He is my beloved, and my friend, and with David, I will take delight in the Lord. Saint John gives us the fullest description of Him, when he tells us God is charity, and he that abideth in charity abideth in God and God in him. Is not this a blessed state, when any one, reposing trustfully in Him, in whom he finds only love and loveliness, puts forth his most precious affections of love, confidence, and joy; he gets above fears, and despondencies, and is in a bright, clear region of peaceful, hopeful rest. There is, be assured, an inward sense in the soul of man which if once mastered and excited with an inward taste and relish of God, would better define God than all teachings from men or books. A true Christian - watchful, prayerful, humble, earnest Christian - tastes and sees how good and sweet God is, as none else does. The God of hope fills him with joy and peace in believing, so that he abounds in hope. He reposes in God, his heart is strengthened, he shall not be moved, until he look over his enemies. Is not this a state to be sought by us? Let us not be so satisfied as we are to go on in a cold formality, like an artistically shaped thurible, without the fire and incense. While the children of the world, like shell fish on the sands left by the receding tide, gape after their accustomed element, and die away deprived of its pleasures and pursuits, true Christians may realise Christ's words, Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst, but it shall be in him a well of water, springing up into everlasting life.
- text taken from Daily Bread - Bring a Few Morning Meditations for the Use of Catholic Christians by Father Richard Waldo Sibthorp