LIKE INCENSE

"Like Incense" by Emmanuel Atuanya is a gentle, earnest prayer set to music. Drawing its imagery from the Psalms—where our prayers are envisioned rising like sweet-smelling incense before God—the song is a natural fit for the Offertory or moments of deep, reflective supplication during Mass. The melody carries a quiet reverence that draws the congregation into a space of listening and offering.

The verses walk us through a deeply personal journey of petition and gratitude. The choir sings simple, direct appeals to heaven, asking, "My God my Lord answer me," and "My Lord heal me." Each of these petitions is immediately followed by a promise of thanksgiving, as the singers vow to praise and bless the Lord with all their hearts. It is the kind of piece that helps settle a busy mind, inviting everyone in the pews to bring their own quiet intentions to the altar.