ACC ~ Revelation 8 v3 - 4

CHRIST OFFERED HIS IMMACULATE BODY AS A SACRIFICE TO GOD. TYCONIUS: The seven angels received trumpets, and another [angel], it says, came. One might think that this one came after the seven angels, although he saw all of this at one time. As the angel was coming, those seven received their trumpets, that is, when Christ the Lord was coming, his church received the power to preach. And we understand that he himself came over the altar, that is, over the church, which is wholly assumed as the body of the same priesthood and to whom Peter said, “[You are] a holy nation, a chosen race, a royal priesthood.” He had a golden censer, which is his immaculate body that was conceived by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit and that he offered as an oblation and sweet-smelling sacrifice to God for the redemption of the world and through which he cleansed the conscience of all from dead works. He is also said to have received the prayers of the saints and to have offered them, for through him the prayers of all are able to come to God in an agreeable manner. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 8.3.

THE ANGELS MAKE OUR PRAYERS MORE FRAGRANT. OECUMENIUS: He calls the altar a “censer,” because it receives incense. When Christ appears, the prayers of the saints, which are by nature fragrant but made even more fragrant by the cooperation of the holy angels, are brought to him by those angels that govern us as though they were his spoils and the first offerings of homage given to him. And for this reason it is said that “much incense was given to him.” It is clear that the governance of people was given to the angels from God that they might make our prayers acceptable to him. “And the smoke of the incense rose with the prayers of the saints from the hand of the angel.” You see that the prayers of the saints are made more fragrant by the angel and rendered worthy to be offered before God. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 8.3-6.

THE SACRIFICE OF THE MARTYRS. ANDREW OF CAESAREA: Although what is revealed to the saints is depicted in material form and with colors, whether it be the altar or the censer or something else, in reality these things are invisible and intellectual. And it is at such an altar that the angel stands and swings the censer (that is, that bowl that receives incense) bearing to God the prayers of the saints as though they were incense. … The “altar” is Christ upon which every ministering and holy power is established and upon which the sacrifices of the martyrs are offered. This altar was prefigured in the altar that was shown to Moses on Mount Sinai together with the tabernacle. The “incense” is the prayers of the saints. … He says that the altar, namely, Christ, is “before the throne,” that is, before the most eminent and holy of powers who are there because of the abundance of the divine love and of the pure wisdom and knowledge in them. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 8.3.

CHRIST MAKES THE SORROW OF OUR HEARTS ACCEPTABLE. BEDE: He “stood before the altar,” that is, he appeared in the sight of the church. He was himself made the censer, from which God received the smell of sweet savor and became more favorable toward the world. Another version reads “upon the altar,” because for us he offered to the Father upon the altar of the cross his own golden censer, namely, his own sinless body conceived by the Holy Spirit. … When Christ offered himself to the Lord as an agreeable and acceptable sacrifice, he made the sorrow of the hearts of the saints acceptable, which arising from the fire within elicits tears, as is usual with smoke. EXPLANATION OF THE APOCALYPSE 8.3-4.

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