Ezekiel 40:47

"And he measured the porch of the temple by the length of one hundred cubits, and the width of one hundred cubits, square: and the altar that was before the temple." But this man who introduced Ezekiel into the inner courtyard, and so to speak, into the Holy of Holies, measured the courtyard itself, in which there were two chambers or treasuries assigned to the guards of the temple or the dwelling places of the altar, and he found it to be two hundred cubits in length and breadth: so that the priests of God who serve in the ministry, who had entered through a narrow and tight path, may have wide walkways and dwell in a perfect and complete number of virtues. And in the very courtyard there was an altar in front of the face of the temple, so that the prayers of the saints never ceased before God.

And it is well said, of myrrh and frankincense. For frankincense according to the law is burned to the Lord in sacrifice. But through myrrh dead bodies are preserved, lest they be corrupted by worms. Therefore they offer a sacrifice of myrrh and frankincense who both afflict the flesh, lest the vices of corruption dominate them, and burn a fragrant offering of their love in the sight of the Lord, and present themselves to God in holy virtues. Whence it is also added there: And of all the powders of the perfumer. The powder of the perfumer is the virtue of one who works well. And it should be noted that the virtues of those who work well are called not spices but powders. For when we do any good deeds, we offer spices. But when we also examine the very good deeds that we do, and by the judgment of examination take care lest anything sinister be in them, we make as it were powder from spices, so that we may burn our prayer more finely to the Lord through discernment and love.

That prayer of the elect was already foreseen when it was said in praise of the bride: "Who is this that ascends through the desert like a column of smoke from the aromatics of myrrh and frankincense, and all the powder of the perfumer?" For the holy Church of the elect, when she raises herself from this world in holy prayers with burning love, ascends through the desert that she abandons. But how she ascends is added: "Like a column of smoke from aromatics." Smoke is born from incense, just as it is said through the Psalmist: "Let my prayer be directed like incense in your sight." Smoke usually draws forth tears. Therefore the smoke from aromatics is the compunction of prayer conceived from the virtues of love. Yet this prayer is called a column of smoke because, while it seeks only heavenly things, it proceeds so directly that it is not at all bent back to seeking earthly and temporal things. And it should be noted that it is called not a rod but a small rod, because sometimes in the ardor of compunction the force of love is of such subtlety that even the mind itself, which when illuminated merited to have it, cannot comprehend it.