Altar
This word comes front the Hebrew, meaning "place of sacrifice." The Christian altar is a table on which the sacrifice of the Mass is offered. It is the center of dignity and importance in the church building. In the early days of the Church, the Holv Eucharist was celebrated, in a home or any private place, on a table. Pictures in the catacombs show these tables to be of a variety of shapes, round,
square, or semicircular, but now the essential feature is a stone slab (but it may be of other material considered worthy), and from this is derived the name "altar stone." It may or may not contain relics within it. This idea of a stone with relics follows from the early practice of celebrating Mass on or near the tombs of martyrs in the catacombs (cf. cc. 932 and 1235). There are two kinds of altars. The fixed altar, a table (the mensa) with a support or base (the stipes), is consecrated
as a unit. The portable altar, a smaller stone, incised like the fixed with five crosses at the corners and center, is consecrated alone or apart from its support. Also permitted is a compromise between the two types, made up of a wood or stone permanent structure into the top of which a consecrated stone or portable altar is inserted in the sepulcher (sepulchrum), a small, square cavity in the top of the mensa.
In the new general instructions of the Sacramentary the following is most current: "The altar, where the sacrifice of the cross is made present under sacramental signs, is also the table of the Lord. The people of God are called together to share in this table. Thus the altar is the center of the thanksgiving accomplished in the Eucharist.
An altar stone, containing relics of saints is no longer a requisite since promulgation of new regulations, April 6; 1969, in Institutio Generalis Missalis Romani.
"In a sacred place the Eucharist should be celebrated on an altar. either fixed or movable. In other places, especially where the Eucharist is not regularly celebrated, a suitable table may be used, but always with a cloth and corporal.
"An altar is considered fixed if it is attached to the floor so that it cannot be moved. It is a movable altar if it can be transferred from place to place.
"The main altar should be freestanding so that the ministers can easily walk around it and Mass can be celebrated facing the people. It should be placed in a central position which draws the attention of the whole congregation. The main altar should ordinarily be a fixed, consecrated altar.
"According to the traditional practice of the Church and the meaning of an altar, the table of a fixed altar should be of natural stone, but any solid, becoming, and skillfully constructed material may be used with the approval of the conference of bishops.
"The support or base of the table may be of any solid, becoming material.
"A movable altar may be constructed of any solid, becoming material which is suited to liturgical use, according to the traditions and culture of different regions.
"Fixed altars are consecrated according to the rite of the Roman Pontifical; movable altars may be simply blessed. It is not necessary to have a consecrated stone in a movable altar or on the table where the Eucharist is celebrated outside a sacred place.
"It is fitting to maintain the practice of enclosing relics in the altar or of placing them under the altar. These relics need not be those of martyrs, but there must be proof that they are authentic.
"Minor altars should be few in number. In new churches they should be placed in chapels somewhat separated front the nave."