Tuesday, October 30, 2007

This is the altar at St. Josaphat Catholic Church in Detroit, Michigan

THE LITURGICAL FRAMEWORK
Continued . . .

48--What is the altar?

The altar is the stone table on which the Eucharist is offered. It is used for the Sacrifice and for the sacred meal.

There are two kinds of altars--fixed and portable.


Since the altar represents Christ, the altar stone must be a single slab; in order to represent the unity of Christ's person.


The surface of the altar is inscribed with five crosses. In a cavity in the center of the altar stone, called the sepulcher, are placed relics of at least two saints; one of whom must have been a martyr.


The sepulcher also contains three grains of incense.

[From 'Your Mass and Your Life,' to be continued . . .]

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