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Altar Stone (Or Slab) that stone which should be without spot or blemish, and consequently entire, which forms the upper and chief part of a Christian altar. In the Church of England, the law requires that the lower portion of the altar be of wood. At Westminster Abbey, and in hundreds of other churches, the … Continue reading “Altar Stone (Or Slab)”

altar stone (portable altar) A small, flat slab of natural stone, consecrated ordinarily by a bishop , containing in a stone-covered cavity relics of two canonized martyrs , inserted in the center of the table of an altar which is not entirely consecrated. The host and chalice are placed on this stone during the Sacrifice … Continue reading “Altar Stone”

altar stole An ornament shaped as the ends of a stole and fastened to the front of the altar in the Middle Ages. Fuente: New Catholic Dictionary Altar Stole An ornament, having the shape of the ends of a stole, which in the Middle Ages was attached to the front of the altar. ———————————– A.J. … Continue reading “Altar-Stole”

altar steps Of wood, stone, or brick, extend around the altar on three sides. There are three, five, or seven at the high altar, while side altars must have at least one. Fuente: New Catholic Dictionary Altar Steps In the beginning altars were not erected on steps. Those in the catacombs were constructed on the … Continue reading “Altar-Steps”

altar societies (tabernacle societies) Groups of devout persons, usually women, who make vestments and altar linens and keep them in repair, and provide altar vessels, furniture, and ornaments. Many of these societies give the fruit of their labors to missionary and poor churches. Fuente: New Catholic Dictionary

altar side That part of the altar facing the congregation. The Epistle side of the altar is termed the left, and the Gospel, the right, with reference to the altar crucifix . Fuente: New Catholic Dictionary Altar Side That part of the altar which faced the congregation, in contradistinction to the side at which the … Continue reading “Altar-Side”

altar screen Originally a piece of ornamental precious cloth suspended above the altar at the rear and known as the dossel or dorsal. A permanent or movable structure of metal, stone, or wood was later introduced instead of the cloth; the side facing the church is called the retable; the reverse, the counterretable. When richly … Continue reading “Altar-Screen”

Altar-Rails The part of the church where the communion-table or altar stood in the ancient churches was divided from the rest of the church by rails. Eusebius says the rails were of wood, curiously and artificially wrought in the form of net-work, to make the enclosure inaccessible to the multitude. These the Latins called cancelli, … Continue reading “Altar-Rails”

altar rail (communion rail) A rail separating the sanctuary from the body of the church. It is of carved wood, metal, marble, or other precious material, about two and a half feet high. Fuente: New Catholic Dictionary Altar Rail The railing which guards the sanctuary and separates the latter from the body of the church. … Continue reading “Altar Rail”

altar protector (altar-cover, vespebale, or stragulum) A cover of cloth, baize, or velvet, of any color, though usually green or red, used on the altar outside the time of sacred functions, to prevent staining or soiling of the altar-cloth. Fuente: New Catholic Dictionary Altar Protector A cover made of cloth, baize or velvet which is … Continue reading “Altar-Protector”