Altar Stone
Historically, altars were made with a top of stone. This top had
five crosses carved into it and a place for relics of martyrs to be
entombed. Difficulty in the creation of such altars, led to the creation
of the altar stone. This stone is 10 inches square and embedded in the
top of the altar. This stone also had the five carved crosses and the
relics. When Mass was celebrated outside of a church, a special cloth (antimension)
was used in place of the altar stone. Today, the altar stone is no
longer required. |
