Catholic Dictionary

Find accurate definitions of over 5,000 Catholic terms and phrases (including abbreviations). Based on Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

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PORTABLE ALTAR

A movable altar consisting of a solid piece of natural stone, generally of a size large enough to hold the Sacred Host and the greater part of the base of a chalice. It bears on its upper surface five crosses cut into the stone, where the anointings are made when it is liturgically consecrated. Near the edge is a sepulcher or cavity that contains the relics of two martyr-saints, and sealed with a cemented stone lid. Also called an altar stone.