4 Symbolic ways to describe the altar at Mass

The altar inside every Catholic church has layers of spiritual meaning that can help us understand what takes place at Mass.

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Every Catholic church has an altar placed inside it as an essential element of the celebration of the Mass.

No matter how the specific altar was made, or how it looks, a Catholic altar has many layers of symbolism.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church offers very brief descriptions of the altar that point to its symbolic meaning:

1
The Lord’s Cross

The altar of the New Covenant is the Lord’s Cross, from which the sacraments of the Paschal mystery flow.
CCC 1182

On the altar, which is the center of the church, the sacrifice of the Cross is made present under sacramental signs.
CCC 1182

The altar is also the table of the Lord, to which the People of God are invited.
CCC 1182

In certain Eastern liturgies, the altar is also the symbol of the tomb (Christ truly died and is truly risen).
CCC 1182