SANCTUARY UPDATES

The Meaning of Our New Altar

An altar is the central point of every church — the heart of the sanctuary — because it symbolizes Christ Himself and represents both the table of the Last Supper and the altar of sacrifice at Calvary. Every Mass centers on this sacred table, where heaven and earth meet in the mystery of the Eucharist.

Traditionally, an altar is constructed from a single slab of stone and consecrated with a relic of a saint. It is adorned with sacred furnishings — a crucifix, candles, and linen cloths — that reflect reverence and beauty, all pointing to Christ’s presence among His people.

Our new altar, pictured for you, will be made of marble and hand-carved wood with a gilt finish. At its center is an image of the Lamb bearing a cross — the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. The word Sanctus (Latin for “Holy”) is inscribed as a reminder of the hymn we sing at every Mass: “Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts…”

These are the same words shouted by the crowds in Jerusalem as Jesus entered the city on Palm Sunday — words that draw us into the mystery of His Passion, Death, and Resurrection each time we celebrate the Eucharist.

The Relic of St. Candidus

Within this new altar will be placed the relic of St. Candidus, the same relic that rested in our old altar. While little is known about the movement of his relics, historical records tell us that the relics of St. Candidus were enshrined in the Serra Chapel at San Fernando Mission in late 1992. They were originally brought from Rome by Bishop Thaddeus Amat, the first Bishop of Monterey-Los Angeles, around January 1868.

Upon his return from the Eternal City, Bishop Amat entrusted the relics to the Lazarist Fathers of St. Vincent’s College in Los Angeles, likely removing a small portion of bone to be placed in local altar stones. Since the 1860s, it is estimated that over 90% of altar stones in Southern California contain relics of St. Candidus — a humble but powerful reminder of our connection to the communion of saints and the early Church.

The relic is placed within an altar stone engraved with five crosses — one in the center and one at each corner — representing the five wounds of Christ.

Why the Priest Kisses the Altar

You may have noticed that priests and deacons kiss the altar at the beginning and end of Mass. This ancient gesture expresses love, reverence, and union with Christ, whose sacrifice the altar represents, and honors the saints whose relics lie within it. Every kiss upon the altar is a sign of the Church’s devotion to her Lord, who offered Himself once and for all for our salvation.

As we await the consecration of our new altar, may this moment deepen our appreciation for the sacredness of the Eucharist and renew our love for the mystery we celebrate: Christ our Priest, our Victim, and our Altar.

As the altar is the table of sacrifice, where Christ’s Body and Blood are offered, the ambo is the table of the Word, where Christ speaks to His people through Scripture. The homily and prayer of the faithful are also read at the ambo. The ambo is it be a permanent and dignified place that reflects the importance of the Word of God in the liturgy. It is not just a microphone stand or a reading podium. It is to be reserved for sacred use.

As you can see, our new ambo, will visually complement the altar, which helps symbolize the unity between the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

The word ambo comes from the Greek word “anabainein”, meaning “to go up”—because the reader would step up to proclaim God’s Word to the people.

On our new ambo will also be made up of marble and hand carved wood, gilt finished containing the image of an Eagle, Lion, Ox, and The Winged Man (or Angel). Each animal represents one of the four evangelists.

• John—The Eagle: An eagle soars high into heaven, symbolizing the divine nature of Christ and John’s Gospel, which begins with the eternal Word: “In the beginning was the Word…”. The eagle represents lofty theology and spiritual vision—John’s Gospel takes us closest to the mystery of the divinity of Jesus.

• Mark—The Lion: The lion symbolizes courage and royalty, and Mark’s Gospel begins with John the Baptist’s voice crying out in the wilderness—like a lion’s roar. It represents Christ the King and His resurrection power, since lions were thought to sleep with their eyes open, a symbol of vigilance and new life.

• Luke—The Ox: The ox is a sacrificial animal, symbolizing Christ’s priesthood and sacrifice. Luke’s Gospel begins with the priest Zechariah offering sacrifice in the Temple, and throughout the Gospel, Luke emphasizes mercy, sacrifice, and the universality of salvation.

• Matthew—Winged Man: Matthew’s Gospel opens with the genealogy of Jesus, emphasizing His humanity. The human (or angel) symbolizes Christ’s. Incarnation—God made man—and also the call for us to live with reason and holiness.