Sarah Mitchell
Altars in Catholic basilicas are dedicated in a specific way. The altar is typically located centrally in the sanctuary and is the focus of attention in the church. In ancient basilicas, the priest would stand at the altar and face the people. The altar is usually made of stone, although other materials such as wood or metal may be used with authorization from the episcopal conference. The number of steps leading up to the altar is typically odd, with the main altar of a church raised above the level of the sanctuary by three steps, while side altars have a single step. Some Catholic basilicas are pilgrimage sites, attracting millions of visitors per year. The dedication of the altar is an important part of the church's consecration, as it is where the Eucharist is celebrated, sanctifying the hearts of those who receive it.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of steps leading up to the altar | The main altar should be raised above the level of the sanctuary by three steps, while side altars have one step. An odd number of steps is always chosen. |
| Altar covering | In basilicas and large churches, the altar is covered by a canopy supported by columns, called a ciborium. |
| Altar material | Altars are typically made of stone, but other materials such as wood or metal may be used if authorized by the episcopal conference. |
| Altar location | The altar is typically located centrally in the sanctuary and is the focus of attention in the church. |
| Altar orientation | Altars are usually placed at the eastern end of the church, so that the priest and congregation face east when facing the altar. |
| Purpose | The altar is used for celebrating the Sacrifice of the Mass and the Eucharist. |
| Rite of dedication | The rite of dedication of the altar and the church emphasizes the celebration of the Eucharist as the principal and most ancient part of the rite. |
| Pilgrimages | Some Catholic basilicas are pilgrimage sites, attracting millions of visitors per year. |
| Basilica designation | Basilicas are designated by the Pope and are distinguished from other churches for ceremonial purposes. |
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Altar materials
The materials used to construct altars in Catholic basilicas have varied over time. While there are no documents indicating the materials used in the first few centuries of Christianity, it is believed that the earliest altars were made of wood and resembled ordinary house tables, similar to the one used by Christ at the Last Supper. This belief is supported by the preservation of a wooden table in the Lateran Basilica and fragments of another in the church of St. Pudentiana, where St. Peter is said to have celebrated Mass. During periods of persecution when Christians were forced to worship in secret locations, portable wooden altars may have been used out of necessity.
In the fourth century, St. Gregory of Nyssa mentioned the consecration of an altar made of stone. Over time, stone became the preferred material for altars due to its durability and the expense of precious metals. Stone altars, often made of marble, were considered more substantial and better suited for the celebration of Mass.
In the Eastern Catholic Churches, the use of stone, wood, or metal is permitted for altars. Movable altars may be constructed from any solid material suitable for liturgical use, allowing for flexibility in different regions.
The number of steps leading up to the altar also holds significance. In Catholic basilicas, the main altar is typically raised above the sanctuary by three steps, while side altars have a single step. The papal altar in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican is approached by seven steps, following the tradition of using an odd number of steps to ensure the priest ascends with their right foot first.
The altars in Catholic basilicas are often adorned with precious materials and relics. Majesty images, made of gold or other precious substances, depict the holy figures whose relics are contained within the altar. The tradition of placing relics of martyrs or saints under a fixed altar is considered sacred, with the relics enclosed in a cavity within the altar's tabletop, which is typically made of a single piece of natural stone.
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Altar steps
The altar in a Catholic Church is used for celebrating the Sacrifice of the Mass and is typically located centrally in the sanctuary. In ancient churches, the altar is built over the tomb of a saint or relics, and a niche below the altar allows the faithful to touch the tomb or relics. This niche is known as the confessio, and it is approached by descending steps, as the floor is usually higher than the original basilica. For example, the Niche of the Palliums in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican is approached by descending steps.
The main altar of a church is usually raised above the level of the sanctuary by three steps, while side altars have a single step. The number of steps leading to the altar was increased when the tabernacle was introduced. An odd number of steps is always chosen as it was considered proper to use the right foot when taking the first step. This meant that the priest, having ascended the first step with their right foot, would also enter the predella (the platform on which the altar stood) with their right foot.
The papal altar in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican is approached by seven steps. The altar in the Constantinian St. Peter's Basilica was originally located at the west end, with the priest standing on the western side of the altar, facing east towards the people and the doors of the church. However, in the 8th or 9th century, the common practice in western Europe became for the priest to stand at the western side of the altar with their back to the people and the doors.
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Papal altars
The altar in a Catholic Church is used for celebrating the Sacrifice of the Mass. It is usually located centrally in the sanctuary and is the focus of attention in the church. The priest first reverences the altar with a kiss at the beginning of the Roman Rite of Mass. The altar is typically raised above the level of the sanctuary by three steps, while side altars have a single step. An odd number of steps is always chosen so that the priest can ascend the first step with their right foot, in keeping with tradition.
- Archbasilica of St. John Lateran
- St. Peter's Basilica
- Basilica of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls
- Basilica of St. Mary Major
St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican is a major pilgrimage site, built over the burial place of St. Peter. The papal altar here is approached by seven steps. The high altar is marked by St. Peter's Baldachin, a large Baroque bronze canopy designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. It was commissioned by Pope Urban VIII and acts as a visual focus within the basilica.
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Ancient basilicas
In ancient Rome, the word "basilica" referred to a large public building with multiple functions, typically built alongside the town's forum. It was a covered public hall used for diverse purposes, including judicial, administrative, commercial, and official Roman meetings. The first known basilica was the Basilica Porcia in the Roman Forum, constructed in 184 BC by Marcus Porcius Cato (the Elder). The term later came to be applied to any large covered hall, whether used for domestic purposes, commercial spaces, military structures, or religious buildings.
The basilicas of the Roman Empire were typically law courts or meeting places. They were generally spacious, with the interior area separated by two or four rows of pillars, forming a central nave and side aisles. The end opposite the entrance had a semi-circular shape called the apse, where the judge and assessors sat, and in front of which stood an altar for sacrifices.
The form of the ancient basilicas was later adopted by Christians for their churches. The basilicas built by Emperor Constantine the Great in the 4th century AD, including St. Peter's, are an example of this. He added a transept, a lateral aisle crossing the nave before the apse, creating the cross-shaped plan that became standard for churches in Western Europe during the Middle Ages. The word "basilica" was later used to refer specifically to Catholic church buildings with a designation given by the Pope, distinguishing them for ceremonial purposes from other churches.
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Basilica pilgrimage sites
In the Catholic Church, the altar is a central point of attention in the church, used for celebrating the Sacrifice of the Mass. Altars are typically made of stone, though wood and metal are also permitted. The papal altar in St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican is approached by seven steps, and the main altar of a church is usually raised above the level of the sanctuary by three steps.
Basilicas are Catholic church buildings that have a special designation given by the Pope. They are either major basilicas, of which there are four, all in the Diocese of Rome, or minor basilicas, of which there were 1,924 worldwide as of 2023. Many basilicas are notable pilgrimage sites, often built above a confessio or the burial place of a martyr.
Some examples of Basilica pilgrimage sites include:
- St. Peter's Basilica, also known as the Vatican Basilica, is a major pilgrimage site built over the burial place of Peter the Apostle.
- St. John Lateran, also known as the Lateran Basilica, is the only church known as an archbasilica and is considered the Mother Church of the world.
- St. Paul Outside the Walls, also known as the Ostian Basilica, is built over the burial place of Paul the Apostle.
- St. Mary Major, also known as the Liberian Basilica, is the largest church in Rome dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
- Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City was considered the most visited Catholic shrine in the world in 1999.
- Knock Shrine and St Patrick's Purgatory (Lough Derg) are two pilgrimage basilicas in Ireland.
- The Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes and Our Lady of Fatima are pilgrimage basilicas that attract over 30 million pilgrims per year.
In the United States, bishops may designate churches, cathedrals, shrines, monasteries, or other religious locations as "jubilee pilgrimage sites." Some examples of US jubilee pilgrimage sites include:
- Sacred Heart, one of six jubilee pilgrimage sites in the Diocese of St. Petersburg.
- The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in the Archdiocese of St. Louis.
- Graymoor, designated as one of eight jubilee pilgrimage sites in the archdiocese of New York.
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Frequently asked questions
Altars in Catholic basilicas are traditionally made of stone, though wood or metal are also permitted in Eastern Catholic Churches. In the first centuries of Christianity, it is probable that they were made of wood, like the table used by Christ at the Last Supper.
The altar in the Catholic Church is used for celebrating the Sacrifice of the Mass. It is typically located centrally in the sanctuary and is the focus of attention in the church. The priest first reverences the altar with a kiss before presiding over the Introductory Rites and the Liturgy of the Word.
Altars in Catholic basilicas are traditionally placed at the eastern end of the church, so that the priest and the faithful face east as they face the altar. This practice became the norm almost immediately, enabling the priest and the faithful to face both the altar and the east during the Canon.
The main altar of a church is typically raised above the level of the sanctuary by three steps, while side altars have a single step. An odd number of steps is always chosen so that the priest, ascending the first step with their right foot, will also enter the predella with their right foot.
