Title XI: Of Altars

§ 1. In the liturgical sense there is understood:

1° By the name of immovable or fixed altar, the upper table together with the supports consecrated with the same by way of one thing.

2° By the name of movable or portable altar, a stone, for the most part small, which alone is consecrated, and which is also called a portable altar or sacred stone; or the same stone with a support which nevertheless was not consecrated together with the same.

§ 2. In a consecrated church at least one altar, especially the major one, must be immovable; but in a blessed church all altars can be movable.

§ 1. Both the table of an immovable altar and a sacred stone are to consist of one natural stone, whole and not friable.

§ 2. In an immovable altar the stone slab or table must extend to the whole altar and suitably adhere to the support; moreover the support is to be of stone, or at least the sides or small columns by which the table is sustained are to be of stone.

§ 3. The sacred stone is to be so broad that it holds at least the host and the greater part of the chalice.

§ 4. Both in an immovable altar and in a sacred stone there is to be, according to the norm of liturgical laws, a sepulcher containing relics of Saints, closed with stone.

§ 1. In order that the sacrifice of the Mass can be celebrated upon it, an altar must be consecrated according to liturgical laws; that is, either the whole altar, if there is question of an immovable one, or only the portable altar, if of a movable one.

§ 2. All Bishops can consecrate portable altars, with peculiar privileges preserved; but as regards immovable altars, the prescription of can. 1155 is to be observed.

§ 3. The consecration of an immovable altar, which is done without the dedication of a church, although it can be done on any day, nevertheless it is more fitting that it be done on a Sunday or another feast of precept.

§ 1. An immovable altar loses consecration if the slab or table is separated from the support, even for a moment of time; in this case the Ordinary can permit a presbyter to perform again the consecration of the altar with a shorter rite and formula.

§ 2. Both an immovable altar and a sacred stone lose consecration:

1° If they are broken enormously, whether by reason of the quantity of the fracture or by reason of the place of the anointing.

2° If the relics are removed, or the cover of the sepulcher is broken or removed, except in the case in which the Bishop himself or his delegate removes the cover for fastening or repairing or replacing it, or for visiting the relics.

§ 3. A slight fracture of the cover does not induce execration, and any priest can fasten a small crack with cement.

§ 4. The execration of a church does not carry with itself the execration of altars, whether immovable or movable; and vice versa.

§ 1. As a church, so also any altar of a church, at least an immovable one, is to have its own title.

§ 2. The primary title of the major altar must be the same as the title of the church.

§ 3. By permission of the Ordinary, the title of a movable altar can indeed be changed, but not the title of an immovable altar.

§ 4. Altars cannot be dedicated to Blesseds, even in churches and oratories to which their office and Mass have been granted, without an indult of the Apostolic See.

§ 1. An altar, both immovable and movable, must be reserved for divine offices alone and especially for the celebration of Mass, any profane use being entirely excluded.

§ 2. Beneath the altar no corpse is to be hidden; corpses, moreover, which perhaps are buried near the altar are to be distant from it by a space of at least one meter; otherwise it is not lawful to celebrate Mass on the altar until the corpse is removed.