Altar
Dedication
In
the
prayers
for
the
altar's
dedication,
the
Archbishop
anoints
the
altar
with
Chrism
(sacred
oil)
as
a
memorial
of
Jesus
Christ
who
is
the
"Anointed
One"
above
all
others,
and
whose
path
believers
follow
when
they
are
anointed
in
Baptism.
After
the
altar
is
first
formally
anointed,
priests
take
Chrism
from
the
Archbishop
and
anoint
the
walls
of
the
Cathedral
in
several
places.
The
power
of
the
anointed
altar
extends
now
to
the
walls
of
the
Cathedral
Church,
creating
a
spiritual
linkage
between
the
altar
and
the
rest
of
the
Cathedral
structure.
Incense
is
then
burned
on
the
altar
to
signify
the
sacrifice
of
Christ,
together
with
the
prayers
and
pleas
of
the
assembly
that
will
rise
from
the
Table
of
the
Lord.
After
incensing
the
newly
anointed
altar,
other
ministers
go
forward
to
incense
the
walls
of
the
Cathedral
Church,
along
with
the
assembly
gathered
in
prayer
and
worship.
Once
again,
the
special
power
of
the
altar
goes
forth
to
fill
the
rest
of
the
new
Cathedral
and
its
people
with
the
sweet-smelling
smoke
that
represents
our
prayers
rising
to
God.
The
altar
is
covered
for
the
first
time
with
white
linens,
and
candles
are
lighted
to
show
how
Christ
the
Light
radiates
from
the
altar
to
all
peoples.
Once
the
candles
near
the
altar
are
lighted,
ministers
take
lighted
tapers
throughout
the
Cathedral
Church
and
light
the
various
other
clusters
of
candles,
especially
the
dedication
candles
affixed
to
the
places
where
the
walls
have
been
anointed.
Radiating
from
the
altar,
the
entire
Cathedral
Church
and
the
space
of
the
assembly
is
anointed,
incensed
and
lighted.
Thus,
the
altar
is
perceived
and
understood
in
the
power
of
its
symbolism
filling
the
entire
Cathedral
with
the
graces
of
the
Paschal
Mystery
of
the
Risen
Lord.
