Q: The Order of Dedication of a Church and Altar refers to the relic being placed under the altar.
Your book, Our Church, Our Altar, says the relic is placed into the altar. (So, under the mensa, not under the altar, in the ground/platform?)
How should we read “under” in the ODCA?
Thanks!
==
A: ODCA II:5c says the reliquary is placed “under the table of the altar,” or, in Latin, sub altaris mensa.
So, yes, into the altar, under the mensa—not inside the mensa as in the past, nor in the ground.