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Why does the priest kiss the altar?
The altar represents our Lord, who as we pray in the Preface of Easter V “showed Himself to be the priest, the altar, and the lamb of sacrifice.” Moreover, traditionally relics of the saints are placed in the altar, which themselves make the altar worthy of such veneration. (Note, “the practice of placing under the altar to be dedicated relics of saints, even of non-martyrs, is to be maintained.” #302.)