The Altar as Absolute Centre: The Expression of the Love of the People of God in the Altar Kiss

In the church, in the sacred space of the encounter with God, the altar is the absolute focal point, the axis mundi. The altar stands at the centre of the celebration of the Eucharist, itself the heart of the community of believers. The altar embodies Christ and points to his redemptive sacrifice. The study focuses on the centrality of the altar, highlighting a single gesture: the kiss of the altar. This expresses the love of the Church for Jesus. It is a greeting and a sign of love for Christ, a manifestation of reverence, an expression of thanksgiving for the mystery of redemption. It is the kiss of the Church, the bride, to the Bridegroom, Christ. The gesture also reveals the deep and intimate connection of the priest with the sacrifice of Christ. It shows the participation of the person as a whole, body and heart, in the liturgical action.