Altar stone

However, a preference for more durable materials led to church enactments in the West against wooden altars, but not in the East.

[2] Before the Second Vatican Council, Latin Church priests could lawfully celebrate Mass only on a properly consecrated altar.

If contact was later broken even only momentarily (for instance, if the top was lifted off for some reason), the altar lost its consecration.

Obviously, these regulations would have made it impossible to celebrate Mass anywhere but inside of a Roman Catholic church.

Cardinals and bishops normally had such rights under canon law, but other priests had to be given specific permission—this was, however, easily and widely obtained.