27. Or, again, by this stone itself is understood Christ, of Whom the Apostle saith, 'Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner-stone.' [Footnote 453] By the stone indeed the humanity of Christ is denoted. Concerning which we read in Daniel that a stone was cut out of the rock without hands--because Christ was born of the Blessed Virgin (who for the excellency of her virtues is called a Mountain), without human agency--and, becoming a huge mountain, filled the whole earth. Concerning which it is said also by the Psalmist, 'The stone which the builders refused hath become the head stone of the corner:' [Footnote 454] since Christ--Whom the builders, that is the Jews, refused, saying, 'We will not have this man to reign over us' [Footnote 455] --hath been made the head of the corner. Because as saith the Apostle, 'God hath exalted Him, and given Him,' [Footnote 456] etc. Or else by this stone, which ought to be great and wide, charity is understood, as was stated before; since the command of charity is wide, extending even unto our enemies; according to that precept of our Lord, 'Love your enemies.' [Footnote 457] [Footnote 453: Ephesians ii, 20.] [Footnote 454: Psalm cxviii (_Confitemini Domino_), 22.] [Footnote 455: S. Luke xix, 14.] [Footnote 456: Philippians ii. 10.] [Footnote 457: S. Matthew v, 44.] {126} 28. Altars therefore, unless they be of stone, are not anointed, because Christ signified by the altar is the Stone growing into a mountain: as it is said, The mountain itself is fat, 'being anointed with the oil of gladness, above his fellows.' [Footnote 458] Nevertheless we read in Exodus that the Lord ordered the altars to be made of shittim wood, which does not decay; [Footnote 459] and the Latern altar is of wood. Solomon also made an altar of gold, as we read in the eighth chapter of the third book of Kings: but these things were done for a type. [Footnote 460] And in the county of Province, in the castle of S. Mary by the Sea, there is also an altar of earth, which Mary Magdalene, and Martha and Mary the mother of James, and Mary the mother of Salome, made there. [Footnote 461] After this, the altar having been sprinkled and baptised with water, it remaineth for it to be anointed with oil and chrism. The bishop then poureth over it oil and chrism, and chanteth, 'Jacob set up the stone for a memorial, and poured oil upon it.' [Footnote 462] For that church hath been the memorial of other churches; 'For the law hath gone out from Sion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.' [Footnote 463] [Footnote 458: Psalm xlv (_Eructavit cor meum_), 8.] [Footnote 459: Exodus xxvii, I, etc.]