Bible Encyclopedias
Cardinal Altar

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

means the high or principal altar; and from their attendance upon it two minor canons in some churches were called the senior and junior cardinals. Their duties were to take charge of the choir, to present defaulters to the dean on Fridays, to act as rectors of the choir, to administer the sacraments, enjoin penances, hear confessions, bury the dead, and receive oblations.