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Hostia

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

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1910 New Catholic Dictionary
• O Salutaris Hostia
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McClintock and Strong's Bible Encyclopedia
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an animal among the ancient Romans which was destined for sacrifice. Sometimes the whole victim was consumed upon the altar, and at other times only the legs and intestines were burned. It was the smoke ascending from the sacrifice that was considered pleasing to the gods, hence the more numerous the animals the more pleasing the sacrifice. This was, no doubt, the reason for offering a hecatomb. The animal selected for sacrifice must be free from all blemishes and diseases. ' If it was of the larger sort of beasts the horns were marked with gold; if of the smaller sort it was crowned with the leaves of that tree which the deity for whom the sacrifice was designed was thought most to delight in.