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Know Your Faith

The Tabernacle and the Sanctuary Light in Our Catholic Churches Remind Us that Jesus Remains in Our Midst Forever

When we enter a Catholic Church we find a Tabernacle near the altar or in a side chapel. Next to it we notice a light (usually red) which burns day and night. We call it the “sanctuary light.” Our question is: “What is the Tabernacle? Why does a light burn day and night?”
In the time of Moses the “Tabernacle” was a tent where the people of Israel met their God.

Tabernacle means Tent

The Tabernacle in our Catholic Churches reminds us of the tent, which Moses pitched for the people of Israel during their long journey through the desert. It was a place of meeting the Lord. Anyone who wished to consult the Lord would go to this meeting tent (Ex 33:7-10).
While Moses was speaking to the Lord in the tent face – to – face, a column of cloud would remain at its entrance. Then everybody knew God was present. Our “tent” today in the Catholic Church is the Tabernacle where we meet Christ.

The Blessed Sacrament is reposed in the Tabernacle

At Holy Mass the priest gives Holy Communion to the faithful and says: “The Body of Christ.” The faithful answer: “Amen,” which means: “Yes, I really believe that this holy bread is the Body of Christ.”
After the faithful have received Holy Communion, the priest places the rest of the Holy Bread (also called “hosts”) in the Tabernacle near the Altar. He does not bring it back to the sacristy and put it into a cardboard box. Never!
He puts the Holy Bread which is left, in the beautiful “Tabernacle” because it is not ordinary bread any more. On the Altar, during Holy Mass, this bread was changed by Christ whom the priest is allowed to represent.
Only at Holy Mass, celebrated by an ordained priest, can ordinary bread become the “Body of Christ” which we call “Holy Communion” or “The Blessed Sacrament of the Altar.” The reason for keeping the consecrated hosts in the Tabernacle was originally so that those who could not be present at the Eucharist, the sick and disabled, could also take part in the celebration by receiving the Blessed Sacrament at home.
The Tabernacle in our Catholic churches is our “tent” today where we can meet the Son of God, Christ and rejoice in his presence. The Blessed Sacrament in the Tabernacle is a concrete and visible sign that Jesus lives among us until the end of time. The Blessed Sacrament is the greatest treasure of our wonderful Catholic Church.
It is our Catholic custom to visit the church during the day and kneel down before the Blessed Sacrament in the Tabernacle, consulting Jesus, talking with him, thanking him, and praising him: “Here I am Lord, lead me.”

The Sanctuary Lamp reminds us that the Blessed Sacrament is present in the Tabernacle

As mentioned already, a light burns near the Tabernacle in our Catholic Churches day and night. Usually the lampshade of this light is red. We call it “Sanctuary Light” or “Sanctuary Lamp.”
When we Catholics see such a sanctuary light in a church, we know that Jesus is present in the Tabernacle under the form of Holy Bread. We call this Holy Bread “The Blessed Sacrament of the Altar.”

We genuflect or bow down deeply before the Tabernacle

It is our Catholic custom to genuflect before the Tabernacle or bow down deeply before it, praying silently: “I greet you, Lord. I adore you” or “My Lord and my God.”
By genuflecting or bowing down deeply we adore Jesus in the Tabernacle. At the same time we make ourselves small before God and ask him to pick us up and draw us to himself as a mother picks up her child.

Holy Communion for the Sick is taken from the Tabernacle

When a Catholic lies sick at home or in hospital, he or she asks the priest or a community leader to bring him or her “Holy Communion.” The priest or community leader will reverently take the Blessed Sacrament from the Tabernacle and will bring it to the sick person. By receiving Holy Communion at home or in hospital, the sick person can also take part in the celebration of Sunday Mass.
Indeed, the Tabernacle in our Catholic churches is the tent of God where we can meet his son Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. The sanctuary light is like the column of cloud at the entrance of the tent of Moses telling all people: “God is close, he walks with us, he stays with us, and he loves us.”

Taken from

Our Joy in Being Catholic

By Oswald Hirmer

Paulines Publications Africa