Q. 1. What is the purpose of the Altar Sanctuary Lamp?

A. 1. The Catholic Church usually has at least one lamp continually burning before the Tabernacle, not only as an ornament of the Altar, but for the purpose of worship. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal in the Catholic Church, for instance, states in # 316: "In accordance with traditional custom, near the Tabernacle a special lamp, fueled by oil or wax, should be kept alight to indicate and honor the presence of Christ." The sanctuary lamp, also called a chancel lamp, is placed before the Tabernacle or aumbry as a sign that the Lord is present.

God told Moses that a lamp filled with the pure oil should perpetually burn in the Tabernacle (Ex 27:20-21). This is the precedent for the Catholic Church's custom of burning a candle (at all times) before the Tabernacle – the gold house where the Eucharistic Body of Christ is reserved under lock and key.

Sanctuary lamps are normally coloured red, though this is not prescribed by law. This serves to distinguish this light from other votive lights within the church.