In many churches the Blessed Sacrament, the consecrated Bread of the Eucharist, is continually reserved, making these places not only the Lord’s own House but also the very gate of Heaven.  For where the Blessed Sacrament is, there is Our Blessed Lord in his Ascended and Glorified Body.

The Blessed Sacrament is kept in a safe.  When the safe is on the altar it is called a tabernacle; when it is in the wall near the altar it is called an aumbry.  A white light burns close to the tabernacle or aumbry as a perpetual sign of Our Lord’s Presence there and we genuflect as we pass by to express our adoration and love for him.

And of this holy place, it may truly be said, in the words of Holy Scripture, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God” (Revelation 21:3).  And here we can come close to Our Lord and pray to him and give ourselves to him and adore him.