Tag: church

I’m pretty sure no one every told me what the little red light next to the altar meant.  As much as my Dad loved talking about our faith, I don’t think that ever come up.  

Somewhere along the line,  I learned that when you go to church before you go into your pew. You genuflect. Bend the right knee and bless yourself.  I kind of thought it was a sign of respect or tradition. 

Then, as an adult I really read into the history and set up of the church and specifically the altar. That’s when it came together for me. 

You see, when that little red light is on next to the altar, it means the Holy Eucharist is present in the tabernacle. 

Now maybe, and I hope, all of you know, and recognize this, but to me it was an epiphany. I connected the dots. 

That little red light meant the Jesus was there. Fully present, body, blood, soul and divinity. He was there in that golden tabernacle.  

And for the first time in my life, I realized that my simple acknowledgment of that incredible supernatural fact was to genuflect. 

So to this day when I walk into a church I look for the little red light.  And when I see it, I will genuflect as I enter and exit the pew. When I enter the pew my thought usually is as I try to look at the tabarnacle. ” I’m here, Lord”. And most time when I’m leaving,  I usually think as I look at the tabernacle “Thank you”

Every once in a while, especially if your visiting a church during the week or many churches in Europe that attract tourists there is no light on. For me it almost a little disappointing. It almost a great expectation whenever I walk into a church. 

I’m always looking for that little red light.