What is that red light above the Altar?

The Sanctus Light, or Presence Lamp, is a light that burns when there is any "reserved sacrament" near the altar in the Tabernacle (a container near the Altar). The light goes out on Maundy Thursday as there is no reserved Sacrament in the Taburnacle.

The Reserved Sacrament is any host which has been blessed, but not consumed, at Holy Eucharist. The term 'host' is from the Latin hostia which means victim.

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