Red Candle and the Presence

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Ruth_Catherine

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Hi,

I am new here. I have also recently returned to the Catholic Church.
I am not sure if this is where I should post this or not but here is my question.

I read not too long ago that when you enter the Church you are to genuflect because Jesus is present in the tabernacle. I, also, read that when the red candle is lit, it is a sign or a reminder that he is there.

I think genuflecting doesn’t seem to be happening too much anymore but that is probably another post.

My question is, does a white candle burning mean the same thing. Sometimes I go in and I look around to locate the red candle and I don’t see it. At times I see a white candle. Does it mean the same thing?

One reason I am asking is because a church not too far from me doesn’t keep the Presence in the tablernacle of the main church it is kept in a side chapel. When that happens the red candle is not lit and I know Jesus is not in the tabernacle but in some churches I see white candles instead of red.

Anyone know?
 
My understanding is that if there is no red candle lit next to the tabernacle (and people are following the rules) then the Presence is not there and there is no need to genuflect.

I have not heard of (or seen) a white candle being used instead, but if there is one where I would expect the red candle to be and there is no red candle at all (lit or unlit), then I might genuflect and trust that God understands it was directed at Him. (This is based on uniformed guesswork on my part, if there is an actual rule covering uncertainty, it should be followed. It might also be better to not genuflect under the assumption that the red candle thing is being followed, and, if you’re mistaken, trust that God understands you would do so if His Presence was indicated, I don’t know.)
 
The color of the candle does not matter. Many of the churches I frequent have white candles in the sanctuary lamp. Many others have red.

Good for you for being thoughtful about genuflecting. Some people just do it mindlessly when they enter the pew. It’s so much better to find the tabernacle and greet the Lord purposefully.

Welcome home!
 
Ruth_Catherine said:
Hi,

I am new here. I have also recently returned to the Catholic Church.
I am not sure if this is where I should post this or not but here is my question.

I read not too long ago that when you enter the Church you are to genuflect because Jesus is present in the tabernacle. I, also, read that when the red candle is lit, it is a sign or a reminder that he is there.

I think genuflecting doesn’t seem to be happening too much anymore but that is probably another post.

My question is, does a white candle burning mean the same thing. Sometimes I go in and I look around to locate the red candle and I don’t see it. At times I see a white candle. Does it mean the same thing?

One reason I am asking is because a church not too far from me doesn’t keep the Presence in the tablernacle of the main church it is kept in a side chapel. When that happens the red candle is not lit and I know Jesus is not in the tabernacle but in some churches I see white candles instead of red.

Anyone know?
Click to expand...
I don’t think the color of the candle matters, as long as there is a light there. The parish I attend only rescently got a candle, thedy used to have a light next to the tabernacle.

But I don’t know, I genuflect whether there there’s a light or candle there or not
 
Forgive me if I mess this up. I’m pretty new to Catholicism, but I’ve heard that the other candles can indicate that a bishop is present.

Please correct me if I’m wrong.👍
 
Ruth_Catherine said:
Hi,

My question is, does a white candle burning mean the same thing. Sometimes I go in and I look around to locate the red candle and I don’t see it. At times I see a white candle. Does it mean the same thing?
Anyone know?
Click to expand...
Welcome Home Ruth, and to CAF.

Yes. While red is considered the traditional color of a sanctuary lamp, there is no liturgical law regulating the lamp color. What is required is that the lamp be near the tabernacle “fueled by oil or wax, and should be kept alight to indicate and honor the presence of Christ” (General Instruction of the Roman Missal 316).

God Bless
onenow1 🙂
 
An extra candle may burn on or near the altar for a bishop celebrating Mass, but that is completely separate from the sanctuary lamp, which is a glass-enclosed candle (glass color does does matter) that denotes the Real Presence of the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle.

Though no longer required, a veiled tabernacle is also understood to contain the Blessed Sacrament.
 
In the pre-Vatican II days, I went into churches where the holder of the candle was blue, green clear or red. The candle itself is NOT red, the glass of the holder is red.

The color does not matter at all. The lit candle signifies the presence.
 
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