Church tabernacle

A tabernacle, also called a sacrament house, is a fixed, locked receptacle, usually located in a church or chapel, in which the Eucharist (consecrated communion hosts) is reserved as part of the practice of keeping the "reserved sacrament". The word tabernacle means "dwelling place", which now refers to the place where "Christ dwells in the Eucharist". A container for the same purpose that is set directly into a wall is called an aumbry and has historically been used in this way in Western churches.

Within Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and some Lutheran and Anglican traditions, the tabernacle functions as a box-like or dome-like vessel used exclusively for the reservation of the consecrated Eucharist. It is ordinarily constructed of solid, non-transparent, durable materials such as metal, stone, or wood, is fitted with a lock, and is required by liturgical and canonical norms to be immovable and secured so as to protect the sacrament from profanation or unauthorized removal. Since these denominations believe the Eucharist contains the real presence of Jesus, they utilize the term tabernacle to signal God's presence among the believers.

The "reserved Eucharist" is secured in the tabernacle for distribution at services and to bring the Holy Communion to the sick. Within the Western Church, it serves as a focal point for reflection, meditation, and prayer. Until the late 20th century, the Christian tabernacle must be covered with a tent-like veil, otherwise known as conopaeum, or have curtains across it when the Eucharist is present within, including the colors white, gold, or the priest's liturgical colors. The purposes of conopaeum is "a sign of the reservation of the Blessed Sacrament as is the lamp which is kept burning before the tabernacle". Although this tradition is no longer required, it continues to be the tradition in many places, especially in traditionalist settings.

Catholics and Orthodox laymen also refer to the Blessed Virgin Mary as the tabernacle in their devotions; the Virgin Mary carried within her the body of Christ. She is commonly known as the "Mother of God" or Theotokos (Eastern) within these communities. She is celebrated with hymns like the Akathist hymn or the Catholic Litanies to Mary.