Are electric sanctuary candles acceptable?
The short answer
No. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal says a special lamp fueled by oil or wax should be kept burning near the tabernacle to indicate and honor Christ's presence.
Not permissible
The General Instruction makes clear that, by traditional custom, a special lamp fueled by oil or wax should be kept alight near the tabernacle to indicate and honor the presence of Christ (GIRM 316). An electric light does not meet this.
Continue exploring
- Can the sanctuary lamp be a color other than red?Q&A
- How necessary is it to keep the sanctuary lamp lit while the Blessed Sacrament is in the tabernacle?Q&A
- Must the tabernacle be in the center of the sanctuary?Q&A
- Are "This is the Body of Christ" and "I believe" acceptable substitutes for "The Body of Christ" and "Amen"?Q&A
- Are Eastern "Masses" valid? Should Catholics receive Communion at them?Q&A
- Are we bound to follow the 2003 General Instruction of the Roman Missal?Q&A