The Tabernacle is a sacred religious vessel or chest that typically rests at the center back portion of each altar table. Normally fabricated to resemble a miniature church, it is oftentimes constructed of gold or silver-plated metal (although I have seen some which are made out of wood) and is also often encased under glass to help protect it from dust and changes in humidity. Its main liturgical function is as a receptacle to house the reserve sacrament for when the priest must commune the sick or dying.
Besides housing the reserve sacrament, Holy Chrism and other sacred items, such as relics, may also reside within the Tabernacle
Interestingly enough, the word itself derives from the Latin word, tabernaculum, which meant a tent or structure where religious rituals were held. This is reminiscent of the tent-like structure Moses and the Hebrews worshiped in during their forty-year sojourn in the desert, which they referred to as the mishkin or “dwelling place” of God’s presence. (a detailed description of this structure can be found in the Book of Exodus chapter 25-31 and 35-40).
