As a young boy growing up in a Catholic Church, I was always amazed at the different colored vestments that the Catholic Priest would wear. I grew even more amazed when I was asked to become an Alter Boy. The old Priest that I use to serve Mass for had a closet that was full of all types of colors. However, there were some that he would put on everyday. Then for different parts of the church season, he would change to something else. It appeared that each part of the Church year would bring out a different colored vestment.
Finally, I got up the nerve to ask him the significance of the colors and he old me. He said first all religions are different in some aspects of what type of garments they wear and when. However, he said that most colors were pretty much the same throughout the different Christan denominations. So I have decided to share their meaning with you the reader.
Green; Is usually worn during ordinary time. Which , by the way, is the largest time of the church calender. It signifies new growth. Like that of a vineyard. It also stands for hope.
White; Signifies purity, light, resurrection, brightness, and rejoicing. It is used for Christmas, Easter, Weddings, and Baptisms. For Catholics, since Vatican II white is worn for funerals. It is suggestive of resurrection (life after death).
Gold; Can also be used for Christmas and Easter. It can also be used for a festive time of that particular church, such as the founding day.
Silver; Can be used like gold is for the same reasons. However, you very seldom see it used.
Red; Stands for Pentecost or for a certain martyr or the Passion of the Lord. It basically stands for blood. It is also worn to celebrate the feast of an Apostle.
Purple;(Violet) Is like a dark shade. It is worn during Advent and Lent. It stands for great solemnity, with connotations for both royal dignity and penance. It might also be worn in Offices or Masses of the dead.
Black; Is hardly ever used any more. It is usually worn on Good Friday and Funerals. It can also be worn on All Souls Day. It stands for no light and darkness.
Rose; Is worn on the third Sundays in Advent and Lent. Advent and Lent is a period of time that leads up to Christmas and Easter. The color is associated with that of rejoicing, too. It is used to focus on the seasons at the time.
Color is also seen in The Advent Wreath. There are three purple candles and one rose colored one. A white candle usually sits at the center of the wreath. The rose candle is lit on Gaudete Sunday (the third Sunday of Advent).
Blue: Some churches have considered the possibility of using blue during Advent. The Catholic Church doesn’t accept the color blue in it’s vestments except for maybe as a decorative color to one of the major colors that is dominate.
A combination of colors is allowed to help adorn the dominate color of the time period. However, it is important that the dominate color stands out.
Many churches follow this same color code of the Roman Catholic Church. The main reason being is this is what has been used for years. However, denominations are different. Many try to accent with White. As I stated earlier, white stands for purity and light.
So now when you go into a church during a particular time of the church year, you have an understanding of the color scheme.
One other thing about vestments. They do not only apply to what the minister wears. They can also apply to alter and pulpit adornment.
sources; www.adoremus.org/color-lent.html
