LITURGICAL COLORS OF THE CHURCH Colors change according to the seasons of the Church year and are a primary source of symbolism, and as such tell us much about the lessons we hear during the Liturgy of the Word, which are themed according to the seasons.
There are five basic liturgical colors: Blue, White, Green, Purple, and Red.
BLUE - ADVENT
Blue is the color for Advent, though some churches use purple. Blue is the color of the Blessed Virgin, and Advent is all about Mary as we await with her the arrival of the Incarnate God.
There are five basic liturgical colors: Blue, White, Green, Purple, and Red.
BLUE - ADVENT
Blue is the color for Advent, though some churches use purple. Blue is the color of the Blessed Virgin, and Advent is all about Mary as we await with her the arrival of the Incarnate God.
WHITE - CHRISTMAS AND EASTER
White is the color of both Easter and Christmas (including the Feast of the Epiphany). It is the color of celebration, joy, and peace. With the color gold, white symbolizes the greatest work of God in the world, specifically His incarnation into this world at Christmas, and His triumph over death and evil at Easter. White is the color used for funerals, as they are celebrations of the resurrection. Likewise, it is the color of baptisms and weddings, as we celebrate the arrival of another child of God into his household of faith, and as we celebrate the union of rwo persons into one family in the eyes of God.
GREEN - SUNDAYS AFTER EPIPHANY AND THE SEASON OF PENTECOST
Green is the color of revelatory experience, and so is the color of the feasts that celebrate God’s revelation to mankind: Epiphany and the long season of Sundays after Pentecost. Epiphany, the season after Christmas, celebrates Christ’s revelation as the Incarnate God to the Gentiles, while the Pentecost season celebrates the One Eternal God as revealed in the persons of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Sundays after Pentecost occur within the late spring and summer months, when we see the natural world grow green with leaves, vines, and crops. Therefore, green symbolizes our own spiritual growth in Christ.
PURPLE - LENT
Purple is the color of humility, penance, and wisdom that comes from inward discernment. It is also the color of royalty. The extreme differences between the two (humility and royalty) express one of the great lessons of Lent: Christ as the servant-king and our endurance to be such to the world as well. Purple is the color of inward reflection, which is one of the important things we are called to do each Lent in preparation for Easter. In some churches the Lenten Array, the color of sackcloth, is used instead of purple.
RED - PENTECOST, PALM SUNDAY, AND HOLY WEEK
Red is the color of excitement, energy, power, and all things intense and passionate. As such, red is the color of the Holy Spirit. It reminds us of tongues of fire that descended upon those on the day of Pentecost, so it is the color of that Feast. It is also used on Palm Sunday and during Holy Week, recalling the blood of Jesus' sacrifice at his Passion. For that reason it is also displayed at the commemorations of all martyred saints.