Catholic Men Colors of the seasons

Sep 19, 2011

The changing leaves of autumn always make me think about the colors of the liturgical calendar. The Church employs a tapestry of colors in its celebrations throughout the year – purple, white, red, green, and sometimes even pink – and uses them both to distinguish liturgical seasons as well as illustrate the mysteries of our faith.

Purple and Pink
Purple serves as the principal color when the Church celebrates the Seasons of Advent and Lent. During Advent, we light three purple candles to count the weeks leading up to the birth of Christ. Historically, the color purple distinguished leaders throughout the Roman Empire. Christians have long used the color to help prepare for the arrival of Christ, the Leader of all leaders. 

Purple also is brought out during Lent. Otherwise barren sanctuaries have purple linens covering the altar in the days leading up to Holy Week. Purple helps remind us why we endure the 40 days of Lent; similar to Advent, it is a period of preparation. Christ prayed, fasted, and even encountered temptation during 40 days in the desert when preparing for his ministry (cf. Mt 4:1-11). As baptized members into a royal priesthood, Lenten prayer and fasting gives us opportunities to prepare for the trials of our own ministries as husbands, fathers and brothers in Christ.        

Vividly, and no less important, we also find pink (or what some call “rose”) signaling us to pause and reflect during Gaudete Sunday (3rd Sunday of Advent) and Laetare Sunday (4th Sunday of Lent).

White
The Church uses white most notably during the seasons of Christmas and Easter, but also on days when celebrating the Lord (other than of his Passion), the Blessed Virgin Mary, holy angels, and saints who weren’t martyred. White also distinguishes the celebration of specific solemnities – All Saints (Nov. 1) and the Birth of St. John the Baptist (June 24) – and feast days – St. John the Evangelist (Dec. 27), Chair of St. Peter (Feb. 22), and Conversion of St. Paul (Jan. 25).

I’ve always found “everything goes with white” applies just as well for faith as for fashion. White enhances and never distracts from liturgical celebrations or their fundamental meaning. The color illustrates the supernatural splendor of Our Lord, especially when celebrating his Nativity or Resurrection. Marian feasts traditionally find clergy wearing blue along with white. The blue reminds us of Our Lady – who appears periodically through history shrouded in a blue mantle – but never hides the white underscoring her purity.

Red
The color red marks the celebrations of Palm Sunday, Good Friday, the Lord’s Passion, Pentecost, the “birthday” feasts of the Apostles and Evangelists, and celebrations of martyred saints. The color of blood, red undeniably illustrates sacrifice. It indicates how Christ suffered and died for our sins. It also reminds us how others in human history, like those first emboldened by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, endured their own unique crosses when living, spreading, and ultimately dying as steadfast witnesses to the Word of God.  

Green
Green is used most of the liturgical year for Ordinary Time. Ironically, it is a season which proves anything but ordinary. Consider the Gospel teachings of the last four weeks. St. Matthew recounts how Christ built his Church upon St. Peter (16:18), revealed the conditions for discipleship (16:24-27), confirmed his presence in the midst of two or three gathered in his name (18:20), and shared the parable of the unforgiving servant (18:21-35). Nothing ordinary about that series of readings and the messages they contain. The Church uses green to remind us how she, alongside all of us, is called to spread the richness of the Gospel with an endless vitality.

Color helps remind us of the seasons. This Friday, as autumn begins and the leaves begin to change, recognize in those colors that the reason for every season is Jesus.