Liturgical Colours
White purity
White is the colour for the season of Easter. It is also used for feasts of Our Lord, except for those relating to His Passion.
White is also used for at Feast Day Masses of Blessed Mary, the Apostles, Angels and Saints (except those who were martyrs).
White is also used for two other very different types of Masses - Nuptial Masses (i.e. Wedding) and Requiem Masses for children who died before reaching the age of reason.
Green life, growth, hope
Green is the colour of Ordinary Time, that is, the period after the Epiphany and Pentecost.
Red fire, blood
Red is the colour of Our Lord's Passion. It is used for feasts of martyr Saints.
Red is also used on Palm Sunday and on Pentecost.
Violet penitential
Violet is the colour of two different seasons: Advent and Lent. It is also the colour of Septuagesima Day and Rogation Days.
Violet is also used at Vigils with the exception of those for the Ascension of the Lord and Pentecost.
Violet is the colour of Good Friday.
Rose joyRose is only used twice in the Church's liturgical year: on Gaudete Sunday and Laetare Sunday.
Gold joy
Gold has no season or occasion specifically dedicated to it. It can be worn to replace white, red or green.
Black mourning
Black is used for Requiem Masses (except children under the age of reason). Black vestments are also worn on All Souls Day.
More Information
Gaudete Sunday - This is the 3rd Sunday of Advent. 'Gaudete' is Latin and means to rejoice.
Laetare Sunday - This is the 4th Sunday of Lent. 'Laetare' is Latin; like 'gaudete', it means to rejoice.
Quinquagesima Day - The fiftieth Day before Easter (i.e. the Sunday before Ash Wednesday)
Rogation Days - These are the three days preceding Ascension Sunday. (NB: Rogation Sunday occurs the week before Ascension Sunday)
Septuagesima Day - This is the 3rd Sunday before Lent.
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