What is the meaning of the liturgical colors in the Catholic church?

Question

I saw a question about dressing in the liturgical colors, and it got me wondering!

Thanks.

Answer 1

In the Roman Rite, since Pius V, colours are five in number, viz.: white, red, green, violet, and black. Rose colour is employed only on Lætare and Gaudete Sundays. Blue is prescribed in some dioceses of Spain for the Mass of the Immaculate Conception.

White is the colour proper to Trinity Sunday, the feasts of Our Lord, except those of His Passion, the feasts of the Blessed Virgin, angels, confessors, virgins and women, who are not martyrs, the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, the chief feast of St. John the Evangelist, the feast of the Chains and of the Chair of St. Peter, the Conversion of St. Paul, All Saints, to consecration of churches and altars, the anniversaries of the election and coronation of the pope and of the election and consecration of bishops; also for the octaves of these feasts and the Offices de tempore from Holy Saturday to the vigil of Pentecost; it is used for votive Masses when the feasts have white, and for the nuptial Mass; also in services in connection with the Blessed Sacrament, at the burial of children, in the administration of baptism, Holy Viaticum, and matrimony.

Red(the color of the Holy Spirit) is used the week of Pentecost, on the feasts of Christ's Passion and His Precious Blood, the Finding and Elevation of the Cross, the feasts of Apostles and martyrs; and in votive Masses of these feasts. It is used on Holy Innocents if the feast occur on Sunday and always on its octave.

Green(a color of hope) is employed in Offices de tempore from the octave of the Epiphany to Septuagesima, and from the octave of Pentecost to Advent, except on ember-days and vigils during that time, and on Sundays occurring within an octave.

Violet is used during Advent and from Septuagesima to Easter, on vigils that are fast days, and on ember-days, except the vigil of Pentecost and the ember-days during the octave of Pentecost. Violet is also used for Mass on rogation-days, for votive Masses of the Passion and of penitential character, at the blessing of candles and of holy water. The stole used in the administration of penance and of extreme unction and in the first part of the baptismal ceremonies must be violet.

Black is used in offices for the dead, and on Good Friday.

Answer 2

Liturgical Colors Catholic

Answer 3

Liturgical colors are part of the celebration.

Green for ordinary time.
Deep purple for Passiontide
Violet and pink for Advent.
Red during Pentecost.
White for Trinity Sunday.

Spark's got the best answer. From New Advent.

Answer 4

The Catholic Church has different colors of liturgical vestments to represent various meanings. Gold/White = rejoicing of Christmas/Easter and purity of soul... Red = the shedding of blood as in the feast days of martyrs and Jesus passion and suffering... Green = the sign of hope and new life as in Spring and the new leafing of trees... a return to life again after the "sleep" of winter... Violet/Purple = Advent/Lent or seasons of penance and preparation of the feast to come... Christmas and Easter... Rose = Used one Sunday as a sign of Joy... Black/White = used in Masses of burial = death and mourning. Hope this helps...

Answer 5

The first answer to this question is correct. Essentially, the colors are seasonal, and they correspond to whatever part of the liturgical calendar is current.

Answer 6

Liturgical colours are colours of vestments and paraments within a Christian liturgy. The symbolism of violet, white, green, red, gold, black, and rose may serve to underline moods appropriate to a season of the liturgical year or may highlight a special occasion.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liturgical_colors

Answer 7

The Catholic Church uses different colors for different seasons and occasions during the Liturgical year

White (or Silver) represents light, innocence, purity, joy, triumph, and glory:
+ Season of Christmas
+ Season of Easter
+ Feasts of the Lord, other than of His passion
+ Feasts of Mary, the angels, and saints who were not martyrs
+ All Saints (1 November)
+ Feasts of the Apostles
+ Nuptial Masses (Weddings)
+ Masses for the dead (Requiem Masses) when the deceased is a baptized child who died before the age of reason

Red represents the Passion, blood, fire, God's Love, martyrdom:
+ Feasts of the Lord's passion, Blood, and Cross
+ Feasts of the martyrs
+ Palm Sunday
+ Pentecost

Green represents the Holy Ghost, life eternal, hope:
+ Ordinary Time including
. + Time After Epiphany
. + Time After Pentecost

Violet represents penance, humility, melancholy:
+ Season of Advent
+ Season of Lent
+ Vigils except for Ascension and Pentecost
+ Good Friday

Black represents mourning and sorrow:
+ All Souls Day
+ Masses for the dead (Requiem Masses), except for baptized children who've died before the age of reason

Rose represents joy:
+ Gaudete Sunday (Third Sunday of Advent)
+ Laetare Sunday (Fourth Sunday of Lent)

With love in Christ.

Answer 8

The other Catholic Rites often have different color uses.The Byzantines often use red for Lent.