April 4, 2005 — -- Pope John Paul II has been laid out on a red, velvet litter in St. Peter's Basilica for public viewing, dressed in white and crimson vestments and a pointed white hat. The procession of cardinals, bishops and clergymen following the litter through St. Peter's Square was a flurry of color, raising the question of what all these shades of red, gold and pink mean.
"It's more of a help for people to recognize them [the clergy] as well as a reflection of the type of celebration during the liturgical year," said Alan Schreck, professor of theology at Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio.
Colors serve to identify different levels in the church, and the color schemes also maintain consistency throughout the year for the many congregations from Paris, France, to Paris, Texas (i.e. purple used in Lent and Advent).
Color coding was not always as prevalent.
"Early on, church clothing was not so different from the dress of the people," said Schreck. The monks decided to wear drab brown and gray garments to show that they had chosen a life of devotion to prayer and penance.
"After this, some of the clergy began to see the value of differentiating themselves and adopted special clothing for identification purposes during the fourth century," he said.
So what do the colors mean?
White or Gold: Worn during Christmas and Easter, symbolizing the birth and resurrection of Jesus Christ. These colors are also worn during funerals because they symbolize life rather than mourning. These are the pope's colors since the pope is the closest representative of Christ in his glory.
Red: The color of blood and, therefore, of martyrdom. Worn on the feasts of martyrs as well as Palm Sunday, Pentecost, Good Friday and celebrations of Jesus Christ's passion.
"The pope currently dons a crimson outer-garment because it expresses the church's belief -- like the martyrs -- that he is a witness of the faith," said Stephen Miles, assistant professor of theology at Loyola College in Maryland.
The cardinals wear red because they are considered the closest advisers to the pope and therefore should be ready to shed their blood for the church and Christ.
Purple: Worn during the Advent and Lent seasons, purple reflects sorrow and suffering. Sorrow as the faithful await the arrival of the Savior and suffering to mark Jesus Christ's 40 days in the desert (Lent). The color also came to symbolize wealth, power and royalty because in antiquity purple dye was very expensive.
Pink: A special color worn only twice during the liturgical year. It represents a time of joy amid a period of penance and prayer.
Green: The default color for vestments representing hope of Christ's resurrection.
Blue: Symbol of the Virgin Mary. Usually worn on Mary's Feast day.
Black: Used in Masses for the dead as a sign of mourning. It is the color of clerical garb in everyday life.
FAQs
The flag is a vertical bicolour of yellow and white, with the white half charged with the coat of arms of Vatican City (a papal tiara and the crossed keys of Saint Peter). It was modeled after the 1808 flag of the Papal States, a yellow-and-white bicolour defaced with the tiara and keys in the centre.
What do the papal colors mean? ›
Violet/purple signifies penance, contrition, and humility. Red is used for Pentecost, Good Friday, the feasts of martyrs, and the sacrament of confirmation. Red signifies the “fire” of the Holy Spirit, Jesus' obedience to death on the Cross, and the blood shed by martyrs. Green is the color of Ordinary Time.
What do the colors mean in the Catholic Church? ›
Each color has its own meaning and significance in relation to the faith. Purple is typically associated with Lent, a time of penitence and preparation for Easter. Red is associated with Pentecost and Christ's sacrifice on the cross. Green is associated with Ordinary Time, a time of growth and renewal.
What are the Catholic colors? ›
Liturgical Colors Table
| Day/Season | Color | Alternate Color |
|---|
| Lent | Purple | Red |
| Palm Sunday / Holy Week | Red | Purple |
| Good Friday | Black |
| Easter (until Pentecost) | White | Gold |
12 more rowsJan 5, 2024
Each color in the Liturgical Calendar signifies a different mood and season.
- Green - “Ordinary Time”
- Red - God's Love, blood, fire, and celebrations of Martyrs.
- White/Gold - Purity, Light, Glory, and Joy.
- Violet/Purple - Penance, Sacrifice, and Preparation.
- Black - Death and Mourning.
Worn during Lent or the Advent, purple represents penance, preparation, and sacrifice. It is also worn at funerals because of its connection to mourning. Purple vestments are donned to remind the funeral-goers to pray for the penance and absolution of the departed.
What are the colors of the hierarchy in the Catholic Church? ›
Worn by the clergy as early as the 5th century, it became in time the standard day wear for prelates and priests, hierarchical rank being indicated by colour: bishops, archbishops, and other prelates wore purple; cardinals, red; the pope, white; and ordinary clergy, black.
Who wears red in the Vatican? ›
When in choir dress, a Latin Church cardinal wears scarlet garments—the blood-like red symbolizes a cardinal's willingness to die for his faith. Excluding the rochet — which is always white—the scarlet garments include the cassock, mozzetta, and biretta (over the usual scarlet zucchetto).
Why wear black to see pope? ›
History. Traditionally, the protocol for papal audiences required women to wear a long black garment with long sleeves, and a black veil, the colour of which signified the virtues of piety and humility.
What colors mean holy? ›
Amber: Amber symbolizes the glory of God, His judgment, and endurance (Ezekiel 1:4). Purple: Purple represents royalty, majesty, and priesthood in the Bible (John 19:2). White: White refers to holiness, light, purity, redemption, and the righteousness of Jesus Christ (Mark 16:5).
If forgiveness is a color then the color should be seafoam green/ blue because they are both calming colors.
What color represents pain and suffering? ›
The color of purple signifies pain, suffering, grief, and mourning and is used to acknowledge the loss of loved ones.
What are the Vatican colours? ›
The Vatican City State flag is square in shape, with yellow and white vertically divided on each side of the flag. There is an emblem on the white side of it which features two keys crossed, one silver and one gold symbolising that the Pope has dominion over all spiritual matters on Earth.
What word is never said or sung during Lent? ›
What word is never said or sung during Lent? In some liturgical traditions, the word "Alleluia" is not said or sung during Lent. This is because Lent is a penitential season of reflection and sacrifice leading up to the celebration of Easter, which is a joyous feast.
What are the 8 liturgical colors? ›
In recent times, with liturgical renewal, three additional colors (blue, scarlet, and gold) have been added to the basic five of white, red, green, violet or purple, and black.
What are the colors for Catholic confirmation? ›
The liturgical color for Confirmation is red, to signify the Holy Spirit who confirmed the apostles on Pentecost and gave them courage to practice their faith.
What colors are the Vatican guards? ›
Uniforms and weaponry
The tunics are striped in the colors of the Medici family: red, dark blue, and yellow. White ruffs and high plumed helmets (with ostrich feathers colored to reflect different ranks) are also worn, as, on occasion, is armor.
What do the colors of Catholic robes mean? ›
Green represents the optimism and life that each new day brings. Purple is especially popular during Advent and Lent. Purple liturgical garments distinguish the Mass for the Dead, and they can be substituted by black vestments. Purple signifies penance, preparation, and sacrifice when worn during Lent or Advent.
What color are the Pope's clothes? ›
According to Beck, legend has it that Pope Pius V was used to wearing a white religious habit and he wanted to keep the tradition going. "And so ever since," Beck said, "it has remained white." Red shoes are worn by the pope, but not many recent popes have opted for them.
