St. Alban’s Altar Guild Manual SECTION V LITURGICAL COLORS Uploaded August 2019 St. Alban’s Altar Guild Manual LITURGICAL COLORS Stoles, chasubles, and altar hangings all follow a color pattern that reflects what is going on in the liturgical calendar. For weekday services the color of the previous Sunday is generally used, except on holy days having their own appropriate color. The Liturgical colors are: Green Used throughout most of the year. Symbolizes hope, life, our growth in faith. Used on First Sunday after the Epiphany until Ash Wednesday, The Second Sunday after Pentecost until the Last Sunday after Pentecost. Red Used at Pentecost, to comMeMorate the Holy Spirit’s coming with fire to the apostles and for the comMeMoration of martyrs and other saints. Red is also the color for Confirmation and Ordinations. Blue Advent. Advent is still a season of reflection and hopeful season of (previously purple) preparation. Used during Advent as a way of distinguishing this season from Lent. Rose Used on the fourth Sunday of Lent. Rose symbolizes hope and joy in the midst of Lenten soleMnity. Can also be used for the third Sunday of Advent. St. Albans’s does not have rose so we use purple and flowers. Black Used on Good Friday. It symbolizes the darkness brought into the world by sin and death. The death of Jesus and the death of the whole world under the burden of sin. White The color of celebration, symbol of purity, joy Used at ChristMas, Maundy Thursday, the Great Vigil of Easter, Easter, Trinity Sunday, the Last Sunday after Pentecost, baptisMs and weddings and funerals (the latter because funerals are theMselves celebrations of the resurrection). White is also use for Epiphany, BaptisM of Our Lord, Presentation in the TeMple, and All Saints’ Day, All Souls’ Day and Ascension Day. Purple The color of penitence and expectation is traditionally used in the season of Lent. Advent. Purple is also the color of royalty, and so anticipates through the suffering and death of Jesus the coming resurrection and hope of newness that will be celebrated in the Resurrection on Easter Sunday. Wheat/Wine Used through PalM Sunday and Holy Saturday (use white for the Vigil). Tenebrae. Wheat with wine color decorations October 2013 Section V Page 1 of 2 St. Alban’s Altar Guild Manual LITURGICAL COLORS Green Appropriate eMbleMs show the Trinity, Holy, Holy, Holy or Sanctus Sanctus Sanctus, triangles and circles, trefoil, three circles, or the cross growing out of three circles. Red Red is used on Pentecost Sunday to celebrate the birth of the Church. Red represents the color of blood and is used on Good Friday for the Crucifier Cross. Red is also used for Confirmations and Ordinations. Blue Appropriate symbols are the Tau Cross and symbols of Mary. Blue Represents the hopeful season of preparation. Rose Laetare Sunday This Sunday is also known as Mothering Sunday, Refreshment Sunday, Mid- Lent Sunday and Rose Sunday (because the golden rose sent by the popes to Catholic sovereigns used to be blessed at this tiMe). The Golden Rose is a gold ornaMent, which popes of the Catholic Church have traditionally blessed annually. The rose symbolizes hope and joy in the Midst of Lenten soleMnity. White In addition to the above, used for the first Sunday after the Epiphany, The Ascension, Trinity Sunday, and The Transfiguration. Also used for unmartyred saints, Epiphany, BaptisM of Our Lord and All Saints’ Day, Thanksgiving Day, and other certain special occasions. The proper eMbleMs of our Lord are: IHS, Chi Rho, the crown, lily, rose, Agnus Dei, and Alleluia. Gold and colors may be used for eMbroidery on white hangings. Purple EMbleMs of the Passion of our Lord include the crown of thorns, three nails, passion flower, the cross, pelican, IHS, the Chalice and Host, and grapes and wheat. Purple is also the color of royalty, and so anticipates through the suffering and death of Jesus the coming resurrection and hope of newness that will be celebrated in the Resurrection on Easter Sunday. Wheat/Wine Used during Holy Week – but not for the Vigil of Easter. Appropriate symbols are the dove, rays of glory, Chalice and Host, IHS, Agnus Dei, lily, and rose October 2013 Section V Page 2 of 2 .