Liturgical Colours: A Summary - The Red

Red has a dual imagery:

• On one hand, red symbolises the shedding of blood and is therefore used on

• Palm Sunday (when Christ entered Jerusalem to prepare for His death)
• Good Friday, any other commemoration of the Lord’s passion
• The votive Mass of the Precious Blood
• The days marking the martyrdom of the apostles (except St. John)
• and the feasts of other martyrs who offered their lives for the faith.

• On the other hand, red also signifies the burning fire of God’s love. For this reason, red vestments are worn on
• Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles and tongues of fire rested on their heads;
• For the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation;
• and for the votive Masses of the Holy Spirit.

Liturgical Colours: A Summary - The White and The Gold

• White or gold, a colour symbolising rejoicing and purity of soul.

• It is worn during the liturgical seasons of Christmas and Easter.

• White vestments are also used for feasts of our Lord (except those pertaining to His passion), the Blessed Virgin Mary, the angels, and the saints who were not martyrs.

• White vestments are also worn on the Solemnity of St. Joseph, and the Feasts of All Saints, St. John the Baptist, St. John the Evangelist, the Chair of St. Peter, and the Conversion of St. Paul.

• White may also be used for Masses of Christian Burial and Masses for the Dead to signify the resurrection of our Lord, when He triumphed over sin and death, sorrow and darkness.

Liturgical Colours: A Summary - Introduction

The Church’s liturgical norms do prescribe specific vestment colours for various celebrations.

The purpose of utilising different colours for vestments is twofold:

• First, the colours highlight the particular liturgical season and the journey of the faithful through these seasons.
• Second, the colours punctuate the liturgical season by highlighting a particular event or particular mystery of faith.

The following explanation is based on the norms of the General Instruction on the Roman Missal (GIRM).