One day it will be white, another it will be green, then purple, blue or pink, we are not talking here about an experiment gone wrong or seasonal changes but the various colors worn by the priest during the year. Indeed, depending on the ceremony, the occasion, the liturgical vestments worn by the clergy will change color. What is the reason for this? Which color for which celebration? Let's take a look at the colors of the priest's chasubles and their meaning.
It happens several times a year and every year at the same time, the priest changes the color of his chasuble and stole.
The reason for this change is simple, it naturally allows to make more visible certain great periods of the liturgical calendar.
Thus, anyone who is aware of this color code will be able to clearly identify the different liturgical moments of the year.
You are not yet familiar with the meaning of the different colors worn by the priest? No problem, white, green or red priest's chasuble, we make the tour of the colors of the liturgical vestments and their meaning for you!
There are 4 main colors of chasuble. The white, green, red and purple priest chasuble.
There are also some other colors for some very special occasions. We will come back to this later!
Let's start with the more traditional and common colors.
White has always been a symbol of purity, innocence and peace. White is therefore a very important color in the Church.
It is a color that will be regularly found during the year for some great occasions and liturgical feasts.
The chasuble of the priest will be white at Christmas, Easter, Ascension but also to celebrate other important occasions such as weddings or baptisms.
Green is very often associated with nature, both in the Church and in society in general. It is also a symbol of hope.
The priest is dressed in green during two ordinary periods.
Purple is a colour that represents expectation and forgiveness.
It is a colour that will be worn by priests during the Advent period and during Lent.
It is also a colour that recalls mourning and can therefore also be worn to officiate at funerals.
The meaning of red will certainly not have escaped you, even if it is a color that can in fact take on diametrically opposed meanings.
Red is the color that perfectly symbolizes love, passion but can also symbolize blood (the blood shed by Christ).
This is why a red chasuble is worn on Palm Sunday, Good Friday, the Feast of the Cross or the Day of Pentecost.
As we mentioned earlier, there are also other colors that are more rarely worn.
A light blue chasuble for celebrations related to the Virgin Mary, a pink chasuble for the 3rd Sunday of Advent, the 4th Sunday of Lent or a gold chasuble which symbolizes royalty, light and can replace all liturgical colors! It is used especially for very important occasions and especially for big feasts like Christmas or Easter.
Now that you know the meaning of the different colors of priest's chasubles, you will now be able to easily distinguish the different liturgical periods!
Do not hesitate to come to discover our vast catalog of chasubles of priests that we propose at Religieux Saint-Christophe!
