Exploring the Faith

Liturgical Year

The liturgical year is made up of six seasons:

• Advent - four weeks of preparation before the celebration of Jesus' birth
• Christmas - recalling the Nativity of Jesus Christ and his manifestation to the peoples of the world
• Lent - a six-week period of penance before Easter
• Sacred Paschal Triduum - the holiest "Three Days" of the Church's year, where the Christian people recall the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus
• Easter - 50 days of joyful celebration of the Lord's resurrection from the dead and his sending forth of the Holy Spirit
• Ordinary Time - divided into two sections (one span of 4-8 weeks after Christmas Time and another lasting about six months after Easter Time), wherein the faithful consider the fullness of Jesus' teachings and works among his people

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Liturgical Colors

The Church designates certain colors for particular liturgical seasons and feasts that manifest themselves in the vestments as well as in banners, ambo covers, altar adornments, and other environmental art.  

• White - sign of Resurrection, is used for the feasts of the Lord, Mary, non-martyred saints, and several other specific occasions.
• Red - symbolic of blood and fire is for Passion/Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Pentecost, and feasts of the apostles and martyrs.
• Green - used during ordinary time and may be interpreted as a sign of growth in the life of the Church throughout the year.
• Purple - connotes a share in the kingship of Christ (from the Roman royal color) while recognizing that this was achieved through suffering and death caused by sin.
• Rose - can be used twice a year, once on Gaudete Sunday, the 3rd Sunday of Advent, and again on Laudate Sunday, the 4th Sunday of Lent. Rose is meant to symbolize the joyful anticipation of the feast that approaches (Gaudete Sunday anticipates Christmas and Laudate Sunday anticipates Easter).
• Black - an optional color for Masses for the dead.