Colours of the Liturgical year QUESTION from Aaron Lim August 26, 2001
+ Peace be with you.
I would like to know, what are the standard liturgical colours used to tell the parisheners and the colours worn by the priest to signify the different seasons in a liturgical year as in violet for the season of Lent?
Thanks and GOd bless!
p/s: In Malaysia which is where I come from, there are four standard colours used: Violet, Red, Green and White. Are these standard colours used throughout the world?
ANSWER by Mr. Jacob Slavek on August 31, 2001
Dear Mr. Lim,
The answer to your question is found in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, numbers 308 and 309. There are:

308. Traditional usage should be retained for the vestment colors. a. White is used in the offices and Masses of the Easter and Christmas seasons; on feasts and memorials of the Lord, other than of his passion; on feasts and memorials of Mary, the angels, saints who were not martyrs, All Saints (1 November), John the Baptist (24 June), John the Evangelist (27 December), the Chair of St. Peter (22 February), and the Conversion of St. Paul (25 January).
b. Red is used on Passion Sunday (Palm Sunday) and Good Friday, Pentecost, celebrations of the Lord's passion, birthday feasts of the apostles and evangelists, and celebrations of martyrs.
c. Green is used in the offices and Masses of Ordinary Time.
d. Violet is used in Lent and Advent. It may also be worn in offices and Masses for the dead.
e. Black may be used in Masses for the dead.
f. Rose may be used on Gaudete Sunday (Third Sunday of Advent) and Laetare Sunday (Fourth Sunday of Lent).
The conference of bishops may choose and propose to the Apostolic See adaptations suited to the needs and culture of peoples.
309. On solemn occasions more precious vestments may be used, even if not of the color of the day.
These colors ARE universal in the Roman Rite, except for the adaptions proposed to and approved by the Apostolic See. To my knowledge, this has never happened.
Mr. Slavek
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