Liturgical Colours

• White is the colour of purity and innocence and is worn on the feast days of Our Lord, the Holy Virgin Mary, the angels and the saints who are not martyrs.
  
• Red symbolises fire and blood, and is the colour of martyrdom, the Holy Ghost, the Crucifix and the apostles. Although never worn for extended periods, the colour red is seen throughout the year, and denotes individual feast days.
  
• Green represents life. It is present on ordinary Sundays, and after Epiphany and Pentecost.
  
• Purple is the symbol of quietness and penitence. Violet is worn on the Sundays and weekdays of Advent, during Lent, on feast days at the beginning of each season, before a period of fasting and on pilgrimages.
  
• Black is the colour of mourning worn on Good Friday, on All Saints' Day and at masses for the dead.
  
• Pink marks the pauses for joy during periods of penitence and fasting.
  
• Gold is permitted on holidays and can replace white, red and green but never black.
  

The Mass Vestments
The Mass vestments were originally ordinary garments of the ancient Roman world. Although the fashions of dress changed with the passing centuries, the priest continued to wear at the altar the ancient Roman costume of his predecessors.

Thus, the priest, vested for mass, is a wonderful witness to the historical continuity of the Church with the primitive Church of Rome. In the order in which the priest puts them on, the Mass vestments are:


The Cassock:
It is the outer garment of priests and is worn instead of a suit.

The Amice:
A square of white linen wrapped around the neck and covering the shoulders. In the Middle Ages, the Amice was worn as a hood to protect the head in cold churches. The Amice symbolizes the 'helmet of salvation' i.e.: the virtue of hope (1 Thess.5,8) that helps the priest to overcome the attacks of Satan.

The Alb:

A long, white linen garment reaching to the feet. The Alb symbolizes the innocence and purity that should adorn the soul of the priest who ascends the altar.

The Cincture or Girdle:
The cord used as a belt to gird the Alb. It symbolizes the virtues of chastity and continence required of the priest.

The Stole:
Roman magistrates wore a long scarf when engaged in their official duties, just as our judges wear a court gown. Whenever a priest celebrates Mass or administers the Sacraments, he wears the Stole as a sign that he is occupied with an official priestly duty.

The Chasuble:
The outer vestment put on over the others. Originally this was a very full garment, shaped like a bell and reaching almost to the feet all the way round. The Chasuble symbolizes the virtue of charity, and the yoke of unselfish service for the Lord, which the priest assumes at ordination.

The Dalmatic:
An outer, sleeved tunic that came to Rome from Dalmatia, whence its name. It is worn in place of the chasuble, by the deacon and sub deacon during Solemn Mass.

Other Vestments
A Cope:
Is a vestment which is worn over an alb for solemn processions, benedictions, funerals and weddings.

A Biretta:
The use of the Roman biretta has been introduced by a certain number of the clergy into the Anglican Church
Its colour varies with the rank of the wearer, that of bishops purple, and of the lower clergy black. It is not in the strictest sense a liturgical head-dress, its use not being confined to liturgical functions. In these functions its use is strictly limited; e.g. it is worn at low masses by the priest only when he goes to and from the altar, at high masses also when the celebrant sits during the singing of the Kyrie, Gloria and Creed, and at processions when these take place outside the church.

Humeral Veil:
Is draped over the shoulders and down the front. At the ends there are usually pockets in the back for hands to go into so that the priest or deacon can hold items without touching them with his hands. It is most often seen during the liturgy of Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The priest or deacon uses it when he holds the monstrance over the people at the benediction part of the rite.