b) The color red is used on Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion and on Friday of Holy Week (Good Friday), on Pentecost Sunday, on celebrations of the Lord's Passion, on the "birthday" feast days of Apostles and Evangelists, and on celebrations of Martyr Saints. c) The color green is used in the Offices and Masses of Ordinary Time. Understanding the Liturgical Colors In the liturgical calendar, the color for each day corresponds to that day's main liturgical celebration, even though Optional Memorials (perhaps with a different color) might be chosen instead.
The four main colors shown are. These are the colors of the Liturgical Year. In the Catholic Church, each season has a color and each color has a meaning.
Here is the guide to the colors of the Liturgical Year and what they mean. The use of color in Catholic worship is intended to enhance the worship experience and help Catholics to enter into the mysteries of the faith. Each liturgical season and feast day has a specific color, which adds to the symbolism and meaning of the celebration.
Red (the color of fire and blood) is used on the days when we celebrate the passion of Jesus, Passion (Palm) Sunday and Good Friday. It is also used for the birth feasts of the apostles and evangelists and for the celebrations of martyrs. Red (the color of fire) recalls the Holy Spirit and is used on Pentecost and for the sacrament of Confirmation.
Other appropriate colors for Good Friday may include dark shades of purple or red, often associated with penance and sacrifice in the Christian tradition. It is always a good idea to consider the cultural and religious norms of the community in which you participate when deciding what to wear to church on Good Friday. During Good Friday, or even as soon as Maundy Thursday, a switch is made to black, or rarely no color.
This change can be made in connection with a Good Friday service to mark the death of Christ. On the evening of Holy Saturday (Easter vigil), or certainly come Easter Sunday, white or gold are used to celebrate the resurrection. If you wish to wear the liturgical colors during the Holy Week, they are: Palm Sunday.
Throughout the year, depending on the liturgical season and type of liturgical feast or celebration, the Catholic Church uses different colors for the priest's vestments, as well as altar linens and other decorations in the church. Green is the color most often used color during Ordinary Time, symbolizing the gift of life and hope in every day.