346.d. Violet or purple is used in Advent and of Lent. It may also be worn in Offices and Masses for the Dead (cf. below).
f. Rose may be used, where it is the practice, on Gaudete Sunday (Third Sunday of Advent) and on Laetare Sunday (Fourth Sunday of Lent).GIRM]
The wording in (f) is puzzling. Does “where it is the practice” mean locally, or in a much broader sense?
I.e., is a local church permitted to use a purple vestment on Gaudete Sunday because they have no rose vestment owing to poverty, or because the color has faded, or because it clashes with the new wall paint? OR, are there regions of the world where the custom of using rose vestments is unknown or shunned?
I would guess that that is the decision of the local Bishop. He could require Rose or allow parishes to do as they need. Remember that the “local Church” usually means a diocese.
I know our pastor wouldn’t wear the old “rose” chasuble because he thought it was ‘too pink’. He wore violet for at least two liturgical seasons. Last year the parish finally found a ‘rose’ chasuble that he was willing to wear. To me the new one doesn’t really look rose either. I’d say it’s more like fushia. But whatever. It’s definitely not purple.
I’m not sure if we have any rose stoles for our deacons. If we do there’s just one, so if there is more than one deacon the other(s) would have to wear purple.
Do Deacons ever serve in numbers? I have never seen it done.
However that is a supplementary point. In my diocese (Southwark, UK) we do not use rose vestments, or I have never seen them (and since I am in the sacristy as a server I would see them). Is this an abuse?
Rose vestments are permitted as an option on Gaudete Sunday in Advent and Laetare Sunday in Lent. If the option is not used, regular purple vestments are to be used. Most of these vestments are a dusty, medium rose pink color (although one would be wise not to call them pink to the priest’s face). I have seen some, though, that were “shocking pink,” the color of Pepto-Bismol, and if I were the priest, I’d have reservations about using these.
Here’s a photo of some very nice rose vestments used by All Saints Church (high Episcopal) in San Diego, CA. If there were only an Anglican Rite Catholic Church . . .
In light of the thread on blue vestments and the position posited that the violet of Advent is bluer than the redder violet of Lent, it is traditional that the rose of Advent is lighter - pinker if you will - than the more fuschia rose of Lent. This tradition is due to the fact that Advent, being before Christmas, reflects the light pink of the newborn Babe. The pure joy of the infant, and His glow is best expressed in this joyful light pink hue. The darker rose of Lent reflects the mixture of the red blood of the Passion and the dilution by the water from the side of the Paschal Victim. Also, the joy of the pink morning sky of resurrection is captured by the darker Rose.
Of course, all of the above was just made up by your truly. (It was a very new tradition of a shorter life!!) It’s garbage wrapped in the mushy sentimentality of the horse hooey that is foisted upon us with regularity. Bluer rather than redder purple! GACH!!! If the above does become a tradition - please advise so I can do the appropriate penance.
If you had been serious, I’d have suggested that you go write for Faith & Form or the OCP liturgy planning guide. The logic behind their suggestions is much the same, but your version is much easier to understand and quite colorful. Since such a suggestion would be a gross insult to your intelligence and I just went to confession, I would have had to confine my commentary to a quiet retching session. :bowdown:
However that is a supplementary point. In my diocese (Southwark, UK) we do not use rose vestments, or I have never seen them (and since I am in the sacristy as a server I would see them). Is this an abuse?
Hi Titus. I am in the same Diocese as you. My parish does have rose vestments and uses them on the two appropriate Sundays.
Aah, I stand corrected. That’s what I get for looking up the sermons of a Canadian priest instead of going to the horse’s mouth - a Latin language website.
Both of the Introits for those Sundays speak of rejoicing, and the rose color, as I have been told, signifies what you might call a brief outburst of rejoicing in those otherwise penitential seasons.
But since hardly any Catholics hear the Introits any more (whether in Latin or the vernacular) it’s not surprising that this question would come up.
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