Funeral Vestment Color Preference

[triumphguy]

This is one of the few polls I am happy to see on this forum. I can certainly see how it is cultural, some cultures would prefer white, but the option is almost never mentioned in the USA and the color is almost always white, to the point that is what people thing the Church requires. It is wrong. The funeral mass is a prayer for the deceased and it serves a secondary purpose of the Church showing solidarity with the family. Treating the funeral as some type of celebration is heartless and wrong in many cases.

I do not understand how the Church got so far off the path of basic pastoral thought when it comes to funerals.

So, because the vestments are white the whole liturgy is some kind of celebration?

Maybe the white vestments are MORE pastoral? Did you think of that?

 

[Phemie]

I have to say, I have no idea. Yep, I don’t think it matters. At least not to those that were close to the deceased.

I can honestly say, that I have no idea what color the priest wore for the funerals of my parents. I didn’t notice. Or if I did notice, it wasn’t something that I remembered.

So, black, purple or white. It doesn’t matter to me. That isn’t where my focus is.

Agreed. I have no memory of what the priest wore to my mom & dad’s funerals. What I’ve never forgotten is that the priest in the parish where my dad had lived 90 years, been an altar server for over 30 and an EMHC for at least 20, couldn’t get his name right and kept calling him by my cousin’s name.

 

[triumphguy]

Agreed. I have no memory of what the priest wore to my mom & dad’s funerals. What I’ve never forgotten is that the priest in the parish where my dad had lived 90 years, been an altar server for over 30 and an EMHC for at least 20, couldn’t get his name right and kept calling him by my cousin’s name.

Ouch - that’s horrible.

 

[Phemie]

GENERAL INSTRUCTION OF THE ROMAN MISSAL
Besides violet, white or black vestments may be worn at funeral services and at other Offices and Masses for the Dead in the dioceses of the United States of America.

The Canadian GIRM says
346. As regards the colour of sacred vestments, traditional usage should be observed,
namely:
a) (…)The colour white may also be worn in funerals and in Offices and Masses for the
Dead in the dioceses of Canada.
d) The colour violet or purple is used in Advent and Lent. It may also be worn in
Offices and Masses for the Dead.
e) The colour black may be used, where it is the practice, in Masses for the Dead.

Not sure how “where it is the practice” is to be interpreted. If you haven’t used black in 40 years can you suddenly start using it now? I’d wager that not too many parishes still have black vestments in their sacristy.

Now I have to say that having helped with many funerals in my 16 years in this parish, the wearing of black is nowhere as prevalent as it used to be. It’s not unusual to go to the funeral home and see nobody in black. Perhaps some dark grey or navy but most often people don’t change their clothes (unlike my mother having her winter coat died black when my grandfather died in 1958) or buy black as a sign of mourning.

 

[KimberlyCat]

I was told by my priest that Vestment colors for funerals are always white because a funeral is a celebration of that person’s life and is not a time of sadness. He also said the only time black is used is when an infant or child dies.

 

[triumphguy]

The Canadian GIRM says
346. As regards the colour of sacred vestments, traditional usage should be observed,
namely:
a) (…)The colour white may also be worn in funerals and in Offices and Masses for the
Dead in the dioceses of Canada.
d) The colour violet or purple is used in Advent and Lent. It may also be worn in
Offices and Masses for the Dead.
e) The colour black may be used, where it is the practice, in Masses for the Dead.

Not sure how “where it is the practice” is to be interpreted. If you haven’t used black in 40 years can you suddenly start using it now? I’d wager that not too many parishes still have black vestments in their sacristy.

Now I have to say that having helped with many funerals in my 16 years in this parish, the wearing of black is nowhere as prevalent as it used to be. It’s not unusual to go to the funeral home and see nobody in black. Perhaps some dark grey or navy but most often people don’t change their clothes (unlike my mother having her winter coat died black when my grandfather died in 1958) or buy black as a sign of mourning.

Like you said: The biggest obstacle is probably the vestments that exist in the closet.

 

[malphono]

I was told by my priest that Vestment colors for funerals are always white because a funeral is a celebration of that person’s life and is not a time of sadness. He also said the only time black is used is when an infant or child dies.

Well, that’s a new one on me. In the “old” (i.e, pre-conciliar) days, it was quite the opposite. White was worn for the funerals of infants and minor children because of their innocence. Likewise, at such obsequies, the Mass of the Angels was sung. Black, OTOH, was used for adult funerals.

 

[tafan]

So, because the vestments are white the whole liturgy is some kind of celebration?

Maybe the white vestments are MORE pastoral? Did you think of that?

White is the liturgical color for major feast days, ie major celebrations. And as others have posted, priest often speak IOC a funeral being a " celebration if their life". Which is theologically wrong, even inconsistent with the ban on eulogies.
I will note that All Soul’s day color, Good Friday’s colors are not white.

Oh, people accept it, and the associated terminology. It has become do common people just think the Church knows what it is doing and try to do their best to " celebrate"

But, often times, it is not pastoral at all, and exhibits the opposite of solidarity with the family.

 

[JD27076]

As uncharitable as it may seem… You can’t change the minds of old priest who are set in their ways. The only things we can do is hope they don’t spread their ideas and wait for them to die off and bring in a new set of traditional-like minded priest.

I am discerning to be a priest and I certainly would wear black. I would make sure a black chasuable is in my sacristy… However the question can arise… What about rose? I wouldn’t know. 2 Times a year for a 300 dollar chasuble. Eh.

 

[Phemie]

White is the liturgical color for major feast days, ie major celebrations. And as others have posted, priest often speak IOC a funeral being a " celebration if their life". Which is theologically wrong, even inconsistent with the ban on eulogies.
I will note that All Soul’s day color, Good Friday’s colors are not white.

Oh, people accept it, and the associated terminology. It has become do common people just think the Church knows what it is doing and try to do their best to " celebrate"

But, often times, it is not pastoral at all, and exhibits the opposite of solidarity with the family.

Not having my Order of Christian Funerals at hand, I found this online. It’s from the
ORDER OF CHRISTIAN FUNERALS GENERAL INTRODUCTION from the UK and Wales

Liturgical Colour39. The liturgical colour chosen for funerals should express Christian hope in the light of the
paschal mystery, but without being offensive to human grief.
White expresses the hope of Easter, the fulfilment of baptism, and the wedding garment
necessary for the kingdom.
Violet recalls the eschatological expectation of Advent and the Lentenpreparation for the paschal mystery.
Black is used as a token of mourning, but, in our society, increasingly without the associations of Christian hope.

The choice should be made in the light of local custom and perceptions, and in consultation
with the family and community.

 

[malphono]

However the question can arise… What about rose? I wouldn’t know. 2 Times a year for a 300 dollar chasuble. Eh.

Well, since it’s only used twice a year, if well made and well cared for, the set should last a lifetime. Or longer. Looking at it that way, it’s not a bad investment.

 

[tafan]

Not having my Order of Christian Funerals at hand, I found this online. It’s from the
ORDER OF CHRISTIAN FUNERALS GENERAL INTRODUCTION from the UK and Wales

I am not saying that white is not allowed, or even that it is not proper at times.

As to consultation: yea, lets tell families how their black clothes represent a lack of Christian hope. That’s a little misleading, Most consolations do not take place and when they do, they talk about “celebration”. If it is always proper, why even allow black or violet?

I would say the almost exclusive use of white vestments, with little consultation or proper explanation to the family, and the “celebration of the deceased’s life” talk is a good example of what sociologists call a " normalization of deviance"

 

[FAB]

Although black is the color for mourning, white is the color for the resurrection. I have yet to attend a funeral were the vestments are black or purple. Since white is also the sign of a person’s baptism it is the prefered and appropriate color for a funeral.

Deacon Frank

 

[tafan]

Although black is the color for mourning, white is the color for the resurrection. I have yet to attend a funeral were the vestments are black or purple. Since white is also the sign of a person’s baptism it is the prefered and appropriate color for a funeral.

Deacon Frank

The Church’s universal colors for masses for the dead are violet and black, allowing the Bishop’s Conference to provide other options, and in the US, white is allowed.

If it is the preferred and appropriate color, why the alternative? Your reasoning could be used to justify white at every mass, but that is obviously not the case.

BTW, red is used at funeral masses for Popes , if white is preferred and appropriate, why?

And finally, the Church has a long history of not using white at funerals. I suppose our ancestors in faith ( along with the majority of this poll) were wrong. I am reminded, for some reason, of this quote by Chesterton:

“Tradition means giving votes to the most obscure of all classes, our ancestors. It is the democracy of the dead. Tradition refuses to submit to the small and arrogant oligarchy of those who merely happen to be walking about.”

I think tradition, in this case could teach something.

 

[Phemie]

I am not saying that white is not allowed, or even that it is not proper at times.

As to consultation: yea, lets tell families how their black clothes represent a lack of Christian hope. That’s a little misleading, Most consolations do not take place and when they do, they talk about “celebration”. If it is always proper, why even allow black or violet?

I would say the almost exclusive use of white vestments, with little consultation or proper explanation to the family, and the “celebration of the deceased’s life” talk is a good example of what sociologists call a " normalization of deviance"

I guess it depends where you live. Here I don’t see much black at funerals, even for the family. I don’t doubt that they are mourning their dead, just that clothes don’t seem to reflect mourning today as they did when I was growing up and into the late 60s. I rarely see widows or widowers in black any more and the wearing of somber clothing rarely happens beyond the funeral. But back in 1961 I can still remember my cousin’s wife, whose first husband had died 9 months earlier, asking my mother if people would think less of her if she were to wear a lavender coloured dress.

You don’t see that much concern about clothing today. Mom wore black clothing in mourning for her dad in 1958, none upon the death of her mom in 1982. Dad wore a black armband in mourning for his dad in 1958, none when Mom died in 1985. That doesn’t mean he didn’t mourn my mom, he wore his wedding band until close to his death in 2004 and talked all the time about how much he missed her. But there was no expectation that he’d dress the part.

 

[DarkLight]

I was told by my priest that Vestment colors for funerals are always white because a funeral is a celebration of that person’s life and is not a time of sadness. He also said the only time black is used is when an infant or child dies.

Well, that’s a new one on me. In the “old” (i.e, pre-conciliar) days, it was quite the opposite. White was worn for the funerals of infants and minor children because of their innocence. Likewise, at such obsequies, the Mass of the Angels was sung. Black, OTOH, was used for adult funerals.

This is what I heard as well - white was for the funerals of innocents, baptized children who had died before the age of reason. Black or purple were for adult funerals.

 

[MorEphrem]

I didn’t know the Latin Church permitted black as a liturgical color

 

[thequietsinger]

I would have to say black, as others have said, because of its symbolism. I don’t disagree with the other colors, but this is just a preference of mine. It symbolizes mourning, and the death of a person. The person who has died may or may not be in Purgatory, may be suffering in Hell, or may have gone straight to Heaven. No one knows what has happened to that person, unless they are known to have visions relating to that subject, which I won’t even begin to argue about. However, I feel it is entirely up to the Priest, or the person’s last wishes, as to what Funeral Vestment Color they want, or which one is deemed to be appropriate. Thanks for posting! Lovely poll!

 

[malphono]

I didn’t know the Latin Church permitted black as a liturgical color

Absolutely. It was traditionally (and, in the Usus Antiquior, still is) used for all funerals (except those of minor children), All Souls Day, and for various formal Requiem Masses at other times.

 

[Phemie]

Absolutely. It was traditionally (and, in the Usus Antiquior, still is) used for all funerals (except those of minor children), All Souls Day, and for various formal Requiem Masses at other times.

I still remember anniversary Masses with the black & gold draped catafalque bordered by six candles.