Vestments for Today, March 18th

[JMD_Equitare]

I went to an early Mass today and our celebrant’s vestments were purple… we had stayed for brunch and as we were leaving I realized I had forgotten to grab a bulletin, so I went back into the chapel and noticed that the next Mass’ celebrant was wearing pink. What is the significance of pink vestments during Lent? Is it optional?

 

[Morning_Star15]

I went to an early Mass today and our celebrant’s vestments were purple… we had stayed for brunch and as we were leaving I realized I had forgotten to grab a bulletin, so I went back into the chapel and noticed that the next Mass’ celebrant was wearing pink. What is the significance of pink vestments during Lent? Is it optional?

It’s the same as with the 3rd Sunday of Advent: the celebrant should wear rose vestments for the 4th Sunday of Lent as well. These are the two days when priests wear rose vestments (much to the dismay of some of them ).

 

[JMD_Equitare]

Actually, our priests like their rose vestments… they say that they make them look younger.

 

[LilyM]

It’s the same as with the 3rd Sunday of Advent: the celebrant should wear rose vestments for the 4th Sunday of Lent as well. These are the two days when priests wear rose vestments (much to the dismay of some of them ).

They’re not obligated to though - and if I was a priest for one I wouldn’t want to spend money on vestments I only wear two Sundays of the year.

And some are a really gacky bright pink.

 

[Shoshana]

There is a symbol for the pink vestments. In Advent it is the Gaudate Sunday where the candle is pink amongst the purple as it is one of hopel. In Lent, there is the Laetare Sunday (today) and is one of joy and hope as we look for the our Lord’s Resurrection after the period of fasting…

 

[Morning_Star15]

Actually, our priests like their rose vestments… they say that they make them look younger.

Good to hear. I was in my Chaplain’s office last week and I saw his rose vestments hanging there. When I commented that I liked them, he told that they’re a “manly rose”

 

[SeekerJen]

Our priests wore theirs.

I attended Mass at a nearby parish on Laetare Sunday last year. The priest was fairly young, of the MTV generation, and said he wasn’t too fond of the rose robes because they were the same color as the dress Madonna wore in the “Material Girl” video. He wasn’t kidding, they really were that pink.

 

[Shoshana]

Our priests wore theirs.

I attended Mass at a nearby parish on Laetare Sunday last year. The priest was fairly young, of the MTV generation, and said he wasn’t too fond of the rose robes because they were the same color as the dress Madonna wore in the “Material Girl” video. He wasn’t kidding, they really were that pink.

Yea, but Madonna is mimicking everything the Catholic Church anyways…I guess you could say that she isn’t too original, just electic!

 

[Shoshana]

Good to hear. I was in my Chaplain’s office last week and I saw his rose vestments hanging there. When I commented that I liked them, he told that they’re a “manly rose”

When I was in Rome, I collected money from all of the tourists on our trip for our spiritual travelling director . It was surprisng how much money I did collect (I might take up begging! )…anyhoo, in one of the religious stores where they sell priestly vestments, religious goods, nuns’ stuff, etc, we saw the most beautiful rose vestments! Man, it was just heavenly… that the priest (he is also my spiritual director) commented on the beauty of the color but it wouldn’t justify the cost of just wearing it twice a year! Sop he bought a gorgeous gold vestment with a stole that contained the 4 evangelists…it was fun…but it did take a long time for him to decide! :yawn:

 

[John_Lilburne]

From the 2002 General Introduction to the Roman Missal (GIRM) approved for the USA, which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html :
“346. As to the color of sacred vestments, the traditional usage is to be retained: namely, …
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). …
347. Ritual Masses are celebrated in their proper color, in white, or in a festive color; Masses for Various Needs, on the other hand, are celebrated in the color proper to the day or the season or in violet if they are of a penitential character, for example, no. 31 (in Time of War or Conflict), no. 33 (in Time of Famine), or no. 38 (for the Forgiveness of Sins); Votive Masses are celebrated in the color suited to the Mass itself or even in the color proper to the day or the season.”

For the Ritual Mass of the Scrutinies, I think the 2002 Roman Missal has rubrics directing (or at least suggesting) that violet vestments be used. It has:
“2. IN SCRUTINIIS PERAGENDIS
Hae Missae adhiberi possunt cum colore violaceo quando scrutinia pro catechumenis …”
(Missale Romanum, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2002, ISBN: 8820972719, page 973)

There are no such rubrics in the translation of the 1975 MIssale Romanum. (Roman Missal, Catholic Book Publishing Co., New York, 1985, page 826.)

 

[Morning_Star15]

From the 2002 General Introduction to the Roman Missal (GIRM) approved for the USA, which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html :
“346. As to the color of sacred vestments, the traditional usage is to be retained: namely, …
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). …
347. Ritual Masses are celebrated in their proper color, in white, or in a festive color; Masses for Various Needs, on the other hand, are celebrated in the color proper to the day or the season or in violet if they are of a penitential character, for example, no. 31 (in Time of War or Conflict), no. 33 (in Time of Famine), or no. 38 (for the Forgiveness of Sins); Votive Masses are celebrated in the color suited to the Mass itself or even in the color proper to the day or the season.”

For the Ritual Mass of the Scrutinies, I think the 2002 Roman Missal has rubrics directing (or at least suggesting) that violet vestments be used. It has:
“2. IN SCRUTINIIS PERAGENDIS
Hae Missae adhiberi possunt cum colore violaceo quando scrutinia pro catechumenis …”
(Missale Romanum, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2002, ISBN: 8820972719, page 973)

There are no such rubrics in the translation of the 1975 MIssale Romanum. (Roman Missal, Catholic Book Publishing Co., New York, 1985, page 826.)

Interesting - what do they mean by “where it is the practice”? Who decides where it “is the practice” to wear rose vestments on these two occasions?

 

[CarolAnnSFO]

To quote a priest I know: “The vestments are rose. Priests don’t wear pink.”

Crazy Internet Junkies Society
Carrier of the Angelic Sparkles Sprinkle Bag

 

[lizaanne]

I went to an early Mass today and our celebrant’s vestments were purple… we had stayed for brunch and as we were leaving I realized I had forgotten to grab a bulletin, so I went back into the chapel and noticed that the next Mass’ celebrant was wearing pink. What is the significance of pink vestments during Lent? Is it optional?

Thank you so much for asking this - I wondered the very same thing today!!

~Liza

 

[John_Lilburne]

Interesting - what do they mean by “where it is the practice”? Who decides where it “is the practice” to wear rose vestments on these two occasions?

I suppose the meaning is that if a parish has the rose vestments and the tradition of using them on these days, that is allowed to continue. But if it has not been done, then do not go out and buy the rose vestments. Use violet.

The 1975 GIRM had:
“308. Traditional usage should be retained for the vestment colors. …
d) Violet is used in Lent and Advent. It may also be worn in offices and Masses for the dead. …
f) Rose may be used on Gaudete Sunday (Third Sunday of Advent) and Laetare Sunday (Fourth Sunday of Lent).”

The Ceremonial of Bishops has:
“252 … On Laetare Sunday rose vestments may be used.”
(Ceremonial of Bishops, Liturgical Press, 1989, ISBN 0-8146-1818-9, page 89).

 

[Titus]

It’s left to the discretion of each priest, like girl servers. They can make their own choice. Personally, I like the rose vestments- but it seems expensive if you don’t already have them to buy some.

 

[Morning_Star15]

Thanks for your answers, John and Titus.

As for the expense of the vestments, I think as a general rule priests don’t buy them themselves, but they are donated to them. I don’t know if this is standard practice everywhere, just from my experience. The priests I know have a personal set of vestments that was given to them as a gift and which they keep, supplementing it with the vestments kept at the parishes they’re assigned to if need be, and the parish vestments are usually given by parishioners as well. And what parishioner wouldn’t want to provide a priest with some lovely rose vestments?

 

[Shoshana]

Thanks for your answers, John and Titus.

As for the expense of the vestments, I think as a general rule priests don’t buy them themselves, but they are donated to them. I don’t know if this is standard practice everywhere, just from my experience. The priests I know have a personal set of vestments that was given to them as a gift and which they keep, supplementing it with the vestments kept at the parishes they’re assigned to if need be, and the parish vestments are usually given by parishioners as well. And what parishioner wouldn’t want to provide a priest with some lovely rose vestments?

The CWL would agree with you here…