Dear Father,
I recall that the priest wears pink sometime during Lent. I wonder why we don’t see priests wearing pink more throughout the year. It would kind of help break up all that green. I think you should suggest this to them from your liturgy office. Thanks.
-Frank
Dear Frank,
It’s not actually pink that priests wear as vestments at Mass (though some of them have more of a Pepto Bismol shade). We refer to the color as rose. Rose, apparently, sits between red and pink on the color wheel. It is supposed to be a muted color that, as one website puts it, adds “a touch of sophistication.”
You’re right: Priests only wear rose vestments twice a year. You’ll see it soon on the fourth Sunday of Lent. You already saw rose vestments in December on the third Sunday of Advent.
Rose-colored vestments bespeak our joy. Both the third Sunday of Advent and the fourth Sunday of Lent are about halfway through the respective seasons and indicate that we will soon celebrate what they lead up to: Christmas and Easter.
The third Sunday of Advent is known as “Gaudete” Sunday. Gaudete is the Latin word meaning “rejoice.” The name of the Sunday is taken from the Entrance Antiphon that begins “Rejoice (Gaudete) in the Lord always.”
Similarly, the fourth Sunday of Lent, known as “Laetare” Sunday, takes its name for that day’s Entrance Antiphon that begins “Rejoice, Jerusalem, and all who love her.”
In places where rose-colored vestments are not available, the priests and deacons continue to wear the Lenten violet color.
“Why have various colors at all?” you may ask. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (no. 345) explains that the diverse colors show the beauty of the Mass and especially highlight the character of the various mysteries we celebrate through the course of the year. (I wrote about other vestment colors in an article that can be found at https://catholictimescolumbus.org/news/father-paul-keller-op-s-t-d/why-not-wildly-colored-vestments-at-mass.
How very human it is to use colors to denote attitudes and moods. It’s no wonder that the Church takes up this human quality and transposes it onto our divine worship. The colors at Mass are meant to make us ponder God’s insistent involvement in our lives. We exult in the power of the Resurrection and divine life with white. We mourn, with violet, that we have often blocked divine life by our sins.
The wearing of rose-colored vestments is somewhat new. The practice began in the late 16th century when only the pope and cardinals wore rose on Gaudete and Laetare Sundays.
It wasn’t until 1729 when bishops were allowed to wear rose vestments on those two Sundays, and seemingly only in Rome. Then, in the 19th century, priests began to use rose-colored vestments outside of Rome. The custom took root when, after the Second Vatican Council, the option to wear rose vestments has continued.
Whether the vestments are rose or violet on Laetare and Gaudete Sundays, the theme of rejoicing prevails. Throughout the Scriptures, we find that rejoicing is our strength. That’s because an attitude of joy and thanksgiving, whether in our voluntary penances or involuntary crosses, is the way to overcome evil in our lives.
We already know that God is on our side. All the sorrows of life, even those caused by our own sins, are overcome through the love and mercy and grace of God. He alone is able to bring great good out of the worst evils in our lives. This is the constant beginning point of all our prayers, all our worship.
It is only when we forget, or even refuse, to praise God for our crosses, including those interior crosses of shame and habitual sin, that the devil is able to prevail. Rather than curse our crosses and weaknesses and disorders, if we keep our eyes on Christ, we will rejoice that He transforms these things into gems to be set in the crowns of glory we will wear in heaven.
The use of the sacraments, especially penance and the Holy Eucharist, bring us the transforming power from heaven into our lives. There is always reason for rejoicing because the diabolical lies about our unworthiness are dispelled.
Rejoice in the Lord always, commands St Paul (Phil 4:4). This is not advice. It is the way to conquer all manner of darkness in our lives and in the world.
When Laetare Sunday comes, smile at the rose vestments, especially if they look like Pepto Bismol. Smile, not at the oddity of the color but at the meaning of it. Remember that your salvation is near at hand and make every effort to develop and an attitude of constant praise of God in every situation of life.