Correct Liturgical Colors

[Lil Red]

+J.M.J.+
i got some of my youth group students in trouble with their religion teacher. i told them that blue is not an acceptable liturgical color, anywhere, anyhow. their religion teacher re-iterated to them that it is because that is what we (as in the local parishes) use for advent. she came to me angry because of what i told them. i told her that as far as the Vatican is concerned, blue is not acceptable.

does the priest or bishop have the leeway to change this rule of what the acceptable liturgical colors are?

am i correct, or is she? canon law, catechism, GIRM, Redemptionis Sacramentum, any other pertinent documents would be helpful.

thank you and God bless

[cappie]

From the GIRM

"346 Traditional usage should be retained for the vestment colors.
a) White is used in the offices and Masses during the seasons of Easter and Christmas; also on celebrations of the Lord, other than of his passion; on celebrations of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the angels, saints who were not martyrs; on the solemnity of All Saints (1 November); the feasts of the Birth of John the Baptist (24 June), John, apostle, evangelist (27 December), the Chair of Peter (22 February), and the Conversion of Paul (25 January).
b) Red is used on Passion Sunday (Palm Sunday) and Good Friday, Pentecost Sunday, celebrations of the Lord's passion, birthday feasts of the apostles and evangelists, and celebrations of martyrs.
c) Green is used in the offices and Masses of Ordinary Time.
d) Violet is used in Advent and Lent. It may also be worn in offices and Masses for the dead.
e) Black may be used, where it is the custom, in Masses for the dead.
e) 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;
f) Rose may be used, where it is the custom, on Guadete Sunday (Third Sunday of Advent) and Laetare Sunday (Fourth Sunday of Lent).

g) Gold or silver colored vestments may be worn on more solemn occasions in the dioceses of the United States of America.
However, as regards liturgical colors, the Conference of Bishops may define and propose to the Holy See adaptations which respond to the needs and genius of the peoples. "


Blue is never mentioned.

Fr Z

Fr. Z’s annual rant against BLUE vestments - and POLL
CATEGORY: SESSIUNCULA — Fr. John Zuhlsdorf @ 8:05 am

Each year in The Wanderer I go on a tear about use of BLUE vestments duing Advent. This year I will rant earlier so that it might do additional good.

In Latin we say repetita iuvant (repeated things help). So, here we go.

I say again: blue vestments, no matter what anyone says, are still not licit for the Latin Rite.

Maybe someday they will be, but they aren’t right now.

Long time readers of WDTPRS know I have a parody song about blue vestments for Advent composed by our Official WDTDPRS Parody Meistersinger, Tim Ferguson who posts here regularly.

Here it is, a service to you, the long-suffering in the pews. We want to help you endure the stupidities through a little levity.

This is sung to the tune of O Come, O Come Emmanuel:

O come, o come liturgical blue;
out with the old, and in with the new.
Let’s banish purple vestments from here,
the color blue is very HOT this year.

Refrain: Gaudy, gaudy, gaudy chasubles,
in baby, navy, powderpuff and teal.

Since Advent is the Blessed Virgin’s time,
we’ll wear blue, though it’s a canonic crime,
and in the third week, we’ll wear white.
Although it’s wrong, we’ll say that it’s alright.

Refrain

Around the wreath we’ll place blue candlelight,
and in one corner, we will place one white.
We’ll drape blue over our communion rail,
and use blue burses with blue chalice veils.

Every year I like to affirm my deep affection for the lovely but liturgically illegal color blue. If and when blue vestments are ever approved for use in the Latin Church I will have made a set of blue vestments complete with maniple, chalice veil and burse.

[url="http://wdtprs.com/blog/2007/12/fr-zs-annual-rant-against-blue-vestments-and-poll/"]http://wdtprs.com/blog/2007/12/fr-zs-annua...ments-and-poll/[/url]

Edited December 18, 2008 by cappie