Colors In The Liturgy
During the first centuries, there was no preoccupation regarding the color to be used, especially for the vestments in the celebration of the community. Probably, white was the commonly used color. It was only during the fifteenth century, in the books of Pius V, a certain code in regard to the five liturgical colors was established: white, black, violet, red and green.
Why are there different colors in the Christian celebration? Above all, the symbolism of the different colors can help in assimilating better the celebrated mystery. This is affirmed by the General Instruction of the Roman Missal: The purpose of a variety in the color of the sacred vestmests is to give effective expression even outwardly to the specific character of the mysteries of faith being celebrated and to a sense of Christian life's passage through the course of the liturgical year. (GIRM 345)
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