Advent colors

[KevinC1129]

This is my first Advent season in a Lutheran church (LCMS), and I always thought purple was the color for Advent. At church yesterday, everything was blue.
Can either color be used and does anyone else use blue?

 

[ViaCrucis]

Purple and blue are both Advent colors, and can often be used interchangeably. Purple is a color associated with repentance, hence its use during Lent. Blue, however, is a color associated with hope, as blue is associated with the sky; as we look forward to Christ's return in hopeful expectation and anticipation of when He comes and God makes all things new.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[KevinC1129]

Purple and blue are both Advent colors, and can often be used interchangeably. Purple is a color associated with repentance, hence its use during Lent. Blue, however, is a color associated with hope, as blue is associated with the sky; as we look forward to Christ's return in hopeful expectation and anticipation of when He comes and God makes all things new.

-CryptoLutheran

Thank you, I never realized that.

 

[Paul Yohannan]

Interestingly, Rev. Percy Dearmer in The Parson's Handbook argued that the use of Sarum Blue in Advent was not actually a historical attribute of the Sarum Rite, from which the use of blue in this manner apparently arose.

In Eastern Orthodoxy blue refers to St. Mary and also to bodiless powers (angels). In OO, there are no definite rules, except in the Coptic church where blue or black stoles are used by deacons in Holy Week.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

Thank you, I never realized that.

Generally, in our Churches that follow the one year Lectionary, Purple is the standard, and the candles on the advent wreath would be three blue and one rose in colour; in use in the three year lectionary, 4 blue would be the standard, however I have seen three blue and one rose as well. Adiaphora, as we say.

 

[Paul Yohannan]

Question for Catholics knowledgeable in the Tridentine rite: what color is typical for Rorate Caeli masses?

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

Question for Catholics knowledgeable in the Tridentine rite: what color is typical for Rorate Caeli masses?

You would likely have to ask the traditional Catholics; but considering the one year (Historic) lectionary is the same:

Four Sundays

1. First S. in Advent (Ad Te Levavi) Purple
   
2. Second S. in Advent (Populus Zion) Purple
   
3. Third S. in Advent (Gaudete) Purple or Rose
   
4. Fourth S. in Advent (Rorate Coeli) Purple

Rose Vestments (Lutheran):

Rose Vestments (Catholic):

 

[Paul Yohannan]

You would likely have to ask the traditional Catholics; but considering the one year (Historic) lectionary is the same:

Four Sundays

1. First S. in Advent (Ad Te Levavi) Purple
   
2. Second S. in Advent (Populus Zion) Purple
   
3. Third S. in Advent (Gaudete) Purple or Rose
   
4. Fourth S. in Advent (Rorate Coeli) Purple

Rose Vestments (Lutheran):

Rose Vestments (Catholic):

Note that Rorate Caeli masses occur during weekdays; I believe the color would be violet but Im not sure.

Edit: oops, I thought I was posting in Traditional Theology, so thats some egg on my face. I wondered why you had answered. Oh well.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

Note that Rorate Caeli masses occur during weekdays; I believe the color would be violet but Im not sure.

Edit: oops, I thought I was posting in Traditional Theology, so thats some egg on my face. I wondered why you had answered. Oh well.

That's OK; and I think you would be correct.