The meaning of the colors at Mass, and the connection with the Temple of Jerusalem

[Michie]

Now in Ordinary Time we’re back to wearing green vestments and folks quite rightly wonder what the meaning of the four colors of vestments signify. (six if you count the rose and black vestments ) So I explain to the altar boys that red is for the blood of the martyrs and the fire of the Holy Spirit. White and gold for the glory of God and the celebration of Easter and Christmastide.Purple is more somber to mark the penitential seasons of Advent and Lent. But why green? Is it for summertime when everything is green and growing? Maybe, but the explanation seems strained at best.

The British scholar Margaret Baker has unlocked a detail in her studies of the worship in the Jewish temple that helps elucidate the tradition of color in Catholic vestments. In fact, the development of the traditions of the different colors is very complicated and it was only comparatively recently that the four colors were standardized and universally accepted. In various countries different traditions developed independently. So, for example, in medieval England during Lent they used “Lenten array”–a simple burlap kind of fabric embroidered with instruments of Our Lord’s passion. You can see an example here. This is still a custom in many Anglican churches. Elsewhere blue vestments were worn for Advent.

Continued below.
The Meaning of the Four Colors at Mass | Fr. Dwight Longenecker

 

[Arcangl86]

I actually went to a (Anglican) church that never used purple because they used blue for advent and had a full set of lenten array.

 

[pdudgeon]

I was taught that green symbolized the growth, fruitfulness, and acceptance of the young Church:
The Church's spread to new countries, it's fruitfulness in spreading the Gospel to more people in more languages,
and it's life-giving hope of salvation.