Posted on 12/08/2004 6:04:28 AM PST by NYer
This had always been my understanding until last December, when I walked into church for the Christmas Vigil mass and saw our pastor vested in red . Apparently, no one else noticed. As is often the case in the more liberal dioceses, certain priests manage to get their way by 'interpreting' church documents. In this situation, he must have applied option 'g'.
"On more solemn days, sacred vestments may be used that are festive, that is, more precious, even if not of the color of the day."
That evening, I watched the masses televised from Washington DC and the Vatican. All the priests were vested in white. /sigh/
That is the problem of offering so many options. (I assume if there is an option 'g', there are also options a,b,c,d,e, and f.) When there are so many allowable exceptions to the rule, the rule becomes meaningless.
Apparently, no one else noticed. As is often the case in the more liberal dioceses.
I find it difficult to be too hard on the average Catholic in the pew, with so many exceptions allowed, and so many changes to the exceptions all the time, it is next too impossible to keep up with what is or isn't allowed in the NO. But, perhaps that is the objective.
Why do a number of churches use blue during advent claiming it is an official liturgical color for advent?
Forgive my ignorance, but isn't Advent supposed to be a penitential season, like Lent?
Hence, Violet is used. Our pastor still uses pink as well.
Sorry, my eye bumped over this part...
Well you caught me off guard with that question so I did some investigating. And, yes indeed, Advent is a penitential season, the big difference being that it is a joyful penance.
"Advent is really a lot like Lent. Both are roughly month-long seasons of preparation for a joyful holiday. In fact, starting in about the sixth century, Advent and Lent used the same liturgies, Mass for Mass, in the Latin Rite. During both seasons, you would see the purple vestments of mourning, symbolism echoed today by the colored candles of the Advent wreath. In the reign of Innocent III (1198-1216) the vestments of Advent were black. Long after that, pictures and statues were covered, the organ was silenced, and flowers were banned from the churches, just as during Lent. Even in the Ambrosian and Mozarabic rites, where there was no special Advent liturgy, there was still a requirement to fast during the season before the Nativity. It was designed to remind us of the need to repent in preparation for a holy season."
FULL TEXT
Still good advice today! Thanks for your answer.
Your question is a very important one. Blue is NOT an approved liturgical color.....period. What is contained in the above article about "Marian shrines", etc. is rather misleading.....though it is sometimes used for these very rare and truly exceptional cases.
The use of the color Blue diring Advent (and also Lent)is a symbol of dissent. It is not merely that it is wrong for the season, it is not approved for use period. There is no mere mistake about this - ir is done very purposefully.
There is another reasons for the use of the color blue; its is a masonic ritual/liturgical color. This makes it an even more serious symbol of dissent. It clearly shows what side of the fence the parish priest is on.
But regardless of the exact reason for using blue, do not be fooled into thinking that father is just merely making a mistake.........he knows exactly what he is doing.
Like when he wears a stole OVER the chasuable. It is also a sign of dissent.
My understanding is that its use is common in the Mozarabic Rite for Feasts of Our Lady, and that this was extended to certain Latin Rite Spanish-derived areas like Mexico. But it certainly isn't in the U.S.
The use of the color Blue diring Advent (and also Lent)is a symbol of dissent.
Yep. I love how these people are all for protecting other people's traditions, but when it comes to the traditional Latin-Rite violet and rose Advent..no, we can't do THAT.
Interesting, thanks for the history. Liturgists IMHO seem not to be interested in preserving old Rites/Uses intact, but rather using them as justification for their own experimentalism.
Is anyone out there using the Sarum Use still?
You are correct about the past historical usage of the color - no argument there! But, as you hinted at, blue is not being used as any legitimate throwback to a particular origen.
The phoney excuse of a primitive origen is being used as a cover for dissent.....to confound any legitimate argument of a layman, by dissident clergy. As to the Sarum rite......I know what you refer to, and I dont think it is actually in any regular use.
I've visited a western rite Orthodox church that uses a liturgy derived from Sarum, although I don't have any point of reference to gauge how much their service deviated from the Sarum manuscripts. I was impressed. They carried out the service simply, without a lot of frills (e.g. the chanting was more functional than splendid), with a sense of strict respect for the holiness of the sacrifice. What really struck me was that the language and rubrics were intensely doctrinal, with a lot of emphasis on the Trinity. I came away thinking that if the Novus Ordo were similar, there'd be less room for dissent in the Church. Their doctrine was too clearly on display in the liturgy. You couldn't mouth the words while thinking to yourself that they must really mean the opposite.
Why “Gaudete?” (Third Sunday of Advent)
Advent through Christmas -- 2007
Immaculate Conception Novena -- starts November 30th [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
Making Advent a Reality (the seasons are out of whack)
The Advent Workshop -- lots of information and activities
Jesse Trees (genealogy of Jesus activity for families)
Advent Wreath & Candles (Prayers for the Family)
Reclaiming the Mystery of Advent, Part One: The Meaning of Advent
Celebrating Christ’s Advent [Archbishop Raymond Burke]
Praying through Advent -- 2006
Advent: the Reason for the Season
Advent Activity - The Jesse Tree
That incredible shrinking Advent-Christmas season (Christmas should start, not end, Dec. 25)
Advent Thoughts: Some of the Church Fathers on the Divinity of Christ
The Relationship Between Advent and the Change in the Seasons (Dom Guéranger)
Blue is not an approved liturgical color. They are doing their own thing and need to be reported.
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