Pretty in Pink

I had the wonderful opportunity to attend mass this past Sunday at the National Shrine in DC this weekend. It was the fourth Sunday of Lent and as we taught the RCIA lesson on 'Liturgical Life" this week, I had to look up the meaning of the pink or rose colored vestments the priests wore at mass.

This is from the Happy Catholic Blog:

The fourth Sunday of Lent is rather unique; like the third Sunday of Advent ("Gaudete Sunday"), the fourth Sunday of Lent is a break in an otherwise penitential season. The vestments for this day will be rose, as they are on Gaudete Sunday in Advent, and flowers may adorn the Altar. This day is called "Laetare Sunday" (also "Rose Sunday" ), and takes its name from the opening words of the Mass, the Introit's "Laetare, Jerusalem"...

A bit more info comes from Fr. Dwight Longenecker:

The Rose color was made from the very rare crimson dye taken from a tiny gland in the murex mollusc (a kind of sea snail) found only off the coast of Lebanon. Thus, in the ancient world that particular rose color was a sign of great wealth, and royal status. The High Priest in the temple in Jerusalem used it in his vestments. It came to be used on the two refreshment Sundays in the penitential seasons to perk people up.

But there is more to it than that. The rose vestments in Lent, remind us of the royal and priestly status of Our Lord. The priest in persona Christi presents an icon of Christ the King and great High Priest. The fact that this image is stuck in the midst of the two penitential seasons reminds us that locked into the austerity of this world, robed in the squalor and simplicity of human flesh, there lies hidden the Great High Priest of the New Covenant, Christ the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

This a good example of how everything in the Liturgy and everything in the Church is there for a reason and has meaning. Much like our Eastern-Rite brothers and sisters, we surround ourselves with aides to worship that help guide us back into unity with God. Next time you see something you don't recognize, ask a fellow Catholic!