Adapted by Doug Arnold

The use of colors to differentiate liturgical seasons became a common practice in the Western church in about the fourth century. Colors varied considerably at first, but by the 12th century, they were somewhat standardized (purple, white, black, red, and green). Colors express emotions and ideas that are associated with each of the seasons of the liturgical year. **The Christian year contains two cycles: the Christmas Cycle (Advent-Christmas-Epiphany) and the Easter cycle (Lent-Easter-Pentecost). Within each cycle are a preparatory season symbolized by the color purple and a festival season symbolized by the color white. After each cycle there is an Ordinary Time of growth symbolized by the color green. ** We have moved from the Season after the Epiphany (Ordinary Time) into Lent. Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter. We skip Sundays when we count the forty days, because Sundays commemorate the Resurrection. On Ash Wednesday, ashes are placed on the foreheads of the congregation as a symbol that we have come from dust and one day will return to dust. The forty days of Lent correspond to the forty-day temptation of Jesus in the wilderness and the forty-year journey of Israel from slavery to a new land. Historically, Lent began as a period of fasting and preparation for baptism by converts and then became a time for penance by all Christians. The season is a preparation for celebrating Easter. We look inward and reflect on our readiness to follow Jesus in his journey towards the cross. **The First Sunday of Lent describes Jesus’ temptation by Satan. The Sixth Sunday (Passion/Palm Sunday), represents Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem and his subsequent passion and death. The Great Three Days – from sunset Holy Thursday through sunset Easter Day are the climax of Lent (and the whole Christian year) and a bridge into the Easter Season. These days proclaim the paschal mystery of Jesus Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection. ** Colors of Lent that are reflected in clergy stoles and Sanctuary paraments (decorative cloths): Purple dye was very difficult to make and therefore very expensive; so purple came to signify wealth, power, and royalty. Therefore purple is the color for the seasons of Advent and Lent - for the coming of the King. Since as Christians we prepare for our King through reflection and repentance, purple has also become a penitential color. Red is the color of blood, and therefore also of martyrdom. Red is the color for any service that commemorates the death of a martyr. It is also an alternative color for the last week of Lent (Holy Week).