Let us celebrate the entirety of the Christmas season (this includes the Epiphany) by reflecting Christ’s coming through liturgical attire.
Ruby, Gold, Silver, White, Emerald—a color palette of Redemption.
Put away the wintery violet and put on the white garment of our baptism!
Shades of red in their vibrance point towards our Redemption which begins the moment of the Incarnation. The infant Christ, takes on our human nature, already suffering in His first moments of existence from the musty manger to the Holy Family’s flight to Egypt, a mini exodus.
The precious metals reflect the royalty of the Holy Family–their kingdom being Heaven and reflected in their sinlessness and Joseph’s profound virtues. These metals are often related to the guiding Star of David and the gifts of the three wisemen.
The deep greens reflect the resiliency of evergreen trees that survive harsh winters–a hope that withstands all circumstances and does not waiver. Red and green are notoriously related to Christmas due to holly berries and evergreen trees being some of the only available foliage to decorate the churches and towns. Not to mention the theological significance of the pointed holly leaves representing the crown of thorns of Christ and the red berries seen as drops of His blood. Evergreen trees remind us of Christ sustaining us and giving us life even through times of barren darkness.
Velvet, Wool, Silk, Taffeta—an expression of our three-fold baptismal identity.
Velvet and taffeta are rich materials that adorn royalty. We reflect our baptismal role as king when we put in these materials historically worn by royals and adorned their castle chambers.
Priestly vestments must be made of pure cloth--a natural material such as silk or linen. We reflect our baptismal role as priest when we put on garments made of natural materials which reminds us to join our hearts to that of the priest as an offering in the sacrifice of the Mass.
Wool reflects the shepherds’ model of discipleship (Luke 2:8-20)–those who went in haste with their families and flocks to see the infant Messiah. We reflect our baptismal role as prophet when we wear wool as those early evangelists on Christmas night–the shepherds who immediately went into the town to share what they had just seen (Luke 2:17).Â
