Color of the Priests Robes

During Lent the priests wear Purple for Mass except on Laetare Sunday (they wear rose), Palm Sunday and Good Friday (they wear red).
  
 Laetare Sunday
 (Rose Sunday)
 is the 4th Sunday of Lent. 
 
 It takes its name from the opening words of the Mass, the Introit's "Laetare, Jerusalem". ("Rejoice, O Jerusalem") 
 
 On this Sunday, the Church lightens the liturgical atmosphere, replacing somber violet vestments with bright rose, putting flowers on the altar, and allowing use of the organ.

These are external symbols of the joy that we are meant to feel as we prepare for the Easter feast – whether we are new Catholics preparing to receive the sacraments of initiation at Easter or life-long Catholics called to a life of ongoing conversion.
  
 Israel 66:10-11  Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad because of her, all you who love her; Rejoice with her in her joy, all you who mourn over her— So that you may nurse and be satisfied from her consoling breast; That you may drink with delight at her abundant breasts!
 
 Psalm 122:1  I rejoiced at the things that were said to me: we shall go into the house of the Lord. Glory be to the Father.
 
 
The Priest wears red on
 Palm Sunday and Good Friday symbolizing the passion of Christ and the blood He shed upon the cross. 

This Lenten Season begins
 on Ash Wednesday March 5, 2025
 and ends on Holy Saturday April 19th,2025
before the start of the Easter Vigil Mass.

 
Mark: 7 18  He said to them, "Are even you likewise without understanding?  Do you not realise that everything that goes into a person from outside cannot defile, since it enters not the heart but the stomach and passes out into the latrine?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.)  "But what comes out of a person, that is what defiles. From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly.  All evils come from within and they defile."

Psalms 51:12   
  A clean heart create for me, God; renew within me a steadfast spirit.
  

 This Lenten season we should find ways
 to create and keep a clean heart within ourselves.
 
 Let’s not worry about what others think of our public image, but let’s worry about what God sees in our hearts.  God sees our intentions and all that is deep within our consciences.  He sees our motivations, our virtues, our sins, our attachments, and everything hidden from the eyes of others. 
  
 Let's examine our conscience to see if we are doing what God expects of us, by following his commandments.  
 
 Mark 7:8  
 You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition)
 
 
 Some of the ways we can help cleanse our soul is through
  PRAYER, SACRIFICE, and ALMSGIVING. 

  
Through PRAYER we are opening up our hearts to let God in to help us.  We can pray in our homes privately, or through public worship in community.  Ask God to show you what he desires of you; for his forgiveness of your sins; for help to get through your day.  Put a smile on God’s face, pray. 
  
 Through SACRIFICE, we are walking Jesus’ journey to the cross.  One of the ways we sacrifice is through fasting during lent, not eating in between meals.  Other ways we can sacrifice is by giving up one’s time, either to spend extra time in prayer through the stations of the cross, saying an extra rosary, attend a retreat or seminar.   Another sacrifice would be to accept our hardships without complaining and offer them up to the Lord; or be kind to someone who has hurt us.  Show forgiveness.
  
 Through ALMSGIVING, we are helping others as Jesus did.  We can help others in need with our prayers, time, and money.  It can be the stranger who needs something to eat, or a friend who needs a ride; a neighbor who could use a helping hand.  There is always someone we can help.
  
 *****
Psalms 51:3-5
Have mercy on me, God, in accord with your merciful love; in your abundant compassion blot out my transgressions. Thoroughly wash away my guilt; and from my sin cleanse me.  For I know my transgressions; my sin is always before me.

LENTEN PRACTICES
  
 Ash Wednesday is a Christian holy day of prayer and fasting. ... Ash Wednesday derives its name from the placing of repentance ashes on the foreheads of participants to either the words "Repent, and believe in the Gospel" or the dictum "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return."
 
 People generally wear the ashes — which symbolize penance, mourning and mortality — throughout the day to publicly express their faith and penance.
 
 The ashes used are typically created at the parish church through the burning of palm branches. These palm branches were blessed on
 Palm Sunday the year before, which connects the beginning of Lent
 to the end of Lent, when we remember the Passion, Death and
 Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
 
 ASH WEDNESDAY is a day of FAST, and ABSTINENCE of Meat
 
 
 Fasting is required from adults who are of the ages of 18 to 59.
 
 Fasting means we can have only one full, meatless meal.  Some food can be taken at the other regular meal times if necessary, but combined they should be less than a full meal.  Liquids are allowed at any time, but no solid food should be consumed between meals.
 
 
 Abstaining from meat is required of anyone from the age 14 and up. 
 
 
 ALL FRIDAYS during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence from Meat.
 
 
 GOOD FRIDAY is an obligatory day of FASTING and ABSTINENCE.
 
 Those that are excused from fast and abstinence outside the age limits include the physically or mentally ill including individuals suffering from chronic illnesses such as diabetes.  Also excluded are pregnant or nursing women.  In all cases, common sense should prevail, and ill persons should not further jeopardize their health by fasting.