It can be difficult to interpret the meaning of certain things in religion. A priest’s colorful vestments help Catholics know which celebrations are at hand:
Green: The color of vestments used during ordinary time.
Purple or violet: Used during Advent and Lent.
White or gold: Most appropriate for Christmas and Easter.
Red: Worn on feasts of the Passion of Jesus and for the Holy Spirit, representing red tongues of fire, in addition to being worn for the feasts of martyred saints who shed their red blood for Christ.
Rose: May be worn as a sign of anticipated joy on the third Sunday of Advent and the fourth Sunday of Lent. If you take the somber color of purple or violet and brighten it with some white, it changes into rose; hence the notion of using this color as a visible sign that Christmas or Easter is soon to come.
Black: May be worn for funeral Masses (as can purple or white) and on All Souls’ Day.