The Liturgical Colours of Lent

What is the colour set down by the Church for Lent?  

The Church’s liturgical books cite the colour violaceus (a Latin word), which can be translated as violet or purple.  Unfortunately these alternate translations are used indiscriminately, even though they refer to two quite different colours.

In descriptive terms, violet is tinged with blue; purple is tinged with red.  

We know that the vesture of bishops is a colour we call Roman purple.   Is this the colour intended for sacred vestments in the Seasons of Lent (and Advent)? Some say yes, some say no. The practice throughout the world and in Rome itself has differed over the course of the last several centuries.

Let’s try to identify what is a suitable colour for Lenten vestments.  The Season of Lent is penitential and its vestments ought to be distinguished by being sombre. The purple of bishops, however, is intended to be a mark of their rank, and is derived from the use (by the ancient Romans) of purple robes to denote dignity, prestige and royalty. Consequently, Roman purple or fuchsia is not intended to be penitential.

Would the darker colour, then, violet (closer to indigo)  be correct?  Although the use of dark violet is now widespread,  its development for liturgical use dates from the 19th century.  Furthermore, such a colour was not used in Rome for sacred vestments until much more recently.

There is no correct colour, nor even shade of colour for Lenten violaceus.  But sombreness is the appropriate mood for the Season, at least in the Western Church.

AMDG.

Red vestments in the Borromeon form

In this post, the Saint Bede Studio is pleased to present a set of vestments made in the Borromeon form. The vestments were made from a red brocade and fully-lined in copper-coloured taffeta.

The vestments are ornamented with the TAU at the front and a column at the back, these being formed by a brocade in colours of flame-red and gold, outlined with a narrow galloon.

Click on the images for an enlarged view.

The Saint Bede Studio : vestments made by Catholics for Catholics.

Enquiries : stbede62@gmail.com

Information on placing an order.

Please note that posts on this blog are set-up for optimal viewing via a web-browser, not via a mobile phone.

AMDG

What range of vestments does a young priest need?

 The Saint Bede Studio is often asked what a newly-ordained priest needs in the way of vestments, so I present these recommendations, based on years of experience and observation.  

Ideally, of course, a young priest would own a set of vestments in the Liturgical colours of white, green, red and violet.  Every priest ought to have a set available in these colours.  

He needs a chasuble, stole and chalice veil.  Whatever about liturgical requirements or permissions, it is unseemly to dispense with the chalice veil for the celebration of Mass.

Some additional points :

If it can be afforded, a priest should have two sets in different shades of the liturgical colours.  A congregation often appreciates seeing some variety in the vestments that are used.  Remember, it is the congregation which is looking at the vestments during Mass, not the priest wearing them.

The vestments of the Saint Bede Studio are beautiful in design, sound in construction and distinctive in appearance.

Click on the images for an enlarged view.

The Saint Bede Studio : vestments made by Catholics for Catholics.

Enquiries : stbede62@gmail.com

Information on placing an order.

Please note that posts on this blog are set-up for optimal viewing via a web-browser, not via a mobile phone.

AMDG

Our Ladye of Lourdes

To commemorate this Feast of Our Ladye of Lourdes, we are pleased to present this set of vestments in honour of the Blessed Virgin.  

These vestments are in the Saint Bede Studio's Maria Regina style.  This was the first orphrey braid the Studio developed specifically in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Since then, we have designed several other unique Marian braids.  This particular vestment was made from silk damask.

Click on the image for an enlarged view.

The vestments of the Saint Bede Studio are beautiful in design, sound in construction and distinctive in appearance.

Enquiries.

Information on placing an order.

The Saint Bede Studio : vestments made by Catholics for Catholics. 

Please note that posts on this blog are set-up for viewing via a web-browser, not via a mobile phone.

AMDG 

The Season Per Annum 2026 : 5

We are pleased to present in this post a beautiful set of green vestments in the Gothic Revival style. 

This colourful chasuble is made from an ecclesiastical brocade in a subdued shade of green.  It is fully-lined in rust-red taffeta.

The ornament of this chasuble is formed from one of the Studio's unique braids English Rose in colours of green, white and crimson red upon black.  This braid is only available from the Saint Bede Studio and was specifically designed for use with green vestments and black vestments.  The ornament of this chasuble is enhanced with a narrow galloon.

The vestments of the Saint Bede Studio are beautiful in design, sound in construction and distinctive in appearance.

Click on the image for an enlarged view.

The Saint Bede Studio : vestments made by Catholics for Catholics.

Enquiries : stbede62@gmail.com

Information on placing an order.

Please note that posts on this blog are set-up for optimal viewing via a web-browser, not via a mobile phone.

AMDG

On the Feast of the martyr S' Agatha

On this ancient Feast, the Saint Bede Studio is pleased to present this image of a set of red vestments, the colour used for the Apostles, Martyrs and the Passion.  

The set was made from dupion silk in a subdued shade of red.  It is not the fiery  red used for the Feasts of the Holy Spirit, but closer to colour of blood.  The vestments were ornamented in the Roman style, with a TAU at the front and a column at the back, formed from a damask in colours of red and straw gold and an outlining galloon.  The lining was made of bronze-coloured taffeta.

The chasuble is in the Studio's Saint Philip Neri style, which is the product of years of research into historical vestments and refinement of dimensions for comfortable use.  The Studio revived this more ample 16th century style of the Roman chasuble in 2007 and since then we have made many of them.  Beware of poorly-designed imitations!

The work of the Saint Bede Studio is distinctive for its artistic qualities and the pains taken with every detail, such as the alignment of ornaments.  Even a restrained set of vestments like this is striking for its combination of colours and fine workmanship.

Click on the images for an enlarged view.

The Saint Bede Studio : vestments made by Catholics for Catholics.

Enquiries : stbede62@gmail.com

Please note that posts on this blog are set-up for optimal viewing via a web-browser, not via a mobile phone.

AMDG

On the Feast of the martyr S' Blaise

In this post, we are pleased to present a glimpse of a set of red vestments, in the Borromeon style.

This set is constructed from ecclesiastical brocade in a beautiful shade of crimson red and is lined in a coppery shade of taffeta. 

The ornament was formed from one of the Studio's unique braids in colours of Old Gold and burgundy, with a hint of white, upon red.  It features knot-work, rather than our usual mediaeval style.  We called the braid Saint Columba. It can be used with any of the liturgical colours, excepting rose. 

The orphrey is outlined with another knot-work narrow galloon in the same colours.

The Saint Bede Studio : vestments made by Catholics for Catholics. 

 

Click on the images for an enlarged view. 

The vestments of the Saint Bede Studio are beautiful in design, sound in construction and distinctive in appearance.

Enquiries.

Information on placing an order.

Please note that posts on this blog are set-up for viewing via a web-browser, not via a mobile phone.

AMDG 

The Presentation of Our Lord

On this Feast of the Presentation, the Studio is pleased to present a very simple set of vestments, made in the traditional Roman style.  

The vestments are made from a beautiful ivory brocade and fully-lined in a shade of gold silk.  The chasuble in this post is ornamented in the well-known Roman style, a TAU at the front and a column at the back, formed simply by an out-lining golden galloon. 

The chasuble is in the Studio's Saint Philip Neri style, which is the product of years of research into historical vestments and refinement of dimensions for comfortable use.  The Studio revived this more ample 16th century style of the Roman chasuble in 2007 and since then we have made many of them.  Beware of poorly-made imitations!

Click on the image for an enlarged view.

The Saint Bede Studio : vestments made by Catholics for Catholics.

Enquiries : stbede62@gmail.com

Please note that posts on this blog are set-up for optimal viewing via a web-browser, not via a mobile phone.

AMDG

Red vestments in the S' Philip Neri style

In this post, the Saint Bede Studio is pleased to present images of a set of red vestments.  

The set was made from ecclesiastical brocade in a fiery combination of red and straw-gold and lined in a matching shade of red.  The vestments were ornamented in the Roman style, with a TAU at the front and a column at the back, formed from an outlining galloon. 

The vestments of the Saint Bede Studio are beautiful in design, sound in construction and distinctive in appearance.

  

The chasuble is in the Studio's Saint Philip Neri style, which is the product of years of research into historical vestments and refinement of dimensions for comfortable use.  The Studio revived this more ample 16th century style of the Roman chasuble in 2007 and since then we have made many of them.  Beware of poorly-designed imitations!

The work of the Saint Bede Studio is distinctive for its artistic qualities and the pains taken with every detail, such as the alignment of ornaments.  Even a restrained set of vestments like this is striking for its combination of colours and fine workmanship.

Click on the images for an enlarged view.

The Saint Bede Studio : vestments made by Catholics for Catholics.

Enquiries : stbede62@gmail.com

Information on placing an order.

Please note that posts on this blog are set-up for optimal viewing via a web-browser, not via a mobile phone.

AMDG

A simple set of white vestments

We are pleased to present in this post a simple set of vestments according to our Saint Giles design. This elegant chasuble, made from a cream coloured silk blend jacquard, is extremely lightweight and flows beautifully.

The chasuble is ornamented with a braid of the Studio's design, in colours of red, burgundy and gold.  This design is directly based upon a Belgian early-20th century chasuble which appears on page 92 of Dom Roulin's well-known study Vestments and Vesture (1931). The image from Dom Roulin's book is reproduced below.

Dom Roulin's fascinating study has recently been reprinted by the Romanitas Press and is highly recommended by this Studio.

The vestments of the Saint Bede Studio are beautiful in design, sound in construction and distinctive in appearance.

Click on the images for an enlarged view.

The Saint Bede Studio : vestments made by Catholics for Catholics.

Enquiries : stbede62@gmail.com

Information on placing an order.

Please note that posts on this blog are set-up for optimal viewing via a web-browser, not via a mobile phone.

AMDG