When the Colors are Used on the Alter and Pulpit
Colors for Special Worship Services:
White for baptisms, weddings, funerals, and secular holidays.
White for the commemoration of a saint who died of natural causes.
Red for the commemoration of a saint who was martyred.
Red for ordinations and installations of clergy.
Purple for services of repentance.
Notes:
Gold and Ivory are alternatives for White.
Blue can be used in Advent instead of Purple (primarily Lutheran usage), but never in the Catholic Church.
Purple can be used for Holy Week.
Hemp or natural colored fabrics can be used instead of Red or Purple for Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday), Good Friday, and Holy Saturday.
It is also customary in some areas to drape unremovable decorations (such as a cross affixed to the wall) in black during that period.
White for baptisms, weddings, funerals, and secular holidays.
White for the commemoration of a saint who died of natural causes.
Red for the commemoration of a saint who was martyred.
Red for ordinations and installations of clergy.
Purple for services of repentance.
Notes:
Gold and Ivory are alternatives for White.
Blue can be used in Advent instead of Purple (primarily Lutheran usage), but never in the Catholic Church.
Purple can be used for Holy Week.
Hemp or natural colored fabrics can be used instead of Red or Purple for Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday), Good Friday, and Holy Saturday.
It is also customary in some areas to drape unremovable decorations (such as a cross affixed to the wall) in black during that period.