Catechesis of the Good Shepherd - Level 1 Catechist Training at Saint Patrick - Saint Anthony Church
Liturgical Colors
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by Kathy Broggini and Lisa Marie Orchen, 2007 

Subject:         Nomenclature & Movement

 

Title:                Liturgical Colors

 

Liturgical Time:  Any, usually early in 1st year

 

Sources:        GSC- p. 69; GIRM (Vestments) #297-310; Course notes, SPSA 2007

 

Doctrinal Content:  In the church, we mark the changing of the seasons with particular colors to help us remember and celebrate Christ’s saving work.

 

Direct Aim: 

1.      To name the colors of the church season and to name their significance.

 

Indirect Aim:

a.     To aid the children in the knowledge of colors.

b.     To prepare for liturgical year presentations.

c.     To aid control of movement.

d.     To participate more fully in the church year, knowing we are fed at Mass.

e.     To enrich the vocabulary by introducing chasuble and chasuble stand.

f.        To foster prayer through concentration and movement.

 

Materials:

a.     Chasubles- 4 chasubles:  1 red, 1 green, 1 purple, 1 white

Made of lovely material in colors that match what is in Church           

b.     4 chasuble holders

c.     All fabric must be able to fold

d.     Mat

e.     Basket to hold (may also be kept in drawers in the sacristy cabinet, or in own cabinet on hangers)

 

Associated Material:

a.     Tracing packet (4+)

b.     Tracing frame and control (trace and color inside line)

c.     Poster size control chart labels with liturgical colors

Labels under the chasubles

White-feast

Purple-before the feast

Green- after the feast

Red- feast of the Holy Spirit

d.                 Pasting cut out chasubles, yellow stripe

e.                 Tray to hold pencils (in liturgical colors & yellow)

 

Presentation:

 

Preparation:  Place mat on floor and place basket with folded chasubles and 4 chasuble holders in center of circle. 

 

Introduction:  “Today we are going to gather around to learn about how the priest wears different colors throughout the year.  A priest wears a robe called a chasuble.  The priest wears each color for a different season.”

 

Naming & Identifying: “ The white color is the color of celebration- for the feast,  Christmas and Easter”

(Take the white chasuble and hang on hanger)

“The purple color is the color before the feast, Advent and Lent.”

(Take the purple chasuble and hand on hanger)

“The green color is the color after the feast, Ordinary Time.”

(Take the green chasuble and hang on hanger)

“The red color is the feast of the Holy Spirit, Pentecost.”

(Take the red chasuble and hang on hanger)

 

Restoration of the Materials: 

“Now we will put the chasubles away.  Watch me.”

 

Take off the red chasuble from hanger.  Fold chasuble (use both hands and emphasize the fold line) and put in basket.

Take off the green chasuble from hanger.  Fold chasuble and put in basket.

Take off the purple chasuble from hanger.  Fold chasuble and put in basket.

Take off the white chasuble from hanger.  Fold chasuble and put in basket.

 

“You are invited to use these chasubles any time you like.  They are here for you.”

Show where they are kept in the atrium when not in use.

 

Liturgical Colors Song:

There is a song we could sing about the colors….

Purple and green, red and white are the colors of the year.

Purple and green, red and white remind us of the light.

Purple’s for preparation;

White is for celebration;

Green is for the growing time,

Red is for Pentecost.

Purple and green, red and white are the colors of the year.

Purple and green, red and white remind us of the light.

 

Children’s Work:

1.      Using the chasubles themselves

2.      Doing the pasting

3.      Coloring the chasuble sheets

4.      Using the tracing packet

5.      Using the tracing frame

6.      Take a tour of the church with the children

 

Children’s Responses:

 

 

 

CGS Level 1 Catechist Training