As Television made its grand debut in the middle of the last century, black and white was the only menu. The good guys were dressed in white; the bad guys, the dastardly villains, in black. Not too many years later, the technological experts of the time introduced color—what a drastic difference.
Of all Creators, Artists, Architects, Poets, Writers and Musicians, God was, is and always will be the expert par excellence. This said, in creating the world in all its variety, God chose to create the world and its vast expanse, from north to south, from sea to sea in color.
It was not surprising in those old days that someone would ask as one of their first questions in getting acquainted with a new friend this pointed question: “By the way, what is your favorite color?” Even now, I might ask you: What is your favorite color, and has it changed over time?
In his ground-breaking masterpiece, Saint Ignatius offers us for reflection, Principle and Foundation, commencing with man is CREATED…. Yes, CREATED. In God’s awesome, awe-inspiring, and both marvelous and magnificent arena of creation splurges forth color!
Therefore, let us look to colors and contemplate on how they can lift our minds and hearts to God, the ultimate Author of creation imbued with the multi-faceted beauty of color!
1. Often the Blessed Virgin Mary appears dressed in blue. Therefore, contemplating the deep blue sky can lift our minds and thoughts to Mary who is the Mother of God, the Mother of the Church, and our Heavenly Mother.
2. The sky appears as a blue canopy but often speckled with a number of white clouds. This calls to mind the importance of the virtue of purity—so important in a society permeated by hedonism, sensuality, and sexual promiscuity.
3. Traditionally the color green has been interpreted in the light of the virtue of hope. Liturgically, it is the color that the priest wears when celebrating Holy Mass in what is called Ordinary Time. Therefore, in the midst of the trials of life, seeing green can lift our eyes to hope and trust in God’s loving and Divine Providence in our lives. Indeed, God will provide and help us through the tough times and help us to get to heaven. In a word, our hope is in heaven and eternal life with God forever.
4. Another Liturgical color is purple, worn by the priest in the Advent Season in preparation for Christmas, as well as in the Lenten Season preparing for the Passion, death and Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Furthermore, the priest wears a purple stole when celebrating the Sacrament of Confession or Reconciliation. Purple, therefore, is a penitential color exhorting and challenging us to change our lives, to give up our sins, and to put on the Lord Jesus Christ.
5. Red is a Liturgical color that a priest wears with great frequency signifying the feast of a martyr. In fact, when the Church celebrates the death of a martyr, at the same time the Church is celebrating their birth into heaven. Physical death opens the gateway to eternal life, most especially in the life and death of the martyr. Actually, the word martyr means witness. Such a person, filled with the love of God and supernatural courage, willingly sheds their blood for love of Christ or for the willingness to defend a virtue. In the case of Saint Maria Goretti, it was the sacrificing of her life to defend the virtue of purity or chastity.
6. Black is a somber color. As the sun goes down, and darkness covers the earth as the black night descends, we call to mind the sober reality of our mortality. In a word, one day we will all die and have to go before the Judgment seat of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As Scripture points out, it is destined for man once to die and then to be judged upon his conduct, the way he has lived out his earthly existence. Saint Paul reminds us: “Those who sow in the flesh will reap a harvest of corruption; those in the spirit, eternal life.” (Gal. 6:8)
7. Orange/Yellow point to the sunrise, the sun at midday, and the Son rising in our hearts. This should lift our gaze to Jesus who rose from the dead that first Easter morning. It calls to mind the words of Jesus who said: “I am the Light of the world” (Jn 8:12). and “You are the light of the world.” (Mt. 5:14) The combination of both orange/yellow could trigger within us contemplating a blazing fire, and that we are called to be purified in our lives by the fire of tribulations. Also, both Purgatory and Hell are places with the existence of fire. This will challenge us to conversion from sin, and fervent prayers for the souls that are suffering the fires of Purgatory. It will challenge us to pray ardently for the conversion of sinners so that they will not be lost forever in the fire and flames of Hell.
8. The color of the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is Brown. By wearing this Scapular, we enter into the school of Mary, we enter into the family of Mary, we enter into the army of Mary, we enter into the embrace of Mary and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. We are safe and secure covered in the cloak and mantel of our Heavenly Mother.
9. The Rainbow Arc after the storm. The multi-color reality of a rainbow challenges us to live out the Beatitude: “Blessed are the peacemakers, they will be called children of God.” (Mt. 3:9) Furthermore, it points to the fact that in the Mystical Body of Christ there are different members, but all have their importance. As the saying goes: “Variety is the spice of life.” Also, we are called to recognize our specific talents and cultivate them for the common good and for the building up of the Mystical Body of Christ.
10. Jesus received from the Magi three gifts: Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh. By contemplating the beautiful color and richness of Gold, we might be inspired to praise Jesus as Lord of Lords and King of Kings. We might ponder what form of gold or gift we can give to Jesus every day by our works of charity. Gold also might help us to lift up our mind to heaven by imagining the splendid and glorious image of God’s eternal home, a “city of pure gold” decorated by precious jewels in perfect order and symmetry. (Read Revelation 21: 15-21, especially verse 18)
This very simple and somewhat poetic reflection can perhaps encourage us to cultivate the eyes of a mystic. May we perceive God’s handiwork in the beauty of His natural creation. Indeed, God did not create the world in black and white—He could have done it that way. Rather God willed to create the universe and all its majestic beauty bathed in a multifaceted world of colors. By the way, what is your favorite color and what color most lifts your mind and heart to God?
