The color of a pulpit scarf, ambo fall, or lectern cover follows the liturgical color of the day. White and gold are used for Christmas, Easter, and solemnities; green for Ordinary Time; red for Pentecost, the Passion, and martyrs; violet for Advent and Lent; rose for Gaudete and Laetare Sunday; and black for requiem Masses where customary. The color is a visual signal of the season before a word is spoken.
The Short Answer
Match the cover to the vestments and the altar frontal. If you are building a parish set, start with green, violet, white, and red; add rose and a Marian design for particular feasts. The general norms are in GIRM 346 and the following paragraphs, but local custom and the diocesan calendar always take precedence.
White and Gold
White is the color of joy, light, and glory. It is used for Christmas and Easter, for solemnities of the Lord and Our Lady, for weddings and baptisms, and for funerals where local custom permits. Gold may replace white on solemn occasions. A white or gold ambo fall brightens the sanctuary and works especially well with white altar linens and gold embroidery.
Green
Green is the color of Ordinary Time — the long season of growth, discipleship, and the public ministry of Christ. It is the most frequently used color in most parishes, which makes a green cover the most practical first purchase. A green ambo fall with an IHS or Alpha and Omega motif is a versatile choice that works for weekday and Sunday Masses alike.
Red
Red recalls the Holy Spirit, the Passion of the Lord, and the witness of martyrs. It is used at Pentecost, on Palm Sunday and Good Friday, and on feasts of martyrs, apostles, and evangelists. A red pulpit cover with a dove, a cross, or a Eucharistic motif is a strong seasonal piece; it is also useful for Confirmations and ordinations.
Violet and Purple
Violet — often called purple in catalogs — is the color of preparation, penance, and conversion. It is used during Advent and Lent, and in requiem Masses where customary. A violet ambo fall with crosses or the Alpha and Omega monogram helps the congregation read the penitential character of the season. It is one of the four colors most parishes need.
Rose
Rose is used only twice in the year: on Gaudete Sunday, the Third Sunday of Advent, and on Laetare Sunday, the Fourth Sunday of Lent. It is a brief note of joy in the middle of a penitential season. A rose cover is a specialist piece; parishes that have a complete set often add it after the green, violet, white, and red covers.
Black
Black is used for requiem Masses where local custom permits. It is less common than it once was, and many parishes use violet or white instead. If your church has a black set, a black ambo fall completes the sanctuary for funerals and All Souls' Day.
Building a Seasonal Set
Most parishes build the set gradually. Start with the color used most often — usually green — then add violet for Advent and Lent, white for Christmas and Easter, and red for Pentecost and martyrs. Add rose for the two rose Sundays and a Marian cover for the parish patronal feast or a shrine. The same embroidery can run from the ambo to the altar with our altar tablecloths and chasubles.
If you are choosing a first cover, see our guide to choosing a lectern or pulpit cover. If you need to measure the furniture, see How to Measure a Lectern or Ambo for a Cover.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What color is a pulpit scarf?
A: It depends on the liturgical season. White and gold for Christmas, Easter, and solemnities; green for Ordinary Time; red for Pentecost and martyrs; violet for Advent and Lent; rose for Gaudete and Laetare Sunday; black for requiem Masses where customary.
Q: What does a purple pulpit cover mean?
A: Purple or violet signals preparation, penance, and conversion. It is used during Advent and Lent, and in requiem Masses where local custom permits.
Q: When is a rose pulpit cover used?
A: Rose is used on Gaudete Sunday, the Third Sunday of Advent, and on Laetare Sunday, the Fourth Sunday of Lent. It is a brief note of joy within a penitential season.
Q: Can the pulpit cover match the chasuble?
A: Yes — and it should. Matching the ambo fall to the vestments and altar frontal makes the sanctuary read as one coordinated space. The color, not necessarily the exact embroidery, is the key.
Q: What color should a parish buy first?
A: Green is usually the most practical first choice because it is used throughout Ordinary Time. Then add violet, white, and red; rose and Marian designs come later.
Q: Is black still used in Catholic liturgy?
A: Black may be used for requiem Masses where local custom permits. Many parishes now use violet or white instead, so check your diocesan and parish practice.
Related Reading
Continue with What Is a Pulpit Fall?, Ambo vs. Pulpit vs. Lectern, and How to Choose a Lectern or Pulpit Cover. Browse our embroidered covers in every liturgical color.
