Advent is coming, and if you're a priest or sacristan, you're probably asking: what color vestments do I wear? The answer is mostly violet — but there's a twist on the Third Sunday that catches a lot of people off guard.
Let me walk you through the Advent color guide so you're prepared.
The Primary Color: Violet
For most of Advent, the liturgical color is violet (sometimes called purple). Violet is the color of penitence, preparation, and expectation. It's the same color used during Lent, though the tone of Advent violet is often described as more hopeful — we're preparing for joy, not mourning.
You'll wear violet vestments — chasuble, stole, and dalmatic — from the First Sunday of Advent through December 16th. That's about three weeks.
The Exception: Rose on Gaudete Sunday
On the Third Sunday of Advent, known as Gaudete Sunday, the color changes to rose (a lighter, pinkish shade of violet). "Gaudete" means "rejoice" in Latin, and the rose color signals a brief moment of joy in the middle of a penitential season.
Gaudete Sunday falls on the Third Sunday of Advent — the one where the entrance antiphon begins "Gaudete in Domino semper" (Rejoice in the Lord always). If you only have violet vestments, you can use those — rose is optional, not required. But if you have a rose chasuble and stole, it's a beautiful touch.
What About the Feast of the Immaculate Conception?
December 8th is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception — a holy day of obligation. The color for this feast is white, not violet. Even though it falls during Advent, solemnities override the season's color.
So if December 8th falls on a weekday during Advent, you'll switch from violet to white for that day's Mass, then back to violet the next day.
| Date | Color | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Sunday of Advent – Dec 16 | Violet | Penitential preparation |
| Dec 8 (Immaculate Conception) | White | Solemnity overrides Advent |
| 3rd Sunday of Advent (Gaudete) | Rose (optional) | Rejoice — midpoint of Advent |
| Dec 17–23 | Violet | Final preparation |
| Dec 24 (Christmas Eve) | White | Christmas begins |
What I Recommend
For Advent, you need at minimum a violet chasuble and stole. If you want to be fully prepared, add a rose chasuble for Gaudete Sunday and make sure you have a white set ready for the Immaculate Conception.
If you're building your vestment collection from scratch, start with violet — it's the workhorse of Advent and Lent. Add rose and white as your budget allows.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I use blue for Advent?
A: Blue is not an official liturgical color in the Roman Rite. Some countries (like Spain) have a tradition of using blue for Marian feasts, but violet is the proper color for Advent in the Roman Rite.
Q: Is rose required for Gaudete Sunday?
A: No, rose is permitted but not required. If you don't have rose vestments, violet is perfectly fine. Many parishes use violet throughout Advent without issue.
Q: What about the Fourth Sunday of Advent?
A: The Fourth Sunday of Advent uses violet, just like the first two Sundays. The color doesn't change to white until Christmas Eve (December 24th).
Conclusion
Advent vestments are straightforward: violet for most of the season, rose for Gaudete Sunday (optional), and white for the Immaculate Conception. With these three colors, you're fully prepared for the season.
Browse our Advent vestment collection — violet chasubles, stoles, and dalmatics in every style and budget.