The Liturgical Calendar defines the Church year, outlining a series of seasons and festive occasions that liturgical ceremonies observe throughout the year. Christians used this calendar as a guide, so they could properly celebrate the significant events in the life of Christ and the Church.
The liturgical year is divided into six seasons, each with its own theme and focus. Advent, which heralds the coming of Christ, begins the Church year, followed by Christmas, which celebrates the birth of Jesus. Lent is a time of penance and reflection, leading up to Holy Week, which culminates in the celebration of Easter, the most important feast of the Christian calendar. Ordinary Time follows Easter, with a focus on the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Church. The season of Advent then begins again, marking the end of one liturgical year and the beginning of another.
Throughout the year, the Liturgical Calendar also includes several important feasts and solemnities, such as the Feast of the Epiphany, the Transfiguration, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and All Saints’ Day. These celebrations allow the faithful to honor the lives of the saints and reflect on the significance of their contributions to the Church.
By following the Liturgical Calendar, Christians can participate in a rich tradition of liturgical worship that connects them to the history of the Church and the life of Christ. It provides a framework for the celebration of the mysteries of faith and ensures that Christian followers would never lose sight of the significance of these events in their lives.
The choice of fabrics for creating vestments and altar hangings is a feast for the eyes, and different churches have different needs. The range of white church vestment fabrics available at Ecclesiastical Sewing for making church vestments is quite nice. White includes a broad range of colors: creams, ivory, deep cream, gold, and of course the stunning brocatelles with their shimmering gold highlights!
Purple in Lent symbolizes the royalty of Christ, His sacrificial death, and the season’s connection to Passover. The color, historically associated with royalty, was used mockingly on Jesus during His passion, emphasizing His royal dignity. Additionally, purple signifies the sorrowful nature of sins and the sacrifice made for redemption. Linguistically, “Lent” means “lengthen,” indicating its timing as days lengthen with the approach of spring and the season to observe Lent.
Some of our favorite fabrics, the richly historic pattern – Fairford, along with the Winchester Brocade. The Brocades are available in deep violet color. Violet is the color used by a wide number of church bodies during the season of Lent. The color violet is used for Lent because it is associated with mourning. We reflect on the mysteries of Christ and remember the pain and suffering of His crucifixion. Violet is also the color of royalty and it reminds us that we will soon celebrate Christ’s resurrection and sovereignty.
Violet is an appropriate color for Lent. It is associated with pain, suffering, mourning, and loss. Yet it is also the color of Royalty. Winchester is a wonderful Brocade Fabric. It has a nice hand and the weight is designed for use with hand embroidery and goldwork embroidery. It holds up well for machine embroidery. It drapes beautifully for chasubles and copes.
Epiphany is a feast day in the Western church, white vestments and paraments are used. Sometimes gold is substituted. There aren’t any specific Epiphany symbols, but there are often representations of the Three Kings elsewhere in churches.
All feasts of Mary, as indeed are all feasts of all the worthies of the faith, are feasts that point to our Lord Jesus Christ and his work “for us and for our salvation.” Mary is our prime example of created humanity at its finest. She is humble but brave, courageous but modest, truthful and kind, upright and vulnerable, and unafraid to follow the leadings of God.
The use of a rose has been common sense since the 13th Century and is frequently used in Gothic wood carving as well as in hand embroidery. The Messianic rose can take on many forms. The design is part of a collection of vintage embroidery designs that date back to the late 1870s.
Rose vestments are used for two Sundays in the church year. Rose vestments are worn during the seasons of Advent and Lent. Gaudete Sunday is celebrated during the Season of Advent. Laetare Sunday is celebrated during Lent.
The choice between blue and purple Advent vestments reflects diverse traditions. Blue, popular in Scandinavia and the British Isles (“Sarum blue”), symbolizes the night sky before dawn, echoing themes of hope and new beginnings tied to the Christmas narrative. While, purple vestments, symbolizing penitence, have distinct connotations. Historically derived from Mediterranean snails, purple’s expense symbolizes royalty.
June 24th marks the celebration of the Nativity of John the Baptist. Christ said, “I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” Luke 7:28 ESV
Lutherans and Roman Catholics celebrated the feast days of St. Philip and St. James the Apostles on May 1st and 3rd. Both church bodies agree on the importance of these Apostles. Philip was called by Jesus in Bethsaida and brought Nathanael to Christ, while St. James is traditionally believed to have been martyred. Ecclesiastical Sewing has introduced “The Apostle Collection” of church vestments, emphasizing these important figures in Christian history.
Red is the traditional color for Pentecost vestments, and among my favorite “red” options are fabrics like the St. Margaret Brocade, showcasing a bold pattern with a Tudor Rose and Crown. This liturgical brocade is available in solid red and two-toned variations, including the fiery red/gold option in the Fairford Brocade. Another excellent choice is the Red Lichfield Brocade, offering a rich hue perfect for Pentecost. Additionally, there’s the Luther Rose Brocade, Ely Crown, Silk Dupioni, and more in vibrant red tones.
The Evangelist stoles have been termed by some as a “teaching stole.” Pastors and Priests have used the stole symbols as a way to teach about the four Evangelists – St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke, and St. John. These symbols for the Evangelists date back centuries in their use to teach the faith.
Ecclesiastical Sewing has Quick Ship Items ready for Easter! These stole collections, like Ely and Exeter, are in stock and easy to ship for last-minute needs. With brilliant gold and classic designs, they’re great for quick gifts or replacements.
The New Testament readings are of the Transfiguration of our Lord. While Lutherans Celebrate this Festival Day on the last Sunday before Lent, other church bodies celebrate the Transfiguration at different times during the church year.
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