Vestments for Marian feasts

The goal of theGeneral Roman Calendar Reform ("the Calendar") was to spread the entire mystery of Christ throughout the Church year, from the Incarnation to the expectation of his return in glory. Within this system, Marian feasts are observed.

The first document released as part of The Constitution of the Sacred Liturgy demonstrates the importance of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Sacred Liturgy. This document made significant changes to the Mass's discipline, but not to the fundamental concept underpinning the Mass.

It says, "The Holy Church honors the Blessed Mary, Mother of God, with special affection during the annual cycle of Christ's mysteries. She's inextricably linked to her Son's life-saving efforts. The Church admires and exalts the most perfect fruit of redemption in her, gladly contemplating, as in a faultless figure, what she herself aspires and hopes to be entirely." An appropriate tribute to the crucial role that Our Lord assigned to his Mother in the redemption of mankind.

Blue Liturgical Vestments for Marian Feasts

In Spain and some dioceses in Portugal, Mexico, and South America, blue, a color associated with the Mother of God, the Virgin Mary, is allowed for the feast of the Immaculate Conception. It is legal in the Philippines for all Virgin Mary feasts, which are practiced in certain other countries without official permission. Although this is not permitted by liturgical rule, blue has been used in place of violet for the Advent season.

For Marian feasts or solemnities, white vestments with blue motifs or trim may be worn, although blue vestments are not generally used in the Catholic Church.

As previously stated, there are some exceptions to the rule in rare circumstances where individual Marian shrines or even countries have been granted permission to wear blue vestments in honor of specific Marian feasts.

Several petitions were filed to the Holy See to use blue or violet vestments for various Marian feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Sacred Congregation of Rites regarded it as an ecclesiastical abuse and rejected the petitions on February 23, 1839.