The Color Blue

During our first year of being Catholic, I sang for awhile in a parish choir. Our Director had the idea that we could present to the congregation a "Choral Motet Rosary".

It was a beautiful notion. The music we prepared allowed for meditation in between each decade. The Hail Marys were chanted by a small group of men holding rosaries. The congregation was invited to chant as well, while kneeling and praying with their own rosaries.

At our last rehearsal prior to the event the assistant director mentioned in an off-hand way, "Wear your black and white."

Behind me in the fourth row an elderly woman muttered in response,

"We ought to be wearing blue."

And she wore blue.

It was news to me at the time that blue is a color often associated with Mary.

As is red.

I did some brief research and found that blue is the color of an empress in early Byzantine iconography, and red is also the color associated with royalty. Sometimes images of Mary show her wearing both colors.

In some northern renaissance representations, red points to the passion and the suffering Mary will undergo at the foot of the cross.

Though the colors are lovely, I also love the purity and serenity of Mary when she is carved from white material.

In any color I will find Mary as dear as she already is, and it's nice to understand what her colors can mean.

And I might wear blue in her honor from time to time too.

"Hail Mary, full of grace, blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb,Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death."