liturgical red catholic

The Circumcision & the Naming of Our Lord

The date of this feast is actually January 1st.

“And after eight days were accomplished, that the child should be circumcised, his name was called JESUS, which was called by the angel, before he was conceived in the womb.”

Luke 2:21

At this traditional Mass on New Years Day, the celebrant wears red. According to The New Marian Missal

“Red signifies the fire of love towards God, and it is consequently the liturgical color for Whitsuntide, the feast of the Holy Ghost, the God of Love; for the feastdays on which the suffering and the cross of Christ is recalled to the mind; for the feastdays of the Apostles and the Martyrs, who shed their blood for faith out of love for the Redeemer.”

So why red for the Circumcision? We can guess at possibilities based on the above. It seems red not only signifies the “fire of love towards God,” but the love of God Himself. Red vestments are also worn on Pentecost, perhaps evocative of the reference to fire in Scripture:

"And there appeared to them parted tongues as it were of fire, and it sat upon every one of them"

Acts 2:3

The Circumcision cannot be separated from the Naming of the Christ Child, which took place together. Both events are very deep and significant. “Jesus” in Hebrew, means “God Saves.” Here, in proclaiming the Name of Jesus to the world for the first time, the love of God is also proclaimed. He has sent His Son to redeem us from our sins!

Red vestments are also worn to honor the suffering of Christ, possibly referring to His Precious Blood. The Circumcision, only 8 days after birth, was perhaps Our Lord’s first experience with pain and the shedding of His Blood. This moment foretells the final shedding of His Blood on the Cross. In addition, red is worn on the feasts of martyrs. The red of blood and the red of the fire of love are merged in every martyrs death and most of all, in the Death of Christ Himself.

Laudate Nomen Christi!