Q: A special group has invited me to preside at a Sunday in OT. They asked if I would be open to wearing red vestments because they want to commemorate a group of martyrs.
I haven’t deviated from a green vestment on a Sunday in OT in my short priestly life. So I looked at the GIRM, which does include a provision: “on more solemn days, festive, that is, more precious, sacred vestments may be used even if not of the color of the day.”
By your estimation, would such a gathering constitute sufficient grounds for using red vestments on a Sunday in OT? I thought only a bishop could give that permission.
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A: I agree with you that a bishop would need to weigh in.
Essentially, the group is asking for a Votive Mass of the martyrs on that Sunday. But Sundays are not among the days that a priest may judge that a particular Votive Mass merits replacing the regularly scheduled liturgy (GIRM 376). A bishop does have that authority because Ordinary Time Sundays are not among the days excluded from him (374).
The vestment color in GIRM 346g concerns “more solemn days,” but I’m not convinced that a priest can determine that level of solemnity on his own.
The Bishop could permit a Votive Mass for martyrs to replace the regular Sunday liturgy in Ordinary Time. In that case, the presidential prayers, readings and vestment color would adjust to that particular authorized Mass.
Absent his permission, I’d wear green. The memory of the martyrs may be invoked in hymns, the homily, the prayer of the faithful, as well in the decorations.