The different colors serve as reminders of the Church year. While not required, they add to the beauty of our worship in keeping with the holiness of God.
The most common color usage is
White or Gold for joy, Resurrection, and the Feast of the Lord: Christmas, Epiphany, and Easter as well as weddings, funerals and some National Holidays
Purple for penitence and royalty: Lent
Red for the Holy Spirit: Holy Week, Pentecost, the Saints and Martyrs, and Confirmation
Marian Blue for Expectation: Advent
Green for Christian growth and hope: all other seasons, called Ordinary Time, the time of order and study.
There is no color for Good Friday or The Feast of the Faithful Departed (November 2), the altar is bare.
References: Exodus 28:4-6, 35:25, 36:8; Psalm 27:4; Revelation 4:1-5
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