Why Do Catholics Do That?!

Catholic clergy wear black to symbolize poverty, mourning, and a commitment to serving God . The color black also helps identify priests in a crowd. 

Symbolism

• Poverty

  Black is a symbol of poverty and simplicity, which reminds priests to imitate those virtues. 

• Mourning

  Black is a color of mourning and death, which symbolizes dying to oneself to serve the Lord. 

• Penance

  Black is a sign of penance, which reminds priests to do penance for their own sins and the sins of the world. 

• Service

  Black is a symbol of the solemn nature of clergy work, with a focus on service to God and others. 

Practicality

• Black is easy and cheap to dye. 

• In tropical climates, priests may wear white to decrease heat from the sun. 

• Black clothing helps people identify priests so they can seek out God.