QUAERITUR: Black pall for caskets in the Novus Ordo?
A question via e-mail:
With the common occurrence of white vestments at funerals and a corresponding color funeral pall, I wondered about the practice of a black funeral pall for the OF. While black vestments can be used for funerals in the OF, can the funeral pall also be black as it was in the EF? Is the connection between the white funeral pall and the white garment worn at baptism something that might prevent the use of a black funeral pall?
Yes… we must remember that before the post-Conciliar innovations the pall, if one was used, was always black, as were the draperies for a catafalque.
I do not believe in the new rite the color of the pall is prescribed. I have seen various palls, most white, but some of other colors, of elaborate fabrics, brocade, etc.
The idea behind white is that the last "clothing" of the body echoes the first "clothing" with the white baptismal garment in the rite of baptism.
However, I haven’t seen anywhere – maybe I simply missed it – anything that prescribes that the color of the pall must be white in the Novus Ordo.
I assume a black pall could be used in the newer funeral rites.



































