During the last two weeks of Lent, known as Passiontide, the statues in church will be covered with purple cloth.

This should serve to help us focus entirely on Christ’s Passion. This practice also serves to minimize distractions and create a more somber and expectant mood as we prepare for Easter.

By veiling sacred images, the Church invites us into a deeper interior recollection. What is usually visible and familiar is temporarily hidden, reminding us that something profound is
about to unfold. Just as Christ “hid” His divinity in His suffering, so too the beauty of the church is veiled, directing our attention to the mystery of the Cross.

This absence heightens our longing.

When the statues are unveiled on Holy Saturday, their return reflects the joy of the Resurrection. Thus, the purple veils help us enter more fully into the sorrow of Good Friday and the triumph of Easter Sunday.