Purple Stole on Cross at Albuquerque Church Poster

"Purple Stole on Cross at Old Town Albuquerque Church" by Catherine Sherman A purple stole is draped over a wooden cross outside of San Felipe de Neri Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Purple is the liturgical color of Lent and is used to symbolize royalty, penance, and preparation. In this photograph, the cross stands among prickly pear cacti and agave plants the week before Easter in 2014. San Felipe de Neri Church ("Iglesia de San Felipe de Neri" in Spanish) is a historic Catholic church located on the north side of Old Town Plaza in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Built in 1793, it is one of the oldest surviving buildings in the city and the only building in Old Town proven to date to the Spanish colonial period. The church is listed on the New Mexico State Register of Cultural Properties and the National Register of Historic Places and has remained in continuous use for over 200 years. Purple is the liturgical color associated with Lent, when the clergy wear purple vestments and the altars are often decorated with purple cloth. Purple is linked with royalty and nobility. The color purple was especially expensive to produce, made from thousands of mollusk shells so only the rich could afford it in ancient times. So it is chosen to represent Jesus Christ, "The King of Kings."