During this Lent, it is the Purple Finch which abounds at the bird feeder out front of the rectory. Purple is penitential by way of remembering how the color purple was used against our Lord. Purple dye was extremely rare, extremely expensive, obtained only from certain mollusks up near Lebanon in the days when our Lord walked this earth, and therefore affordable only by kings. Remember when violent Herod clothed our Lord in a purple robe and sent Him back to Pontius Pilate?
Embrace purple. Carry with you the weight of the glory of God as He is mocked and ridiculed and scorned and sent to His torture and death, He, the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the Prince of the Most Profound Peace. Do that, and be free as a bird.
ARISE! LET US BE GOING! 
I never realized the significance of the color purple in the passion story of Our Lord. I would really love to know the significance of all the little nuances -I’m sure it would open the story in amazing ways. A Jewish convert/friend once explained the significance of the tearing of the curtain in front of the Holy of Holies in the temple. Until then I did not appreciate the deep significance and message.
Curtain: when the Heart was pierced.