Biretta use outside mass

[Jacob_Dominic]

I am a life long traditional Catholoic and I was wondering what the custom is at your traditional parish with regards to priests wearing the biretta. My parish is FSSP. The priests use the biretta during the mass and offcie, but they don’t wear them around the parish. In the past we have had visitors wear the biretta like when they are talking to folks at the coffee after mass, but this is rare. Is it worn outside mass at your parish?

JD

 

[Chatter163]

My FSSP priests do not wear it outside of liturgy. However, in the past I have seen priests wear a biretta while outside, but still on church grounds. It is not too common outside of the liturgy.

 

[Rich_C]

My FSSP priests do not wear it outside of liturgy. However, in the past I have seen priests wear a biretta while outside, but still on church grounds. It is not too common outside of the liturgy.

Outside of Mass, I’ve only seen it worn while they stand on the sidewalk and greet parishioners after Mass. They remove them by the time they come down for coffee and donuts. Mine is a diocesan parish.

 

[malphono]

Outside of Mass, I’ve only seen it worn while they stand on the sidewalk and greet parishioners after Mass. They remove them by the time they come down for coffee and donuts. Mine is a diocesan parish.

Yes, IMO, I think that’s just about right.

One has always to keep in mind that the biretta is not, properly speaking, a liturgical vestment, but is, rather, a hat. Generally, courtesy dictates that a hat is doffed when communing with others. It’s usual to see representations of priests from “olden times” wearing a biretta when alone, but not when speaking with congregants. In the latter case, the biretta is normally in hand.

 

[newyorkcatholic]

Yes, IMO, I think that’s just about right.

One has always to keep in mind that the biretta is not, properly speaking, a liturgical vestment, but is, rather, a hat. Generally, courtesy dictates that a hat is doffed when communing with others. It’s usual to see representations of priests from “olden times” wearing a biretta when alone, but not when speaking with congregants. In the latter case, the biretta is normally in hand.

It’s not a vestment but is still for liturgical use (not only liturgical use) and that’s why there are rules about when it is worn and not. (Eg held in the hands during procession, not worn for most of Mass, worn when seated, taken off for bowing at the name of the Lord and at other parts of the gloria and the creed, etc.)

I very rarely see priests wear it outside of liturgical function. I think the more common hat for this purpose was the saturno. The pope still sometimes wears a red one, priests would wear a black one.