Ever Seen Priest Use Biretta During NO Mass?

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I was just wondering if anyone else had ever seen a priest use a biretta during a Novus Ordo Mass. I’ve only seen two. One was a older priest in the 1980’s who tried to keep as much of the TLM going as he could get away with. The other was by a young priest in the 1990’s who was trying to be very traditional. I’m curious if any of the priests celebrating NO Masses ad orientum or in Latin might still use a biretta.
 
Asperges_Me said:
I was just wondering if anyone else had ever seen a priest use a biretta during a Novus Ordo Mass. I’ve only seen two. One was a older priest in the 1980’s who tried to keep as much of the TLM going as he could get away with. The other was by a young priest in the 1990’s who was trying to be very traditional. I’m curious if any of the priests celebrating NO Masses ad orientum or in Latin might still use a biretta.
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Well, I have not seen ANY non-bishop in a biretta since the early 70s. I’ve seen a few pictures of some - but no living, breathing human being.
 
FSSP use them all the time… of course theirs is the TLM, not the NO.

I would only assume that if compelled to celebrate the NO, they would continue with the Biretta.
 
From what I recall, the biretta is not specifically associated with Mass. It was simply headgear that a priest often wore with his cassock, as well as with his vestments when first entering the sanctuary for Mass.

Since not many priests (or layment) use hats anymore, the biretta has fallen into disuse.
 
JimG said:
From what I recall, the biretta is not specifically associated with Mass. It was simply headgear that a priest often wore with his cassock, as well as with his vestments when first entering the sanctuary for Mass.

Since not many priests (or layment) use hats anymore, the biretta has fallen into disuse.
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About a dozen years ago, before I left my home state of California (archdiocese of Los Angeles, of all places), our parish had, for a while, a young priest who was very orthodox, and a good and compassionate confessor. He was the first to hear my confession after I returned to the Church after a six-year absence, and he told me how heaven rejoiced over the repentance of one sinner more than over the righteousness of 99 people who never strayed. Sure wish we had him where I am now!

And he always went around in cassock and biretta. That’s the last time I have ever seen a priest in either. It’s a shame, because the distinctive clerical dress is a powerful witness.
 
I used to attend a Latin NO Mass in which the priest wore a biretta at the appropriate times, although not outside of the church. The biretta appeared to be quite ancient, as it seemed to be fading from black to red. The priest himself was of the “baby boomer” generation, so seeing a priest in their late 50’s wearing one is a very rare occurance.
 
Our Parochial Vicar wears his! Our pastor ususally doesn’t but he will during Solemn Vespers and other funtions, or when its an uber solemn high feast. Its an amazing sight to see birettas at mass, especially when a priest knows how to use them (taking them off during the mentioning of the Divine Name, etc).
 
The pastor at our local Tridentine Mass indult uses a biretta for his Novus Ordo Masses and also during devotions like the Stations of the Cross during Lent. He even uses it at things like parish socials but not always. He also uses the black wide brimmed hat that some priests use.
 
MrS said:
FSSP use them all the time… of course theirs is the TLM, not the NO.

I would only assume that if compelled to celebrate the NO, they would continue with the Biretta.
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Yup. My FSSP parish requires all the priests to wear the biretta in the sanctuary. Though even if it wasn’t a requirment im sure they would do it. 👍
 
The rector of SS. Simon and Jude Cathedral in Phoenix wears the biretta. Also more than a handful of priests in the Diocese wear the cassock as well, including the vicar of vocations. This has been going on for about 5-7 years. These priests are all in their mid-40’s. And they celebrate the NO Mass most of the time, incorporating Latin and Gregorian Chant.
 
My husband is supposed to assist at a NO Mass tomorrow, and the priest wants even the deacons to wear birettas. 🙂
 
Detroit_Sue said:
My husband is supposed to assist at a NO Mass tomorrow, and the priest wants even the deacons to wear birettas. 🙂
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Do you know if the deacon’s biretta is the exact same as the priest’s?

I also agree with LuxAurumque that it is a powerful symbol at Mass to see the priest sit down at the Gloria or Credo and put on and take off his biretta at the appropriate times.

Certain hats and headgear are often associated with professions. So the disuse of the biretta in modern times does seem to be a loss for the clerical profession.
 
Asperges_Me said:
I was just wondering if anyone else had ever seen a priest use a biretta during a Novus Ordo Mass. I’ve only seen two. One was a older priest in the 1980’s who tried to keep as much of the TLM going as he could get away with. The other was by a young priest in the 1990’s who was trying to be very traditional. I’m curious if any of the priests celebrating NO Masses ad orientum or in Latin might still use a biretta.
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I’ve seen it.​

And priests are not allowed to mix Masses - if a priest is offering the Mass according to the revised Missal, he has no business to mix it in with bits of the older Missal; to do so, is an abuse. As Rome has made abundantly clear.
 
The Biretta was not unique to the Mass. Priests could and often did wear them outside of Church. As far as I know it is still an optional piece of clothing for a Priest along with a Cassock. You don’t see them very often these days, but they are still allowed as far as I know. As far as wearing them into the Mass, they would be removed anyway when the Mass started, sometimes put on for the Gospel reading, then taken off and put on again at the end of the Mass. There were never worn throughout the Mass, at least in none that I ever saw. or served at.
 
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