Pope wearing skullcap

[maximilianimus]

I remembered that people at vatican, including the pope, wearing round hats. I opened Google and found the clothing of the pope is called skullcaps in English (it has a elaborate name in Latin or something). Then I remembered the verse that says if a man prays or prophecies with headcover, he is wrong (I don’t know how to say what it is in English). Then I also found a photo of the pope praying while wearing skullcaps. What happened here? Was the pope wrong?

 

[benjohnson]

I do know in the Catholic church, as well as my own church, all head coverings will be removed during mass for prayers surrounding the eucharist and communion.

 

[JReducation]

I remembered that people at vatican, including the pope, wearing round hats. I opened Google and found the clothing of the pope is called skullcaps in English (it has a elaborate name in Latin or something). Then I remembered the verse that says if a man prays or prophecies with headcover, he is wrong (I don’t know how to say what it is in English). Then I also found a photo of the pope praying while wearing skullcaps. What happened here? Was the pope wrong?

The name is zucchetto, which is Italian for zuccini as in the fruit, because when you lay it on a table, it looks like a slice. In Hebrew it’s called a Kippa and in Yiddish a Yamulke.

The tradition goes way back, long before the time of Christ. In Jewish liturgy, men cover their heads when entering the temple. This is still the case today. The high priests wore special headdress when it was their year to serve.

Until the late 1800s deacons, priests, bishops, monks and friars covered our heads with a skull cap, each according to his place in the church. For example, if you were a secular priest, you wore a black one. If you were a bishop, the color is “purple”. If you’re a cardinal, then it’s reddish. Monks and friars wore the color according to the color of the order. For example the Dominicans wear a white habit, but a black mantle over the habit. They wore a black skullcap. I don’t know if the Carmelites and Augustinians ever wore one. Franciscans wore one the same color as the habit: brown, grey or black. The Cistercians wore a black one, etc.

Today, it is still permissible for diocesan clergy and religious of certain orders to wear one, but the custom is rarely used because we no longer wear a tonsure. The skullcap is difficult to keep on your head when you have a lot of hair. It tends to slide. If you notice the pope and bishops, they’re always fiddling with it. If you’re a friar or monk, you’re probably outside a lot more than the pope or a bishop. The last thing you want to do is to run after that thing when the wind blows. We used to sew a comb on the inside to keep it on. Jewish men often fasten it with hair pins. You can also buy special pins to hold it on. I have one, but have not worn it in years. I look cute in it too.

To answer your second question, no the pope and no one else who prays with his head covered is wrong. We, friars and monks, still pray with our cowls over our head. Bishops still pray with their zuchettos on. It is taken off during the Canon of the mass and it’s not put back on until after Communion. If you’re wearing a cowl you do the same thing.

It is never worn at the moment of the sacrifice and while Christ is physically present. The head is always uncovered during that time. The reason again goes back to Jewish history. The purpose of covering one’s head was two-fold, a) to remind us that God was above us (an external means of remembering to be humble) and b) to remind us that God is always close. He is above us, but not far away.

Once the preface begins you begin to get ready for have God substantially in front of you on the altar. The head covering is not needed. Your thoughts need to be focused on the immediate presence of God before you, not above you. That was the idea of that ancient teaching. You took it off when you prayed to God who was in your immediate presence, at all other times of prayer, you kept it on. Orthodox Jews take it off only for bed and bath. Popes and bishops can take it off at any time.

Those of us who may choose to wear it also take it off in the presence of the pope, unless he instructs us to keep it on. You will notice that at the Vatican, the clergy rarely wear it in an audience with His Holiness. It’s worn in an assembly, which is different from an audience. When greeting the pope, you always doff it as you shake his hand or kiss his ring, depending on your custom. That custom varies from Church to Church and from one religious order to another, but not the custom of doffing the skullcap. That’s pretty universal among Latin Catholics.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, FFV

 

[maximilianimus]

I see… So the point is that when God comes amongst us, the need of a headcover is no longer necesarry. However, another question. Isn’t God is always amongst us through the holy spirit? And before that, thank you.

 

[JReducation]

I see… So the point is that when God comes amongst us, the need of a headcover is no longer necesarry. However, another question. Isn’t God is always amongst us through the holy spirit? And before that, thank you.

Yes, God is always near us. That’s the original purpose of the cap, to remind us of his closeness. The difference is that at the moment of the sacrifice, which is the moment of the consecration, the substance of bread and wine disappear and Jesus is substantially present on the altar just as he was present to his disciples after the resurrection.

From that moment until communion time, if the mass is celebrated by either a Catholic priest or an Orthodox priest, the substance of bread and wine disappear. What you’re left with is the true substance of the Risen Christ that to our eyes looks like bread and wine, but it’s not. It’s really him in a very physical way, not just a spiritual way as is the norm at any other time.

You must remember, this is only possible if the priest is either Catholic or Othodox. No other ordained minister has the power to transubstantiate bread and wine. He must be a priest and he must be either Catholic or Orthodox to be validly ordained.

When those conditions are met, Jesus is physically present in front of us. There is no need to think about him around us or above us. Therefore, the skullcap is a distraction rather than a help. If it’s a distraction to worship the real presence, then it must not be worn. That’s what the ancient law was trying to say. When in the presence of the living God, you do not need to think about what’s above or around you. Focus on what’s right before you. Therefore, take off the head covering and anything else that distracts you.

I hope this is helpful.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, FFV

 

[maximilianimus]

I see… Well yes, this helps. Thanks!

 

[JReducation]

I see… Well yes, this helps. Thanks!

 

[Zekariya]

I remembered that people at vatican, including the pope, wearing round hats. I opened Google and found the clothing of the pope is called skullcaps in English (it has a elaborate name in Latin or something). Then I remembered the verse that says if a man prays or prophecies with headcover, he is wrong (I don’t know how to say what it is in English). Then I also found a photo of the pope praying while wearing skullcaps. What happened here? Was the pope wrong?

That verse is speaking of actually covering one’s head like a woman would (such as the Blessed Virgin Mary). A skullcap only covers the top portion of one’s head. Tonsured men (like St Francis of Assisi’s shaved head) would wear a skullcap (back in the good old days) to keep their head warm.

 

[JReducation]

That verse is speaking of actually covering one’s head like a woman would (such as the Blessed Virgin Mary). A skullcap only covers the top portion of one’s head. Tonsured men (like St Francis of Assisi’s shaved head) would wear a skullcap (back in the good old days) to keep their head warm.

Actually, Our Holy Father never shaved his head, nor did our friars. That’s European iconography. Our tradition has always been to cut off five pieces of hair in the form of a cross in honor of Christ’s five wounds. The skullcap was not introduced to the Franciscan order until we adopted a habit, about 50 to 75 years after the death of the Holy Father.

However, it had been in use since the first generation Jewish Christians. As the Gentiles embraced either the priesthood or the religious life, they adopted the custom. Some people say that it was to keep their heads warm. But there is no historical evidence to support this, especially among the monastic and mendicant orders who have always worn a cowl with our habits and choir robes.

The use of the cowl in choir and in chapel was for warmth. The buildings were drafty. Therefore, in old paintings of friars and monks in warmer climates, we do not see them wearing the cowl in chapel or choir. We see them in cooler climates or when under the direct heat of the sun.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, FFV

 

[Zekariya]

Actually, Our Holy Father never shaved his head, nor did our friars. That’s European iconography. Our tradition has always been to cut off five pieces of hair in the form of a cross in honor of Christ’s five wounds. The skullcap was not introduced to the Franciscan order until we adopted a habit, about 50 to 75 years after the death of the Holy Father.

However, it had been in use since the first generation Jewish Christians. As the Gentiles embraced either the priesthood or the religious life, they adopted the custom. Some people say that it was to keep their heads warm. But there is no historical evidence to support this, especially among the monastic and mendicant orders who have always worn a cowl with our habits and choir robes.

The use of the cowl in choir and in chapel was for warmth. The buildings were drafty. Therefore, in old paintings of friars and monks in warmer climates, we do not see them wearing the cowl in chapel or choir. We see them in cooler climates or when under the direct heat of the sun.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, FFV

I didn’t mean to imply that like St Francis of Assisi and the Franciscans wore the skullcap but was using like St Francis of Assisi’s shaved head as the imagery for the tonsure that required the skullcap to keep warm. There was a point in time and in various places where clerics had such a tonsure that required the skullcap to keep warm.

 

[JReducation]

I didn’t mean to imply that like St Francis of Assisi and the Franciscans wore the skullcap but was using like St Francis of Assisi’s shaved head as the imagery for the tonsure that required the skullcap to keep warm. There was a point in time and in various places where clerics had such a tonsure that required the skullcap to keep warm.

Now I know what you’re talking about. Some clerics had a small circle for a tonsure and others had a corona. They wore caps over it.

Fortunately for us, Franciscans never had either. Franciscans did not have a visible tonsure so as not to distinguish the clerics from the lay friars. That’s why we only cut off the five tips of hair. However, poplar iconography has portrayed St. Francis and St. Anthony as having a bald spot, which never happened, because Franciscans would never do that. That would mean that you would be able to identify an ordained brother. The whole idea was the the ordained brothers were to be anonymous. Everyone wore the skullcap and no one was shaved.

I believe that the Dominicans did shave the clerics; but the Dominicans have two vocations in one community. There are the fathers and the brothers, but they are distinct vocations.

The Franciscans, Cistercians, Carmelites and Benedictines have only one vocation, the brothers. Everyone is a brother, ordained or not. You can’t tell the difference by their heads.

I don’t know if the Augustinians wore one or not. Luther is always portrayed with a barrette as are the other German Augustinians. We know that Dominicans wore it, because early paintings of St. Dominic portray him wearing it. It was rather large too, almost like a sky cap. I guess it was very cold where he lived. Ours is very tiny. It’s a little smaller than that worn by the bishops, about the size of a kippa. In fact, the old way of measuring the Franciscans for the skull cap was by the palm of the hand. You skullcap was the same size as the palm of your hand. Today, those who want one buy it from a Jewish goods store. No one makes them any longer.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, FFV

 

[Zekariya]

Now I know what you’re talking about. Some clerics had a small circle for a tonsure and others had a corona. They wore caps over it.

Fortunately for us, Franciscans never had either. Franciscans did not have a visible tonsure so as not to distinguish the clerics from the lay friars. That’s why we only cut off the five tips of hair. However, poplar iconography has portrayed St. Francis and St. Anthony as having a bald spot, which never happened, because Franciscans would never do that. That would mean that you would be able to identify an ordained brother. The whole idea was the the ordained brothers were to be anonymous. Everyone wore the skullcap and no one was shaved.

I believe that the Dominicans did shave the clerics; but the Dominicans have two vocations in one community. There are the fathers and the brothers, but they are distinct vocations.

The Franciscans, Cistercians, Carmelites and Benedictines have only one vocation, the brothers. Everyone is a brother, ordained or not. You can’t tell the difference by their heads.

I don’t know if the Augustinians wore one or not. Luther is always portrayed with a barrette as are the other German Augustinians. We know that Dominicans wore it, because early paintings of St. Dominic portray him wearing it. It was rather large too, almost like a sky cap. I guess it was very cold where he lived. Ours is very tiny. It’s a little smaller than that worn by the bishops, about the size of a kippa. In fact, the old way of measuring the Franciscans for the skull cap was by the palm of the hand. You skullcap was the same size as the palm of your hand. Today, those who want one buy it from a Jewish goods store. No one makes them any longer.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, FFV

Thanks for this detailed information.

In Christ,
Zekariya

 

[Luigi_Daniele]

Forgive me Father, but I am confused

Why would the Franciscans need a skull cap if they didn’t have a tonsure?

I am not doubting you in any way, BTW.

 

[PazzoGrande]

I remembered that people at vatican, including the pope, wearing round hats. I opened Google and found the clothing of the pope is called skullcaps in English (it has a elaborate name in Latin or something). Then I remembered the verse that says if a man prays or prophecies with headcover, he is wrong (I don’t know how to say what it is in English). Then I also found a photo of the pope praying while wearing skullcaps. What happened here? Was the pope wrong?

You know that tall pointy hat that the Pope (and bishops) wear? It’s called a Mitre.

Whenever the Pope prays, he takes it off. Pay close attention to Masses when the Pope or Bishops celebrate, the tall hat comes off at specific times of prayer.

The little round thing almost always stays on. By rule, it only comes off in front of the Blessed Sacrament as the sign of ultimate respect.

 

[Zekariya]

Forgive me Father, but I am confused

Why would the Franciscans need a skull cap if they didn’t have a tonsure?

I am not doubting you in any way, BTW.

He is saying that they didn’t wear a skullcap.

 

[Luigi_Daniele]

He is saying that they didn’t wear a skullcap.

Thank you for the clarification.

Although this seems to indicate otherwise…

In fact, the old way of measuring the Franciscans for the skull cap was by the palm of the hand. You skullcap was the same size as the palm of your hand.

 

[Zekariya]

Thank you for the clarification.

Although this seems to indicate otherwise…

I see. This is what I read:

Now I know what you’re talking about. Some clerics had a small circle for a tonsure and others had a corona. They wore caps over it.

Fortunately for us, Franciscans never had either. Franciscans did not have a visible tonsure so as not to distinguish the clerics from the lay friars. That’s why we only cut off the five tips of hair. However, poplar iconography has portrayed St. Francis and St. Anthony as having a bald spot, which never happened, because Franciscans would never do that.

 

[JReducation]

Forgive me Father, but I am confused

Why would the Franciscans need a skull cap if they didn’t have a tonsure?

I am not doubting you in any way, BTW.

He is saying that they didn’t wear a skullcap.

No no . . . we did wear the skull cap starting some time about the year 1275, give or take a year, when the Franciscan habit was invented. This was about 50 years after the death of St. Francis.

We never had the shaved head, unless you were naturally bald. The reason that we wore the skull cap to in keeping with the ancient Jewish tradition of covering one’s head as a reminder that God is above and we are below.

Only the brother deacons and the brother priests had a tonsure. But their tonsure was not visible, because it was not a shaved circle as it was in the rest of the Church. As I said, when any of our brothers became clerics, we cut off the tip of their hair at five points on the crown of the head. It was only the tip of the hair. You could never tell that the man was tonsured. The idea was to minimize the difference between a priest and a layman. Remember, many of our friars were and are laymen. But you’re not supposed to make the priests stand out. If you shaved their head, they would stand out.

The same thing applied to the skull cap. If only the ordained wore the skull cap, then they would stand out. If everyone wore the skull cap and the same habit, you wouldn’t be able to tell us apart, which is the whole idea.

I think that what many laypeople find confusing is that in the Franciscan tradition we make every effort to make our priests as anonymous as possible, while the laity wants to make priests as visible as possible. We’re thinking very differently from each other.

To make our priests very anonymous, we didn’t shave their heads and everyone wore a skull cap. When our friars went out no one knew if they were priests or not, because they all had a skull cap and no one had a shaved head. If you stood a Franciscan next to a Dominican, they were both wearing a skull cap. For all you knew, they both priests. The truth was the the Dominican was a priest and the Franciscan was not, but you couldn’t tell. Until very recently, mendicants were all called Frere, Friar, Frater or Brother.

If you had a Dominican priest standing next to a Franciscan lay friar, both wearing skull caps and both going by the title Friar or Brother, how could you tell that the Franciscan was not a priest? You couldn’t unless you asked. That was the beauty of the Franciscan system.

In another scenario, if you had five Franciscans walking down the street, all wearing skull caps, and you asked them to take them off to see who was a priest, you would only find that they had full heads of hair or were naturally bald. You still would not know who was a priest.

If you shouted, HELP, I’M DYING AND I NEED A PRIEST, the ordained friar would pull a stole out of his pocket.

If you wanted to know who was a priest, you didn’t look under the Franciscan’s skullcap, you looked in his pocket for a stole. :yup:

That’s still the case today.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, FFV

 

[Zekariya]

No no . . . we did wear the skull cap starting some time about the year 1275, give or take a year, when the Franciscan habit was invented. This was about 50 years after the death of St. Francis.

We never had the shaved head, unless you were naturally bald. The reason that we wore the skull cap to in keeping with the ancient Jewish tradition of covering one’s head as a reminder that God is above and we are below.

Only the brother deacons and the brother priests had a tonsure. But their tonsure was not visible, because it was not a shaved circle as it was in the rest of the Church. As I said, when any of our brothers became clerics, we cut off the tip of their hair at five points on the crown of the head. It was only the tip of the hair. You could never tell that the man was tonsured. The idea was to minimize the difference between a priest and a layman. Remember, many of our friars were and are laymen. But you’re not supposed to make the priests stand out. If you shaved their head, they would stand out.

The same thing applied to the skull cap. If only the ordained wore the skull cap, then they would stand out. If everyone wore the skull cap and the same habit, you wouldn’t be able to tell us apart, which is the whole idea.

I think that what many laypeople find confusing is that in the Franciscan tradition we make every effort to make our priests as anonymous as possible, while the laity wants to make priests as visible as possible. We’re thinking very differently from each other.

To make our priests very anonymous, we didn’t shave their heads and everyone wore a skull cap. When our friars went out no one knew if they were priests or not, because they all had a skull cap and no one had a shaved head. If you stood a Franciscan next to a Dominican, they were both wearing a skull cap. For all you knew, they both priests. The truth was the the Dominican was a priest and the Franciscan was not, but you couldn’t tell. Until very recently, mendicants were all called Frere, Friar, Frater or Brother.

If you had a Dominican priest standing next to a Franciscan lay friar, both wearing skull caps and both going by the title Friar or Brother, how could you tell that the Franciscan was not a priest? You couldn’t unless you asked. That was the beauty of the Franciscan system.

In another scenario, if you had five Franciscans walking down the street, all wearing skull caps, and you asked them to take them off to see who was a priest, you would only find that they had full heads of hair or were naturally bald. You still would not know who was a priest.

If you shouted, HELP, I’M DYING AND I NEED A PRIEST, the ordained friar would pull a stole out of his pocket.

If you wanted to know who was a priest, you didn’t look under the Franciscan’s skullcap, you looked in his pocket for a stole. :yup:

That’s still the case today.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, FFV

Thanks for the clarification.

 

[Luigi_Daniele]

No no . . . we did wear the skull cap starting some time about the year 1275, give or take a year, when the Franciscan habit was invented. This was about 50 years after the death of St. Francis.

That’s still the case today.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, FFV

Thank you Father!

Very cool explanation!