Seminarians and Birettas

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Seminarian_Matt

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I am wanting to buy a biretta before I leave for seminary this Saturday. Do you recommend any producers? I’m thinking of buying the one from House of Hansen.

And, when exactly can a seminarian wear a biretta?
 
Seminarian_Matt said:
I am wanting to buy a biretta before I leave for seminary this Saturday. Do you recommend any producers? I’m thinking of buying the one from House of Hansen.

And, when exactly can a seminarian wear a biretta?
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Does your seminary even allow them? There are seminaries in which the seminarians don’t wear clerical garb at all, instead dressing in civilian clothes.

If your seminary does allow them they would be the ones to tell you when it is acceptable to wear them,
 
Perhaps, if you are a bit short of money, or have other things that you might need before this, you may consider not buying the biretta. I don’t think the biretta is worn as day-to-day wear (I think the one worn like that is the capello) for diocesan seminarians, but only during really solemn or choir functions. As a seminarian, there wouldn’t be all that many chances you would have, therefore, to wear it. You can’t wear it, for example, when you are serving Mass. Even on the chances you have, they may not let you since your fellow seminarians may not have birettas and you would stand out.

Perhaps you might think of delaying such a purchase until you get ordained to the diaconate or the priesthood. A priest has more opportunities during the administration of the sacraments to wear it.
 
House of Hansen (good people) makes quality garb, but they are also awfully expensive. You might be able to find something just as good at a more economical cost.
 
I am wanting to buy a biretta before I leave for seminary this Saturday. Do you recommend any producers? I’m thinking of buying the one from House of Hansen.

And, when exactly can a seminarian wear a biretta?
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Excuse me, but why would you purchase a biretta when you do not even know when it can be worn? :confused:
 
I’m 100% in favor of the use of cassocks, birettas, etc., but they should be worn to distinguish the ordained from the laity, as a sign of being set apart, and as a sign of genuine humility.

Because one thinks they look cool is a horrible reason. That kind of thinking quickly leads to narcissism, which is the downfall for many priests.

So wear cassocks and birettas, Matt, but do so for the RIGHT reasons.
 
What lepanto said.

Also, humbly obey your superiors at the seminary–if they allow you to wear clerical garb, great, if not, then obey without complaint. 👍
 
While I do think that birettas and cassocks look wonderful, I understand their symbolic importance. I don’t just want to wear it because it is “cool”. I want to wear it because of the Traditions it expresses.

I know that a priest may wear it during the homily and in the procession to the altar. However, when may a seminarian wear it? Note: My seminary does not allow seminarians to wear a biretta. However, when I am not at seminary, may I wear it while praying the Breviary? Any other times?
 
Why not enjoy being Catholic, there is nothing wrong with enjoying our faith. Sure it looks cool and we should enjoy that as long as we keep our pride in check.

Just like enjoying participating in a Marian procession, Eucharistic procession or standing up for the faith. We should proud of our faith, proud of the faith of Christ.
Only Catholics can be proud of the faith and it not be an evil thing as our faith is of Christ not of man. So when we are proud of it we are proud of God’s creation, just as long as we keep that in mind. Rejoice in God’s faith, as long as we realize that we only have it because of God.

Too often we use this false sense of humility to hide our faith, we should wear it on our sleeve, express it and share it as much as possible. Humilty is rejoicing in the fact that our faith is of God and something to share to wear and to express out in the open, as long as it is for God’s edification not our own.

When we express our own devotion to God that is what we hide so we do not use it to bring ourselves glory. But our faith should be public and shared.

In Christ
Scylla
 
scylla said:
Too often we use this false sense of humility to hide our faith, we should wear it on our sleeve, express it and share it as much as possible.
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That’s a good point too. To me, it depends on what the superior’s allow–the most meritorious path is to obey them on this issue.
 
Probably after your noviciate?
It depends on the seminary’s requirements and rules.
Good Luck

Pax
Laudater Jesus Christus
Instaurare omnia in Christo
 
I would think whenever you receive the cassock… this is when ICRSS start to use them…
God bless
Kieran
 
seminarian matt,

From what I can discern from your post, I assume that you will be attending University of St Mary on the Lake.

So have you made your trak to Omaha, yat ?

No I would not suggest that you wear a biretta as a seminarian either in public or in private; since you are still part of the laity.

Br Mark, OSB
 
Br_Mark said:
seminarian matt,

From what I can discern from your post, I assume that you will be attending University of St Mary on the Lake.

So have you made your trak to Omaha, yat ?

No I would not suggest that you wear a biretta as a seminarian either in public or in private; since you are still part of the laity.

Br Mark, OSB
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No, I will be attending St. John Vianney College seminary. I know that I can not wear a biretta all of the time like a priest, but there are times when I can wear a cassock now like at serving Mass. I thought there might be times when a seminarian could also wear a biretta. I asked because I see seminarians from the Institute of Christ the King wearing birettas.
 
From conversations with a friend who used to wear a biretta while in seminary, he suggests that there really are no specific “rules” on this. Some suggest certain customs, but ultimately it is a mere matter of doing whatever you are allowed and feel comfortable with. Some circumstances allow for a greater permissiveness, while others may be more restrictive. Make your own way using discretion!

I am also told that you might more economically find birettas available online through ebay, and that CM Almy usually has good prices.
 
I was told that only men who had degrees in philosophy were allowed to wear birettas. So Priests aren’t the only ones who can wear them. Unless you already have an undergraduate degree in philosophy, then you won’t be able to wear one until you get your master’s in divininty.
 
Psalm45_9 said:
I was told that only men who had degrees in philosophy were allowed to wear birettas. So Priests aren’t the only ones who can wear them. Unless you already have an undergraduate degree in philosophy, then you won’t be able to wear one until you get your master’s in divininty.
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Isn’t that the academic biretta?

I think formerly those admitted to the clerical state (i.e. from the tonsure) were allowed to wear the biretta.
 
AJV said:
Isn’t that the academic biretta?

I think formerly those admitted to the clerical state (i.e. from the tonsure) were allowed to wear the biretta.
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I think there are three types of biretta, academic, which can be worn by anyone who has the requisite degree; Clerical, which can be worn by anyone counted among the clerics: deacon and up for new rite, subdeacon and up for old rite (might be wrong on that); and lastly one for canon lawyers. I’m not sure if a JCL or a JDL is required for it, but canon lawyers have right to the biretta.

Yours in Christ,
Thursday
 
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