Why do Bishops Wear Hats in Church?

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Didn’t the Bible say that men should have their head uncovered in the House of God? Why, then, do Bishops wear Mitres or Skullcaps?
 
BListon said:
Didn’t the Bible say that men should have their head uncovered in the House of God? Why, then, do Bishops wear Mitres or Skullcaps?
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No, it doesn’t. It says that men (specifically men) should not pray with their head covered, and if you happen to be at a Mass celebrated by a bishop, you’ll notice that he always takes his headgear off before he prays. No violation of the rules – no foul. Also, bear in mind that at the time that Paul wrote this, there were no church buildings per se; just meetings in homes.
 
DaveBj said:
No, it doesn’t. It says that men (specifically men) should not pray with their head covered, and if you happen to be at a Mass celebrated by a bishop, you’ll notice that he always takes his headgear off before he prays. No violation of the rules – no foul. Also, bear in mind that at the time that Paul wrote this, there were no church buildings per se; just meetings in homes.
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I went to a Mass celebrated by my Bishop a while ago and I wondered why he kept taking his headgear on and off all the time. Thanks for the explanation!
 
DaveBj said:
No, it doesn’t. It says that men (specifically men) should not pray with their head covered, and if you happen to be at a Mass celebrated by a bishop, you’ll notice that he always takes his headgear off before he prays. No violation of the rules – no foul. Also, bear in mind that at the time that Paul wrote this, there were no church buildings per se; just meetings in homes.
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This is very interesting, considering Jewish men, even at the time of Christ and St. Paul prayed with their heads covered by a prayer shawl.
 
Not to derail this thread, but at the Extraordinary Form of the Mass, father will typically wear a hat called a biretta during the procession, recession, and while giving the homily (all considered to be outside the liturgy). Even while giving the sermon he’ll doff it out of reverence when saying the Holy Name.

This is all perfectly fine as far as I know.
 
Some religious orders, like the Resurrectionist Fathers, also wear hats (zuchetti) as part of their habits.
 
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