Why Male Headcoverings?

[FrRobSST]

Odd question, one I never really thought much about myself as our liturgical laws are a bit different…

Why do Latin and Eastern Catholic bishops (and priests in some cases) wear headcoverings (mitre, zuchetto, eastern equivalents) when praying or preaching?

Both practices are explicitly spoken against by Paul in the New Testament as bringing dishonor upon a man.

Rob+

Not that it matters, but as a means of sharing: our liturgical law permits the Zuchetto or Mitre to be worn in processions and when not engaging in prayer or preaching. Thus, it could be worn during the procession, removed from the Invocation to the Prayer of the Day, assumed during the Readings (until the Gospel), removed by the preacher during preaching (non-preachers might leave theirs on), and then removed from the offertory to the conclusion of the Gloria Patri in the recessional canticle Nunc Dimittus). It could then be worn from the Ite Missae est throught the procession.

 

[Patchunky]

FrRobSST:

Odd question, one I never really thought much about myself as our liturgical laws are a bit different…

Why do Latin and Eastern Catholic bishops (and priests in some cases) wear headcoverings (mitre, zuchetto, eastern equivalents) when praying or preaching?

Both practices are explicitly spoken against by Paul in the New Testament as bringing dishonor upon a man. /QUOTE]

CHRISTOS VOSKRES!

I found this at the CATHOLIC HERALD, I hope it helps:

“… The mitre is a “headdress.” The word mitre derives from the Greek mitra, which signifies a headband or diadem. In the Old Testament, the high priest and other priests wore a distinctive garb which included a mitre: “For Aaron and his sons, there were also woven tunics of fine linen; the mitre of fine linen; the ornate turbans of the fine linen; drawers of linen (of fine linen twined); and sashes of variegated work made of fine linen twined and of violet, purple and scarlet yarn, as the Lord had commanded Moses. The plate of the sacred diadem was made of pure gold and inscribed, as on a seal engraving: ‘Sacred to the Lord.’ It was tied over the mitre with the violet ribbon, as the Lord had commanded Moses,” (Ex 39:27-31; cf. Lv 8:7-9)…”

CHRIST IS RISEN!
INDEED HE IS RISEN!!!

 

[pazdziernik]

In general:
The Catholic Church has already addressed and judged authoritatively the issue of “headcoverings.” It’s cultural. Headcoverings in St. Paul’s time had a different significance than they do today. For example, women are no longer required to wear headcoverings during the Celebration of the Eucharist. They may wear head coverings if they wish. Our culture today allows women to wear headcoverings indoors. Still today it is not acceptable, normally, for a man to wear headcoverings indoors.

Specifically:
A head covering is part of a bishop’s regalia. It signifies his office, etc. Bishops wear headcoverings and remove headcoverings at different times during the Celebration of the Eucharist. For example, a bishop removes his zuchetto before the consecration. This practice has a long tradition. It is not contrary to Sacred Scripture.

 

[pgoings]

Why do Latin and Eastern Catholic bishops (and priests in some cases) wear headcoverings (mitre, zuchetto, eastern equivalents) when praying or preaching?

Both practices are explicitly spoken against by Paul in the New Testament as bringing dishonor upon a man.

Because S. Paul wasn’t writing a liturgical manual?

Also note that I Cor. 11:4 (D.R.) specifically says “praying or prophesying” and not “praying or preaching.” Generally the mitre is removed for prayer, so there actually is no violation of this Biblical principle. The skullcap is not generally considered a head covering, but was originally invented to cover the tonsure of clergy in cold, damp churches. It, too, is removed for the more solemn liturgical actions, but I suppose its use might be contested by some protestants.

In any event, the contested passage is irrelevant; catholics are not strict biblical literalists.

–Paul