I have been informed by a reader that a papal indult is required for a parish priest to wear a zuchetto. Can this be true?
No one need worry. I don’t want to wear a purple or red or white one. I’m happy for bishops and cardinals and the pope to have those colors. I want a nice simple black one. Is it true, that if I find a really nice zuchetto I may not wear it?
My informant said a parish priest may not wear one liturgically. I’m not a parish priest. Does that mean I can wear one? Or perhaps I can wear one, but not liturgically–like just around the house or when I go out for a burger or something, but I have to take it off when I say Mass?
I know I’m only a convert, but this one is really throwing me. Is this zuchetto rule a dogma of the church or just a discipline? Either way, if it is true I’m not sure I’ll be able to deal with it. I might have to leave and start my own church. It will be called the Foursquare American Catholic Apostolic Church of the Zuchetto Reform.
I hope someone out there will be able to illuminate me on this very important point and thus save the church from another very sad, but necessary schism.
If it does come to schism, I hope everyone will understand that I did not leave the Catholic Church–the Catholic Church left me…
“I don’t want to wear a purple or red or white one.”But Mr. Father Dwight, I think purple hair wig would look excellent on your head. Although it would make your ninja-costume look a bit weird. But with beautiful zuchetto it would make parishers go wild. I heartily recommend!
Isn’t zuchetto a pasta dish? Something with biretta cheese sprinkled on it?Mack in Kirbyville
FatherIt seems you can actually wear one.First off, here is a site where you can purchase one:http://www.zieglers.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=15907&x;=33&y;=7http://www.standrewschurchsupply.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/116_180/products_id/15986?osCsid=77eabf87cefe6cb0c8c6118bda6374faI have been unable to find any site that says you can’t wear one, I have only found sites that affirm this…So fear not, you need not worry about the Catholic Church leaving you 😉
A quick follow upThe only time you are now allowed to wear the zuchetto is at Mass, but outside of Liturgical functions it seems to be approved.-Harrison
So I can wear it for Vespers and Benediction and for all those time when I go to charismatic prayer and praise meetings?
I’d gladly follow you to the FACACZR. (Would the church ordain women???) I’ve been finding this reversion stuff too tough, anyway. And don’t get me started on Lent!
As His Most Eminent Holiness Archimandrite and Superior Pontiff of the Carolinas, (the FACACZR’s first diocese) I refuse to ordain women, however you can be a cheerleader if you wish.
(Pom-poms waving) Gooooooo, FACACZR!BTW, were your ears burning Friday morning? The Friday playgroup moms were singing your praises. Very nice group of women, they.
Yes, Father, you can wear it for ALL those times…plus it will keep your head cool.-Harrison
What is a Zuchetto, anyway?
the priest shopping for a hat in the post below is wearing a zuchetto. It’s the skull cap worn by priests.
I cannot find the actual liturgical law at the moment as I just woke up but this link shows that I did not pull it out of thin air.You can wear the zuchetto at all times except during Mass. Only those with episcopal rank may wear it and those priests with permission from the Supreme Pontiff.It is excellent that you are wearing your biretta! While you are at it you can move on to wearing the maniple too as it is also optional now as well.http://www.matthewfsheehan.net/index.cfm?event=ProductDetails&CategoryID;=440&ProductID;=5171
Zuchetto outa here
“If it does come to schism, I hope everyone will understand that I did not leave the Catholic Church–the Catholic Church left me…”Oh for the love of Pete. Could we have a little charity for those who clung to the old ways when the Church was in absolute crisis in the 70s and 80s? It’s easy to criticize now when the mainstream Church seems to be taking an interest in recovering her tradition. The Church (at least at the parish level) really did leave these people. As Catholics trying to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, we should pray for them, who are trying to do the same.
I never cease to be amazed and delighted by people’s total lack of a sense of humor.When I wrote the line about ‘I didn’t leave the Church, the Church left me.’ I was actually thinking of the liberals I have heard make this whine–not traddies.But if the shoe fits…
Fr.,You may certainly wear a zuchetto if you like. The bit about an indult is silliness. The only rubric is that an ordinary priest must remove it at the altar rail along with the biretta. Plain and simple.I know this book is a bit out-dated, but the section on the zuchetto still obtains.LINKSee Pages 114-118
The link in my comment seems to have failed. Here it is in full:http://www.archive.org/details/costumeofprelate00nainuoftIt is Costume of prelates of the Catholic church, according to Roman etiquette (c1909)Author: Nainfa, John Abel Felix Prosperfrom the INTERNET ARCHIVE (archive.org)
Charles,For a priest to wear the zuchetto DURING Mass it requires a papal honor. He may wear it any other time if he so chooses.
Ah yes, I see that now. Terribly sorry for the mis-reading.Cheers!
Is the rule about no zuchetto during Mass new (as in part of the Pauline reform)?
Sorry Father, the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia says no:http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15765b.htm(note spelling – Zucchetto)
You eventually got to the answer with these comments. The Zuchetto had (and still has, for some) a practical purpose: to keep the head warm. Of course, like other ecclesiastical apparel, it evolved to have colors that matched one’s rank. So White, Red, Purple, Black, and Brown, but there are also some other colors (black with red piping, and blue piping), and zuchettos and birrettas are also worn as academic regalia with certain colors (black with white and blue piping are two that I know of) and I think that there are certain deans and rectors of basillicas who are granted the privilege of wearing various versions of the zuchetto by papal decree or simply by immemorial custom. But the bottom line is that the use of zuchettos DURING the Mass eventually became restricted to prelates…much like the biretta, although in the case of the biretta, it still could be worn by any clergy during PARTS of the Mass. So, to this day, bald monks in cold climes might wear a brown or black zuchetto, but they would remove it once mass started. Today, the only regular clergy who are granted the privilege of wearing the zuchetto during Mass(black) are Apostolic Protonotaries, the highest level of Monsignori. Here in LA we’ve got a few P.A.’s running around wearing their zuchettos. (I believe that pre-Vatican II these honorary prelates were granted the privilege of wearing the mitre and the use of the bugia on special occasions). I’ve got a black watered silk zuchetto I purchased at Gamarellis a zillion years ago. (Traditionally, I think regular clergy had to wear a black one that wasn’t made of silk, and only the P.A.’s could wear the watered silk, silk being reserved for the hierarchy). Now, isn’t that more info than you ever wanted to know?