Blue Monday

A brief sojourn into Anglican Waters and we find this example, a simple biretta similar to the ICKSP Biretta previously shown, save for its black watered silk outer. It belongs to the superior of the College of Our Lady of Hanworth, West London, to be worn on occasions of mourning, and feasts and Masses of the Blessed Virgin Mary during Lent and Advent.

Mother superior has just looked at us askance with the cautionary words that lying is a grievous sin. So ok, we made up the things about mourning and Lent. We were only speculating, but we’ve a run of OLH Birettas coming up and frankly it’s the best explanation we or any of the sisters can manage for this modest example (it was an early prototype).

Back to Black #1

It being spring, as good a time to start as any, we thought we’d begin with a run of plain black birettas, before moving into more exotic waters, and so it is that we present to you, fresh off the production floor at DB Towers: the Simple Priest’s Biretta. Mother Prioress tells us she's never met a simple priest in 470 years of consecrated life, but we're not always sure what she's on about.

Worn also by deacons and seminarians liturgically, it has a black tuft, tassel or pom-pom and three blades. Jesuits and Oratorians do not have a tuft. The material is usually worsted wool, though cotton is sometimes used. The tuft can be of silk or wool. The lining is black cotton or silk. Priests in the household of a cardinal traditionally have a black biretta made out of watered silk rather than wool, as seen here.

To be honest it’s not immensely exciting to look at, but even this staple of catholic millinery is relatively rare. Naturally, here at DB, we have made it our life’s ambition in union with all likeminded fellows, to enjoin in its enthusiastic revival.

Your Daily Biretta: The Cardinal/Archbishop's Priest

We proudly present the Biretta of a Priest serving in the household of a Cardinal. We suppose the Anglican equivalent of this would be a priest serving on the staff of a Primate, or perhaps in England those serving in a Royal Peculiar. It is made with black watered silk with a ruby red silk lining. The pompom in this instance is made from Merino Wool.