Everything about the Mozzetta totally explained
The
mozzetta is a short elbow-length cape that covers the shoulders and is buttoned over the breast. It is worn as part of
choir dress by some of the
clergy of the
Catholic Church, among them the
Pope,
cardinals,
bishops,
abbots, canons and religious superiors. It used to have a small hood on the back on the mozzette of bishops and cardinals but this was discontinued by
Pope Paul VI; however, the hood was retained in the mozzette of certain canons and abbots, and also in the Popes'.
Colour
The color of the mozzetta, which is always worn with a
cassock and sometimes other choral
vestments, represents the hierarchical rank of the person wearing it. Bishops wear a
purple and cardinals a
scarlet mozzetta. Since they seldom wear cassocks, most secular priests don't now wear the mozzetta, though some religious orders have, as part of their
religious habit, a black mozzetta (notably the
Congregation of Holy Cross). The
Canons Regular of the Austrian Congregation wear a purple mozzetta as part of their habit, their confreres in the Congregation of St. Maurice wear a red mozzetta, the Lateran Canons wear a black mozzetta as part of their habit, as do the
Canons Regular of the Immaculate Conception.
Papal mozzetta
The
Pope wears three versions of the mozzetta: the summer mozzetta, which is of red satin; the winter mozzetta, which is of red velvet trimmed with white
ermine fur; and the Paschal mozzetta, which is of white
damask silk trimmed with white fur. The Paschal mozzetta is worn only during
Eastertide.
The winter mozzetta and the Paschal mozzetta fell into disuse during the pontificate of
John Paul II (1978-2005), but their use has been restored by
Pope Benedict XVI. He wore the winter mozzetta during the papal station at the image of the
Madonna near the
Spanish Steps that traditionally marks the beginning of
Rome's winter season, and he wears it on all the occasions in the winter season where this garment is appropriate. The white mozzetta was reintroduced during the Octave of Easter in 2008. This change between winter and summer garments is very practical, given the oppressive heat of the Roman summer
(External Link
).
Shoulder cape
A shoulder cape is shorter than a mozzetta and isn't buttoned over the chest. It is generally seen to be a symbol of jurisdiction or authority. It is worn over the cassock by nearly all clerics, from the
Pope to the Parish Priest (but not curates or
seminarians). In some countries it's customary for altar servers to wear a shoulder cape over their cottas or surplices while serving.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Mozzetta'.
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