BEARDS OR
NO BEARDS AS THE ROMAN DISCIPLINE?
The Roman Catholic discipline of shaving the face for the clergy has had a varied history. Before the almost complete revamping of discipline in 1969, the secular clergy keeping the face clean-shaven was still considered the discipline amongst the clergy. Even after 1969, the reform of costume and discipline did not change the discipline of shaving for clergy in Rome. The confusion enters the scene with the revitalization of tradition amongst traditional Catholic circles. In particular, one school of traditionalism makes the situation very difficult because of their modus operandi. And this school is the Recognize and Resist (R&R) contingent of the traditionalist movement. The R&R School tend to synthesize old laws with new laws in their subjective interpretations of Catholic discipline and teaching. There are instances of the former Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei making decisions for the traditional Institutes and Fraternities as to what 1917 Codes to follow and which 1983 Codes to follow in the celebration of the Traditional Roman Rite. However, the custom of shaving the face for the secular clergy is not regulated in Canon Law because it is left to the local Synods and Councils to decide. Because of this, there were intermittent periods of wearing the beard, even in Rome, and with the Popes themselves being in vogue by having a beard. But for the most part, the ancient Roman tradition had stood strong. And still does stand strong to this day.[1] So the crux of the matter is the following:
Instead of defaulting to the discipline as it was, before the crisis in the Church happened (1965-1969), the clergy who adhere to the R&R School of traditionalism and who belong to the semi-traditionalist Institutes and Fraternities, e.g., FSSP, use the relaxed standards of the current novus ordo legislation to allow the use of beards amongst their clergy.[2]
So, here is a little anecdote as to the reason why the Roman Catholic Church maintained the ancient Roman custom of being clean-shaven, given by Leo at traditio.com:
“The
Third Council of Carthage (397) forbade clerics to wear long hair or beards (“nec comam nutriat, nec barbam”) because
a shaven face is one of the accepted external signs of the clerical state and
is part of the habitus ecclesiasticus
of clerics in the Roman Church, as well as being the Roman custom from ancient
times into Christian times: “non
nutriendi capillos nec in genis nec in mento.”
Roman
priests are traditionally prohibited from wearing beards, as it is considered
prideful in a priest, who is thereby drawing attention to himself, whereas the
attention should be paid to Our Lord. The Romans were meticulously clean shaven
until the time of the homosexual emperor Hadrian (r. 117-138), who adopted un-Roman
practices. The Romans considered facial hair effeminate and a trait of the
effete East.
The
Jews who did not convert to Christianity retained their beards, as the Orthodox
Jews do to this day. The Council of Limoge (1031) held that St. Peter shaved
his beard when he became Christian, so his successor priests were expected to
follow suit.
Beards in Roman practice are considered prideful; the humble man shaves. The principle is the same for women: woman's uncovered hair in Church is considered prideful and exhibitionistic. That is why St. Paul enunciates the Christian principle: “But every woman praying or prophesying with her head not covered disgraceth her head” (1 Corinthians 11:5/DRV). In Islam, beards are viewed as an “adornment,” and Mohammedan men are encouraged to wear them to honor the infidel Prophet Mohammed.”
Secular Clerics should be clean-shaven today. See, Commentary on the Code of Canon Law – “Beards were generally permitted from the Council of Trent until 1800.” “The Code [of Canon Law] neither forbids the wearing of a beard, nor confers the right to wear one.”[3] The Code of Canon Law is neutral on the wearing of a beard.
So, the legislation of local Synods directs the use of beards. The Council of Baltimore forbids the wearing of a beard.[4] The Sacred Congregation of the Council, in 1921, reiterated this for local Synods in the United States. A similar legislation is observed by the Synod of Westminster in England in order to differentiate the Roman Catholic clergy from the Anglican clergy. Also, both Baltimore and Westminster wanted an Ultramontanist, Roman School observance, & adherence in discipline and liturgy, which is to be highly commended and applauded, and so the ancient Roman custom is to be clean shaven.
This is the present discipline at the moment in Italy since the 19th century.[5] Germany also legislated restrictions on beards which is why in 1865 the Holy See forbade the Bavarian Clergy from wearing beards when they requested this, and the Sacred Congregation of the Council reiterated this for Germany in 1920. And the practice in the Diocese of Rome since 1800 has been a policy of no beards for secular clergy. The exceptions to this are becoming a Missionary, or a being a member of the Carthusians, Capuchins, Camaldolese,[6] or an Eastern Rite Cleric.
It is advisable to shave every 2 to 4 days. However, 7-10 days is allowed at a maximum as taught by Mgr. Montault, who cites Cardinal Orsini. And haircuts are advisable every 2 to 3 weeks. The style of the hair should be Roman. Not too short, but not made to look like a slave, and not too long to be unbecoming, as well as not too affectatious, effeminate, and modern. The use of products such as pomades, gels, etc. should be discouraged. Eyeglasses and cufflinks should be plain metal, brass, or pewter. Perfumes and colognes also go against the progress in the spiritual life in general. This is according to some authors who were mostly composed of members of the Religious Orders, who have those things banned outright anyways. A secular cleric wouldn't commit a sin by using cologne and having a good, decent, masucline, and subdued cologne wouldn't be a bad thing. But some would put the cleric at a disadvantage, by being in a potential realm of effeminacy, while trying to progress in the spiritual life.[7]
And I’ll conclude with the final word being given to Leo at traditio.com:
“For
priests in particular, beards constitute practical problems of sacrilege. When
Particles of the Most Blessed Sacrament or of the Most Precious Blood fall into
a beard or moustache, how does one practically clean out the Particles or
Droplets? If one has ever seen the Sacred Host fall onto the floor by accident
and remembers how vigorously the priest attempted to clean out the Most Blessed
Sacrament, sometimes cutting out parts of the carpet to burn, one understands
why the Roman Catholic Church does not permit beards on its priests.
Only
limited exceptions were ever permitted to this traditional Roman practice,[8]
but the basic principle remains the rule. “Exceptio probat regulam.” One
sees many violations of Roman Catholic tradition and practice in the Newchurch
of the New Order, a fact that is not surprising, as Newchurch is not the Roman
Catholic Church. The same Roman traditional practice should be followed, as far
as possible, by laymen who serve at the altar, most particularly young laymen.”
[1] And it’s not just the Roman Catholic secular clergy who observe being clean-shaven. Most Western Militaries and Law Enforcement agencies also observe this custom. The exception being, just like in the Church with missionaries, the Foreign Legion and other specialized units which have special missions or have to blend in with certain cultures and climates.
[2] However, the Institute of Christ the King,
and the Society of St. Pius X enforce the Roman custom of being clean-shaven in
their Constitutions. Related to this issue is also the use of civilian
clothing in conjunction with clerical clothing, e.g., NorthFace jackets/vests
worn over the cassock, etc., as well as the complete lack of awareness of the
rules of clerical costume in general. And in particular what the Catholic hierarchy
prescribes for clerical clothing in Catholic Countries, and what the Catholic
hierarchy prescribes for clerical clothing in Non-Catholic countries.
[3] Cf. Canon Law Digest, Vol. I, pg. 123.
[4] Probably because the U.S. ceased to be a mission territory because a hierarchy was established throughout the 19th Century under the Pontificates of Pope Gregory XVI and Pope Pius IX. The Synod of Cincinnati said the following: “The Code does not grant any secular clerics the freedom to wear a beard, and it enjoins bishops to support the prohibition that has been in force until now in their Dioceses.” Cf. Sixth Provincial Synod of Cincinnati; S.C. Conc. 10 Jan. 1920, A.A.S. 12a.
[5] And as stated previously the revamping of
discipline after the Second Vatican Council did not change the discipline of being
clean-shaven for Rome and all of Italy.
[6] The Carthusians, Capuchins, and Camaldolese have the wearing of the beard written in their Constitutions which are approved and approbated by the Holy See. The Roman custom of being clean-shaven is observed by the: Benedictines (except the Camaldolese), Cistercians, Trappists, all schools of Franciscans (except the Capuchins), Carmelites, Dominicans, Passionists, Redemptorists, Jesuits, and any religious Instiutes and Congregations founded after the Catholic Counter-Reformaiton unless their Rules and Constitutions dictate otherwise and are approved by the Holy See.
[7] Cf. Fr. Adolphe Tanquerey, The Spiritual Life.
[8] E.g., being a missionary in a genuine
mission territory, or a member of the Carthusians, Capuchins, Carmelites,
Camaldolese, or Eastern Rite.
