Posted by Anthony (other posts) on February 14, 2014 at 07:20:53 Previous Next
In Reply to: Re: Longhair Clergy in the 15th Century posted by pxc3110 on February 12, 2014 at 20:04:02:
Inevitably, cutting hair always has the same symbolism, like putting one's joined hands into the hands of the bishop for an oath of loyalty. It is a sign of submission and obedience.
The tonsure is also something you can't hide. You can't take it off and put it on like clothes. It's with you all the time. For a priest, deacon, etc., it reminds him of his vocation and consecration to God and the Church. The cleric can cover his tonsure with a skull cap, which is more often seen on bishops' heads and coloured violet. An ordinary priest's skull cap is black, like that of a rabbi.
Hair has been longer or shorter over the centuries, but the tonsure remained until the 1960's. It fell out of use after Vatican II. I have worn it myself, but in its reduced version of about one inch diameter on the crown of the head. A tonsure that size is difficult to shave, even for an experienced barber.
Long hair continued into the nineteenth century and was "respectable" up to World War I. Little aristocratic boys in the 1900's had beautiful locks of long hair, like my grandfather-in-law. See the composer Liszt who was also a cleric in minor orders. He is not seen with his tonsure and skull cap, but he seems to have had long hair all his life.
Anthony
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: I think they had the "tonsure" hairstyle in order to show their obedience. Longer hairstyle was popular during the 17th and 18th century.