By now most of you know about the Biretta for Seminarians Project.
You – seminarians and lay people – contact John Hastreiter in church goods at Leaflet Missal in St. Paul – 651-209-1951 Ext-331. Seminarians: give name, address, HAT SIZE and John will put you on the list. Lay people or clergy: Contact John and pay for one or more birettas and John takes care of the shipping, etc.
In light of recent events, and in consultation with Mr. Hastreiter, here is a new project for your consideration.
SATURNOS FOR CLERICS PROJECT
The Project will work along the same lines as the Biretta Project.
Clerics (priests and deacons – bishops buy your own!), contact Mr. Hastreiter with your information – check your hat size before you call.
Here is a video about how to measure for your HAT SIZE: HERE. It is important to double-check especially if you have gained or lost a lot of weight or hair.
“Saturno” is, of course, an Italian nickname for the broad-rimmed Roman clerical hat. Romans also call the hat a “padella… frying pan”. Otherwise it is a “cappello Romano”. “Saturno” is fun and pretty much everyone knows it.
Mr. Hastreiter informs me that there are a couple options for your saturno. There are different kinds of Roman hats: woven straw for hot weather (they come in white for when you wear your white cassock), felt (like most normal hats, and pressed fur (often rabbit – warmer – rather shiny as in the photo, above).
My initial thought about this is that the Project should be mainly for deacons and priests rather than for seminarians. I don’t think that seminarians should be excluded. That said, it could be that getting a saturno and having it around at the sem is NOT going to do you a lot of good… depending on the faculty and what you do with it. Be prudent, men, and deny yourself some good things for the sake of the greater goal: ordination. That said, seminarians aren’t excluded.
¡Hagan lío! Let the New Evangelization Thrive!
PS: We also need a Spanish Biretta and a Jijin For Fr. Z Project.
It woud be worth asking Mr. Hastreiter whether or not he can get these in a 50/50 rabbit and beaver fur felt because they will hold up for many years, retaining their shape even after they are rained on. If you can order a large number from a hatter he will likely provide a sizeable discount for a large order. If it is possible, you want to get these from a hatter as opposed to a factory, since the hatter forms a clear “break line” between the crown and the brim, forming the crown first, and then ironing the brim flat as he works the break line by hand. A factory stamps both the crown and the brim out at one and the same time.
Can the saturno be worn with a black suit, or only with a cassock?
Fr. Vincent Fitzpatrick: It goes best with the cassock. I wouldn’t think to wear it with a suit.
The answer I expected. Thanks.
I hope none of the priests will be trying them on or wearing in sight of our poor Holy Father. These ‘rigid’ priests might trigger him and force him to retreat to his Safe Space.
I guess we could call it the Vatican City Safe Space, it kind of is the original.
Saturnos but no capes? Are we serious about our clericalism or are we not?
(I am kidding. Let the priest save up his stipends in his own piggybank if he really wants one and if there are no poor in his town nor any Christian towns and churches to be rebuilt in Iraq with that money. Let the laity buy saturnos if they have already done their part with Catholic New East Welfare Association or etc. Conflicted ultramontanist saturno buyers may enjoy having their Pope-Francis-supporting cake and eating it too by donating to Peter’s Pence?)
[Hat by hat. Cape by cape.]
I had one made for me by Caliqo Hats in Canada: http://caliqo.com/
The owner contracts with Amish hat makers in upstate NY. My Capello Romano Saturno was obtained at the half the price of what it would cost from Italy. They can be made in either wool or fur felt. The craftsmanship is excellent.
[Did you notice that I actually have a project here… right?]
Caliqo Hats is a good consideration since not every hatter will have the appropriate block on which to shape the crown of this style of hat (a set of such wooden blocks is needed. One for each average hat size). So, if Caliqo already has the blocks, then they can provide a fair price for the better fur-felt blended hat body, as I mentioned above. The last time that I checked there are five hat-body makers here in the US. Each of them offers a beaver/rabbit blended hat blank. That the Amish are involved does not impress me, however, since most hat-making equipment predates the civil war. Anything that has been motorized has been retrofitted.
I applaud this project for the sake of a much-needed stronger Catholic identity. I will recommend your success daily to the prayers of Blessed Marie-Eugene.
Eventually, Pope Francis will note that if he attacks some material manifestation of traditional Catholicism, demand will exceed supply, rapidly.
How does the Saturno look when worn forward as a Marine Drill Instructor would?
[‘RAH]
How does the Saturno look when worn forward as a Marine Drill Instructor would?
I would love to see some photos!
Verboten for Laity? Dang, need a spiffy lay hat….
[I wouldn’t say “verboten” if you are not a seminarian or cleric. It would be … odd… like wearing a uniform hat when you are not in a uniform. Meanwhile, there are lots of broad rimmed hats to choose from.]