11 replies to this topic

[Piccoli Fiori JMJ]

+JMJ

This has been on my mind for years now, and looking at the pictures from the Erie, PA Carmel reminded me what I've been meaning to ask: What is up with St. Teresa of Avila's fancy hat? I've always assumed it has something to do with her being a Doctor of the Church, but Therese or Catherine are not shown with this fancy hat. It actually reminds me of the headdress of the queens in a deck of cards. What on earth is it really?

[MaterMisericordiae]

I've often wondered why she is shown with that hat too. She did receive it for becoming the first Doctor of the Church who was a woman. It's called a "Spanish bonete." There is more about it at this link:

Spanish Bonete

In Spain you often can see Teresa of Ávila wearing a black bonete:
The reason therfore is, that she was named in 1970 a Doctor of the Church by Pope Paul VI.

Edited by MaterMisericordiae, 23 March 2011 - 03:40 PM.

[rosamundi]

+JMJ

This has been on my mind for years now, and looking at the pictures from the Erie, PA Carmel reminded me what I've been meaning to ask: What is up with St. Teresa of Avila's fancy hat? I've always assumed it has something to do with her being a Doctor of the Church, but Therese or Catherine are not shown with this fancy hat. It actually reminds me of the headdress of the queens in a deck of cards. What on earth is it really?

It's a pontifical doctoral biretta, because, separately and distinctly from her being declared a Doctor of the Church, the University of Salamanca declared her a Doctor.

[vee8]

Id wondered the same thing and yay now i know.

This is the first statue in the world to show St Therese of Lisieux with the same doctoral biretta, except she has it in her hand

a bit more info about it is here, scroll to the bottom of the page
http://www.portraitschicago.com/sculpture2.htm

[vee8]

The only thing Catherine of Siena is depicted with on her head that I could find is the crown of thorns.


Now we all all three women doctors of the Church in one thread yay!

[MaterMisericordiae]

Id wondered the same thing and yay now i know.

This is the first statue in the world to show St Therese of Lisieux with the same doctoral biretta, except she has it in her hand

a bit more info about it is here, scroll to the bottom of the page
http://www.portraitschicago.com/sculpture2.htm

Wow, I've never seen that depiction of St. Therese before.

The only thing Catherine of Siena is depicted with on her head that I could find is the crown of thorns.


Now we all all three women doctors of the Church in one thread yay!

I like this picture better:



Looks a little more realistic.

[Piccoli Fiori JMJ]

I've often wondered why she is shown with that hat too. She did receive it for becoming the first Doctor of the Church who was a woman. It's called a "Spanish bonete." There is more about it at this link:

Spanish Bonete

Interesting... But why does it look more like a castle on her head in this depiction?

[MaterMisericordiae]

Interesting... But why does it look more like a castle on her head in this depiction?

I'm not sure. Maybe it's just the way the bonete/biretta looked in those days?

[Chiara Francesco]

A friend of mine who was on a nun run to the Carmels of Ada Parnell and Buffalo was told by these sisters that the "hat" indeed is a "doctor of the church" hat. In the pictures below of the chapel in Ada Parnell, they have one of St. Therese wearing one too!


http://i52.tinypic.com/2qvfmds.jpg

http://i52.tinypic.com/vqnrs7.jpg

[MaterMisericordiae]

A friend of mine who was on a nun run to the Carmels of Ada Parnell and Buffalo was told by these sisters that the "hat" indeed is a "doctor of the church" hat. In the pictures below of the chapel in Ada Parnell, they have one of St. Therese wearing one too!


http://i52.tinypic.com/2qvfmds.jpg

http://i52.tinypic.com/vqnrs7.jpg

That's neat that they have a statue of St. Therese with a doctor biretta. She deserves one for her Little Way.

[Chiara Francesco]

I am going to visit the Carmel of Erie and on this page - the 4th picture in - is a statue of St. Therese wearing a biretta too:
http://www.eriercd.org/carmelites3.asp


Also, some more information on that biretta in the last paragraph here http://biretta.askdefine.com/ apparently it originated from St. Teresa of Avila receiving the title of doctor from the University of Salamanca .. and then it's borrowed for St. Therese .. interesting.

There's more about the history of the biretta but this paragraph on St. Teresa says:

"The pontifical doctoral biretta is sometimes seen in depictions of St. Teresa of Ávila, because she was declared a doctor by the University of Salamanca. This recognition is distinct from her status as a Doctor of the Church. The doctoral biretta has been borrowed for depictions of another doctor of the Church, St. Thérèse de Lisieux."

[Piccoli Fiori JMJ]

+JMJ

Ah... this is all very interesting! Thanks for answering my question. I can now go on with life satisfied.

Edited by FutureNunJMJ, 24 March 2011 - 08:05 AM.