Rachel Evans
The topic of facial hair in Catholic monks is an interesting one, with a variety of traditions and rules surrounding hair and beards. In Western monastic traditions, most monks have been clean-shaven in modern times, with some orders even enforcing strict rules against beards. On the other hand, in Eastern Catholic Churches, priests are often required by custom to wear beards, and monks traditionally keep both their beards and hair uncut. These differing approaches to facial hair have been influenced by historical contexts, symbolic meanings, and the integration of varying beliefs within the Catholic Church.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Catholic monks' facial hair rules | In the West, most monks have been clean-shaven in modern times. |
| Facial hair in the Eastern Catholic Church | Monks traditionally kept their beards and hair uncut. |
| Facial hair in the Latin Church | From the end of the 17th century until recently, Latin-rite Catholic clerics were generally beardless. |
| Facial hair in the Eastern Orthodox Church | Monks traditionally never cut their beards and hair after receiving the monastic tonsure. |
| The monastic crown | The haircut has come to symbolize religious devotion and the rejection of worldly possessions. |
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What You'll Learn
Monks' haircuts are a form of tonsure
The tonsure is a traditional practice in Catholicism by specific religious orders with papal permission. The tonsure haircut is a symbolic act of shaving one's hair on the scalp, and it has been associated with various religions throughout history.
Monks' haircuts are indeed a form of tonsure. The tonsure haircut is a symbolic act of shaving one's hair on the scalp and has been associated with monks throughout history. The style is often bald with a brim of hair, sometimes referred to as "the monastic crown." This haircut is a form of tonsure called the "Roman," which consists of shaving only the top of the head, allowing the hair to grow in the form of a crown. This style is said to have originated with Saint Peter and was practiced by the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church.
The tonsure haircut has been a way for monks to show their consecration to God and their status as "slaves of Christ." It is also symbolic of the renunciation of worldly things, personal vanity, and eroticism, as hair has historically been associated with sexuality. The act of shaving the head can also be seen as a religious sacrifice, and the narrow crown of hair left after tonsure evokes images of the crown of thorns placed on Christ's head during his crucifixion.
In Eastern Orthodoxy and Eastern Catholic Churches of Byzantine Rite, there are three types of tonsure: baptismal, monastic, and clerical. The monastic tonsure, with its three grades (Rassophore, Stavrophore, and the Great Schema), is the rite of initiation into the monastic state, symbolic of cutting off self-will and the consecration of one's life to God. Orthodox monks traditionally never cut their hair or beards after receiving the monastic tonsure.
While the tonsure haircut is most commonly associated with monks, it is also practiced by Buddhist novices and nuns, as well as some Hindu and Islamic religious orders.
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Tonsure haircuts are symbolic
Tonsure haircuts, or the shaving of some or all of the hair on the scalp, are deeply symbolic in many religions, including Christianity and Buddhism. In Christianity, tonsure haircuts are especially significant in the Catholic Church and its monastic traditions.
The tonsure haircut, often referred to as the "monastic crown", is symbolic of religious devotion and the rejection of worldly possessions and vanity. By shaving their heads, monks also confirm their vow of celibacy, as hair has historically been associated with sexuality and eroticism. The act of tonsure is so important in the monastic tradition that failure to maintain the style was once considered equivalent to abandoning the role of monk.
The specific form of the tonsure haircut varies across different Christian traditions. In the Latin Church of the Catholic Church, the Roman tonsure consisted of shaving only the top of the head, allowing the hair to grow in the form of a crown. This practice, also known as the "crown cut", originated in the late Roman Empire, where monks were marked with this distinctive haircut for easy identification. The crown shape is said to symbolise the "precious head of the chief-apostle Peter", who was shaved by those who did not believe his word, only to be blessed by Christ, who turned ridicule into praise.
In Eastern Orthodox Christianity and the Eastern Catholic Churches of Byzantine Rite, there are three types of tonsure: baptismal, monastic, and clerical. Tonsure is performed by cutting four locks of hair in a cruciform pattern: at the front, back, and sides of the head, with each direction corresponding to the words "In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit".
In addition to the Christian tradition, tonsure is also practised in Buddhism, where it holds symbolic significance. Newly ordained monks in Chinese Buddhism may receive small burns to the scalp, symbolising their adherence to the bodhisattva path.
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Monks in the West tend to be clean-shaven
The tradition of Catholic monks being clean-shaven has its roots in the late Roman Empire. During this period, monks were marked by the Romans with distinctive haircuts, with only the top of the head shaved, allowing the hair to grow in the form of a crown. This practice, known as tonsure, was later adopted by the Catholic Church, particularly in the Latin Rite, and was believed to have originated with Saint Peter. While there is no evidence to support this claim, the tonsure haircut became a symbol of religious devotion and rejection of worldly possessions for monks.
Over time, different variations of tonsure emerged, such as the Oriental and Celtic styles, which involved shaving the entire head or shaving from ear to ear, respectively. In the Middle Ages, legislation was enacted to regulate the hair length of clerics, and these laws remained in force until the 20th century. The 1917 Code of Canon Law, for example, required clerics to have simple hairstyles without specifically forbidding beards.
In modern times, monks in the West have generally been clean-shaven, following the tradition of tonsure. However, there have been exceptions, such as the Capuchins within the Latin Rite. In contrast, monks in Eastern Catholic Churches and Orthodox churches have traditionally kept their beards and hair uncut as a sign of masculinity, spiritual devotion, and lack of concern for physical appearance.
The presence or absence of facial hair among Catholic monks has evolved over time, influenced by cultural and religious practices. While monks in the West tend to be clean-shaven, there is no universal rule, and exceptions can be found within different monastic traditions and geographic regions.
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Monks in the East tend to keep their facial hair
In the Latin Church, Catholic monks were generally expected to be clean-shaven, with some exceptions, such as the Capuchins. This tradition dates back to a decree from Carthage or southern France around the year 503, which forbade clerics from growing their beards and hair freely, though it may not have been a total prohibition. This custom was enforced more strictly by many bishops, and similar legislation remained in force throughout the Middle Ages.
However, in Eastern Christianity, including Eastern Catholic Churches, clerics regularly wore beards for spiritual and masculine reasons. In Eastern Orthodox Churches and Eastern Catholic Churches of the Byzantine Rite, there are three types of tonsure: baptismal, monastic, and clerical. During these rituals, four locks of hair are cut in a cruciform pattern, but the hair is allowed to grow back. Orthodox monks traditionally never cut their hair or beards after receiving the monastic tonsure, which signifies the consecration of their lives to God.
In contrast to the Latin Church, the Eastern tradition of bearded clerics has a long history. The Theravada Vinaya stipulates that Buddhist monks must shave their heads and beards every two months or when their hair grows beyond a certain length. This practice is also observed during the full moon and new moon Uposatha days. In Chinese Buddhism, monks may receive small burns on their scalp as a symbol of their commitment to the bodhisattva path.
While the Latin Church and Eastern Christian traditions differ in their approaches to facial hair, it is important to note that the views on priests' facial hair have evolved over time. Today, in Western societies, the presence or absence of facial hair is generally considered a matter of personal choice rather than a religious dictate.
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Clerics' facial hair was historically regulated by law
Clerics' facial hair has been historically regulated by law. For example, the 1917 Code of Canon Law required clerics to have a simple hairstyle, although it did not specifically forbid beards. This law was enforced more strictly by many bishops. The Latin Church developed differently from Eastern Christianity, where clerics regularly wore beards as a sign of masculinity and for other spiritual reasons.
One of the earliest laws on the subject was a decree from around the year 503, which forbade clerics from growing beards and hair freely, although it may not have been a total prohibition. Forms of legislation like this remained in force throughout the Middle Ages, with violations sometimes resulting in excommunication or forced shaving by a cleric's superior. From the end of the 17th century until recently, Latin-rite Catholic clerics, with some exceptions, were generally beardless. This custom was justified in various ways, such as associating beard-growing with vanity and show.
In the monastic tradition, rules regarding beards and hair have long been established. In the West, most monks have been clean-shaven in modern times, with some orders prescribing tonsure, a specific form of hair-cutting. In contrast, monks in the East, particularly in Orthodox churches, traditionally kept their beards and hair uncut. Hermits who were not monks also tended to keep their beards and hair uncut, although exceptions exist.
The tonsure haircut, which involves shaving the top of the head to form a crown, is a significant symbol in the monastic tradition. It represents religious devotion, the rejection of worldly possessions, and the confirmation of the vow of celibacy taken by monks. The failure to maintain this hairstyle was once considered as serious as abandoning the role of a monk. Tonsure was practised in the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church and was believed to have originated with Saint Peter. However, this tradition declined after the Middle Ages and was eventually banned by the Pope in 1972.
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Frequently asked questions
In the West, most Catholic monks have been clean-shaven in modern times. However, in the East, monks have traditionally kept their beards. There are also some Eastern Catholic Churches where priests are required by custom to wear beards.
There have been various reasons given over time to justify the Latin custom. One practical reason was to avoid hair impeding drinking from the chalice. Another reason was that clerics wanted to avoid following the fashion of the moment, which would have been a well-maintained beard and moustache.
Monks in the East have kept their beards and hair uncut as a sign of lack of interest or concern about physical appearance and to minimise the need for personal adornment through regular shaving and/or hair cutting.
The 1917 Code of Canon Law required clerics to have a simple hairstyle without specifically forbidding beards. However, many bishops enforced the law more strictly. The 1983 code only refers to clerical dress and says nothing about hair or beards. A decree from around the year 503 from Carthage or southern France forbade clerics from growing their beards and hair freely, but it may not have been a total prohibition.
