Catholic Dictionary

Find accurate definitions of over 5,000 Catholic terms and phrases (including abbreviations). Based on Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

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BIRETTA

A stiff square cap with three or four ridges on its upper side, worm by clerics when entering and leaving the sanctuary at Divine Service. The cleric's rank is indicated by the color of the biretta. It is usually black for a priest, red for a cardinal, purple for a bishop, while some monastic canons and abbots wear white.