Here it is! (3 of 4)

From “Costume of Prelates of the Catholic Church according to Roman Etiquette” by John Abel Nainfa:


Cappa Magna

4. The Pope

The Pope’s cappa magna is not white, as some may believe, but red. He wears it only when attending the Matins of Christmas, the Office of the Dead, and the Tenebrae. On Christmas night, his cappa magna is of red velvet, and of red serge for funeral services and Tenebrae


5. Cardinals

Cardinals wear a silk cappa magna during the entire year, except on Good Friday, when they should wear a cappa of woolen material. A Cardinal’s cappa magna, red at ordinary times, is purple during the penitential season, on days of mourning, and when attending funeral services. In Rome, Cardinals wear the red cappa magna in their titles and when attending the papal “chapels”, held in the Pontifical Palace. Should the Papal chapel be held outside of the Pontifical Palace, etiquette would require the Cardinals wear the purple cappa magna; but for this, as for many other points of Roman ceremonial, the Cardinals who are to attend a solemn function receive detailed instructions beforehand form the pontifical Master of Ceremonies. When at Rome, Cardinals have a special train-bearer belonging to the “Confraternity of Train-Bearers”.


6. Bishops

The ceremonial of Bishops contains full information on the use of the cappa magna by Bishops. The Episcopal cappa magna is exclusively made of woolen material and always purple, even in penitential season (ut sint [Cappae] … laneae et violaceae et non alterius coloris). No custom authorizes the use of a silken cappa magna by a Bishop.


7. Religious Prelates

Cardinals and Bishops belonging to Religious Orders are not allowed the use of a red or purple cappa magna. Their Cappae, made of woolen material, are of the same color as the outer part of the order habit. The cape is sometimes of ermine, namely, when the lining of the prelatial dress is white; but as a rule, it is made of other furs, matching the color of the Cappae, as those of the vicunia, otter, northern cat, or Russian blue fox. For these furs, silk of the same color is substituted in the summer.

Abbots who have the privilege of wearing the cappa magna ought to follow the same rules, unless the papal concession includes special regulations.
Bishops belonging to Religious Congregations or the Orders of Clerics Regular may wear the same cappa magna as secular Prelates; but the cappa magna of a Cardinal belonging to the same Congregation or Orders must not be made of silk, like that of a secular Cardinal, since that matter is forbidden to Religious; his cappa magna, while conforming to that of the secular Cardinals as to colors, must be made of woolen material like a Bishop’s.