Tonsure – A shaved crown

Catholic monks used to be recognizable by their shaven crown, the so-called tonsure, sometimes also called the ‘corona’. This symbol of devotion was popular for a long time, but resistance arose in the course of the twentieth century. The Catholic Church abolished the tradition of the bald crown in 1972 by decree.

The tradition of shaving the crown is said to have originated in the fourth or fifth century. Over time, different styles emerged. The best known is the Roman or Petrustonsuur, recognizable by a bald crown with a (narrow) strip of hair underneath, as can be seen in the image at the top of this post. It has sometimes been suggested that this tonsure was inspired by the depictions of Jesus with the crown of thorns. There was also the so-called Paulustonsuur, in which the clergy shaved themselves completely bald.

Lay brothers did not shave their crowns in the past. Its use was reserved for fathers. The first time the crown was cut was an important step in the training of the novices, the new monastics.

In some strict Catholic denominations, the tonsure is still practiced with the permission of the Pope. Incidentally, the use is not only known from Christianity. Also Egyptian priests used these practices to earlier times.

Video: Why monks had that haircut