A few years ago I was privileged to visit the truly impressive Vatican Splendors exhibit in California. Looking back at the images, I thought it opportune to share these photos of the gold cloth miter of Pius V that dates from the year 1566. The orphreyed miter (in Latin, mitra auriphrygiata) is a miter made of gold cloth or white silk interwoven with gold. It has no precious stones or ornament. A band of brilliant gold cloth wraps around the circulus and the titulus of the miter. Gold fringes are attached to the end of the orphreys. Gold cloth miters are used for pontifical ceremonies, for Solemn Mass, also in private functions and at less solemn celebrations. I include a close up image that depicts the delicate gold thread.
"It is used from the First Sunday of Advent to Christmas, except on Gaudete Sunday; from Septuagesima to Wednesday of Holy Week inclusive, except on Laetare Sunday; on all vigils which are of fast, on all Ember days, on Rogation days for litanies and processions, which are penitential seasons; on the Feast of the Holy Innocents, unless it is a Sunday; for blessings and consecrations which are performed privately, at the consecration of a bishop, ordinations, blessings of an abbot or abbess; at the blessing of a corner stone, consecration of a church, altar, cemetery, or bell" (Clerical Dress and Insignia of the Roman Catholic Church, p. 124).
