Happy Feast of St. Joseph Everyone!
For me, it is the start of the second half of my spring semester.
I don't know if I am ready to actually get back into the full swing of things
(homework and tests and such).
I have asked two guests to write about veiling in the Catholic Church and its significance.
Sarah here, wrote about her history with veiling and the actually history behind the veil.
My other friend and guest writer is someone from my college church group, Victor.
He wrote from a man's perspective on women veiling and his thoughts about the topic.
I want to give them a big thank you for taking time to think, pray, and write about this topic!
((I will add Victor's response later)).
And without further adieu, here is the post from Sarah!
God bless!
~M.E.E.~
"Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young,
but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity." (1 Timothy 4:12)
Thank you so much, Mary, for asking me to write a post about veiling.
Even though I've been veiling for about 11 years and have been blogging for almost 6 years,
I have never written anything on veiling!
When I started researching and putting my thoughts together for this post,
I read through many other ladies' experiences.
There are so many wonderful posts of people's veiling stories on the internet;
how could I possibly say something that hasn't already been said?
I just want to share my personal story with you in hopes that it encourages you!
My initial reason for veiling...
My family and I started attending Children's Eucharistic Adoration when I was about 8 years old.
This was when we saw other moms and girls veiling.
One of the moms made veils and made them available for women to take, so my mom, sister, and I each got one.
I don't exactly remember the initial reason we started veiling,
but my friends were doing it and I was told it was a way to give reverence to God.
Since then, I have come to a good understanding of why I veil.
As I came to understand the history and meaning behind it, it became a personal devotion.
I have been blessed to share these reasons with others and I'm very happy when girls ask me about it.
What happened during Vatican II??
"Contrary to what many believe, Vatican II never did away with this tradition.
It remains a beautiful devotion whereby each woman, symbolizing the Bride of Christ,
the Church, wears a veil as a visible reminder of the perfect submission of the Church to the loving rule of Christ."
"An article in The Atlanta Journal of June 21, 1969, titled “Women Required to Cover Head, Vatican Insists,”
stated: “A Vatican official says there has been no change, as reported, in the Roman Catholic rule that women cover their head in church.
The Rev. Annibale Bugnini, secretary of the New Congregation for Divine Worship, said the reports stemmed
from a misunderstanding of a statement he made at a news conference in May.
Bugnini stated: ‘The rule has not been changed. It is a matter of general discipline.’”
However, the 1983 Code of Canon Law, currently in force, does not contain a requirement that women cover their head in church.
As Cardinal Burke, Prefect of the Supreme Apostolic Signatura, stated in a private letter:
"The wearing of a chapel veil for women is not required
when women assist at the Holy Mass according to the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite.
It is, however, the expectation that women who assist at the Mass according to the Extraordinary Form cover their heads,
as was the practice at the time that the 1962 Missale Romanum was in force.
It is not, however, a sin to participate in the Holy Mass according to the Extraordinary Form without a veil."
Just as the Church does not mandate that every person pray the Rosary, neither does she mandate that every woman wear a veil.
This does not mean, however, that either is not a worthy devotion.
On the contrary, these devotions are pleasing to God when done out of love for Him." ~Veils by Lily
Veiling is making a come-back.
With the resurgence of the Extraordinary Form (Or the Traditional Latin Mass) veiling has made a come-back as well.
But the Latin Mass is not the only place you may see women veiling.
Many women and girls have started wearing the veil at the Novus Ordo Masses
(The 'New Order' most often celebrated in the vernacular language.)
This is because more and more people are realizing that veiling is not just a rule or fashion trend that belongs to a certain form of the Mass
but instead is a beautiful tradition that shows reverence for our Eucharistic Lord who is truly present at the Mass, no matter which form.
Maybe the resurgence of the veil is due to an increase in the realization that
Jesus is truly and completely present in His body, blood, soul, and divinity on the altar!
Contrary to the stereotype, veils are not old fashioned or just for those who want to cling to the past.
Veils are worn by women young and old to show reverence to Our Lord who is with us the same yesterday, today, and forever!
What is the importance of wearing the veil?
There are many reasons women wear a veil in the presence of the Eucharist.
I would like to highlight (in no particular order) some that I find very important and inspirational.
1. Reverence.
When we wear the veil, we are using an outward sign to reveal an interior realization.
Jesus is truly present in the Blessed Sacrament and we adore Him!
The veil is a sign that we acknowledge that there is something greater than ourselves here; namely our God, King, and Lord.
2. Modesty.
A woman's hair is her crown of beauty!
We are humbling ourselves before our Lord and God when we veil in His presence because we are covering up our own beauty.
The veil should point others' attentions to God.
The veil is an outward reminder of humillity and God's presence while hopefully being a reminder against vanity as well.
3. Submission.
The veil is a sign of obedience and submission; submission to her husband and submission to the Church.
Just as a woman submits in love to her husband, so the Church, as the bride of Christ, submits to Him.
A married couple are an image of Christ and His Church so the veil on a woman is a sign of the Church's submission to Christ.
"And the nature of this submission is one of love, not repression - who wouldn't submit to Him Who loves her unto death?" ~Veils by Lily
This is why a woman veils at her wedding as well.
The wedding veil shows willing and loving submission and devotion to her husband.
The bride submits to his protection and guidance.
When we wear the veil in the presence of the Eucharist, we should have an interior disposition of submission to God's protection and guidance.
4. Sacred.
Have you ever noticed that special sacred vessels in the church are veiled?
Women too are sacred vessels.
Women are blessed to be able to carry an amazing gift of God inside of them, life!
God has given woman a special gift to be able to conceive and carry children within her.
Someone once described the amazing moment of conception as "the breath of God moment."
This really is accurate as God breathes life into the soul of the new human.
Women are privileged to be able to carry life inside of them and therefore are sacred vessels of God's gift.
In this way, the veil acts as a great sign of dignity inherent to a woman.
All of these reasons can really be summed up in the virtue of humility.
We do not wear the veil to say "I am holier than thou."
Quite the contrary.
When we veil, we realize our littleness, our sinful human nature and we are so grateful to God that He should bless us,
undeservingly, with the gift of His presence in the Eucharist.
Ultimately, the veil means nothing if we do not have the interior disposition of humility to go along with the outward sign.
What is the significance of the different colors?
Traditionally, unmarried women wore white or lighter colors while married women wore black or darker colors.
There certainly are no hard and fast rules though.
Veils come in many beautiful colors and styles.
Blue is a wonderful color for Marian feast days, violet (or purple) for Advent and Lent, or even pink for Gaudete and Laetare Sundays! 😄
In parishes where few women veil, sometimes women want to wear something that blends in with their hair.
I want to encourage you...
Have you thought about wearing a veil in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament?
Maybe you've felt the call for a long time now or maybe this is all totally new to you or maybe you used to wear one and have stopped.
In any case, I would like to encourage you to try veiling!! Even if there aren't many women at your Mass who veil,
your example can be powerful.
Once my mom, sister, and I started veiling, not only at Eucharistic Adoration,
but at Sunday Mass, some other moms and their daughters started veiling as well.
Please don't be worried about what others will think of you.
Ultimately, God's opinion is the only one that matters.
He knows your heart and will reward you for your efforts of reverence and humility.
The veil is not a sign of weakness, pride, or slavery.
It is a beautiful reminder of the True Presence of Our Lord in the Eucharist,
His blessings to us as women, and where our true glory comes from!
Dear sisters in Christ, "Be not afraid!"
Where can I get a veil?
The first place to check would be your parish bookstore or gift shop.
They'll often have a simple "starter veil."
Here are a some websites that carry beautiful veils for you to look at!
May God bless you and keep you,
Sarah
