Does your EF provide veils for women?

[Tis_Bearself]

People at OF concerned about germs generally bring small bottles of hand sanitizer and use them right before Communion. I see this being done pretty often and sometimes they forget their little bottles of hand sanitizer in the pew.

I don’t think this is something the church has to help with, since a lot of us aren’t that germophobic (I personally think some exposure to germs helps my immune system) and other people receive on the tongue, and it’s pretty easy to buy and carry your own hand sanitizer and those who are concerned usually are using their personal hand sanitizer every other place they go, like restaurants. Most churches nowadays also have restrooms and you can go in there and wash your hands or even sometimes use hand sanitizer that is provided in the restroom.

Also, many people (in some areas, most people) at OF Mass these days do not shake hands at the sign of peace. They raise a hand, nod, smile and wish peace. Some of them make the 60s peace sign with the upraised hand.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I also think that if the EF Mass is to spread out amongst people who are used to attending the OF Mass, then is policing a dress codes that is in effect culturally alien to new attendees at EF Masses a good idea?

Since this behavior of insisting women cover their heads or leave is not the norm at EF Masses or other traditional services, the ladies can likely find someplace else to attend. I’ve been to EFs and other traditional prayer services at 7 different churches in 3 states including FSSP, diocesan, and monastery parishes, and never seen a requirement for women’s head covering, and seen women with uncovered heads at all these places. The monastery did forbid shorts and tank tops at all times, on women and men and not just at the EF services.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I’m 66, and as I recall, the requirement to cover our heads had been done away with before I got married in 1975. I’m pretty sure the rule was gone by the time I’d graduated from high school in 1971.

It was gone from my childhood parish a couple years before then. My memories of Mass go back to the late 1960s and neither my mother, nor my elementary school teachers, nor any other lady in church under senior citizen age, covered their heads in church. Nor were us primary school kids issued head coverings with our uniforms or expected to wear them in church at the mandatory school Masses.

 

[Brendan_64]

never seen a requirement for women’s head covering, and seen women with uncovered heads at all these places.

I’ve seen a woman without head covered at an SSPX Mass even though there it was not the norm and I think they did have a dress code notice and they may even have had spare head coverings. There was no attempt that I could see by either clergy or laity to ask the lady to cover her head, let alone ask her to leave.

 

[Brendan_64]

I think that a focus on externals such as women wearing head-coverings etc does not do us any good and can actually portray the people who attend EF Mass as being somehow stuck in the past and being overly concerned with how a person dresses. I do not believe that the majority of people who attend EF Mass are like that at all.

 

[mrsdizzyd]

mrsdizzyd:

Therefore, nothing has been “forgotten” if a woman shows up without a veil.

Never happens ?

Hard to believe some don’t forget on occasion.

The winking smiley and the context of the thread is a clear indication that the OP is not talking about a woman who usually covers and somehow forget her veil. Rather, he is talking about a woman who arrives at the mass without a veil having never intended to wear one in the first place.

 

[stpurl]

In Philly hats and headcoverings and mandatory beanies/chapel veils lasted until at least 1971 (the year I moved to New England) and in New England they were gone with the wind by then, sadly, although a lot of older women like my Nana continued wearing hats and veils the rest of their lives.

 

[Fuerza]

Just out of curiosity, why would that be a warning? Most EF communities refer to the Mass as the TLM. It’s pretty standard across the board.

 

[thistle]

Just out of curiosity, why would that be a warning? Most EF communities refer to the Mass as the TLM. It’s pretty standard across the board.

Maybe it’s because they don’t want to consider the Latin Mass as Extraordinary Form.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

It’s also because many Catholics don’t understand what Ordinary and Extraordinary Form are. But “Traditional Latin Mass” is self-explanatory.

 

[Fuerza]

I suppose that’s true of some groups, but most Catholics refer to the EF as the TLM. It’s a standard appellation that’s not owned by schismatic groups, but is widespread across all faithful.

 

[maryjk]

Understood but they can be $20-30 a piece or more.

They can also be about $5. But but them in bulk, and you can get them even cheaper. Heck , they can pin a tissue to their head. That is what was done when a head covering was actually required.

No way would I put a used head covering on my head.

But then again, I only attend Mass at churches in communion with Rome.

 

[Jessie]

But then again, I only attend Mass at churches in communion with Rome.

I’m not sure I understand this comment? The FSSP is fully in communion with Rome, and offers exclusively Mass in EF.

I like to cover my head, but I would resent being forced to. Is that pride? I don’t feel icky about hands and germs, but I do about sharing head gear.

 

[Pitcairn17]

Phemie:

I’m 66, and as I recall, the requirement to cover our heads had been done away with before I got married in 1975. I’m pretty sure the rule was gone by the time I’d graduated from high school in 1971.

It was gone from my childhood parish a couple years before then. My memories of Mass go back to the late 1960s and neither my mother, nor my elementary school teachers, nor any other lady in church under senior citizen age, covered their heads in church. Nor were us primary school kids issued head coverings with our uniforms or expected to wear them in church at the mandatory school Masses.

My memories go back to the 50’s, and I recall women and girls wearing Kleenex on their heads, which in hindsight seems pretty silly, but such was the fear of sin associated with the head covering rule.

 

[maryjk]

I should be clear - where obligatory it is for non-approved TLMs. Not compliant with bishop.

I’m not sure I understand this comment? The FSSP is fully in communion with Rome, and offers exclusively Mass in EF.

Not the mass that @Bill_B_NY is talking about. Or at least it isn’t in communion with the bishop. I wouldn’t attend a mass that isn’t in common with Rome or the local bishop.

 

[Cruc3S1gnatus]

Yes we have a basket in the front with veils. I’ve never used it because I have my own and I would be worried about lice or something.
I very rarely see anyone without a veil so I assume people (visitors) must be using them?

 

[Tis_Bearself]

My memories go back to the 50’s, and I recall women and girls wearing Kleenex on their heads, which in hindsight seems pretty silly, but such was the fear of sin associated with the head covering rule.

My mom used to tell stories of women in a rush to get to Mass wearing a paper napkin from the diner on their head. Apparently there was a concern about being denied Communion without it. She thought they looked ridiculous.

 

[Minks]

If only it were an accurate explanation…

@JulianN

Since this is not an accurate explanation, what is the accurate explanation?

 

[Phemie]

Tis_Bearself:

Phemie:

I’m 66, and as I recall, the requirement to cover our heads had been done away with before I got married in 1975. I’m pretty sure the rule was gone by the time I’d graduated from high school in 1971.

It was gone from my childhood parish a couple years before then. My memories of Mass go back to the late 1960s and neither my mother, nor my elementary school teachers, nor any other lady in church under senior citizen age, covered their heads in church. Nor were us primary school kids issued head coverings with our uniforms or expected to wear them in church at the mandatory school Masses.

My memories go back to the 50’s, and I recall women and girls wearing Kleenex on their heads, which in hindsight seems pretty silly, but such was the fear of sin associated with the head covering rule.

I only recall doing that when we were on holidays and my parents got the urge to visit a new church in the middle of doing something else - and maybe once when my class went to confession.

 

[Traddy1962]

Wearing veils May have fallen out of practice By then, but since the 1983 code had not come out yet, the 1917 was still in effect, and it says women veil.