How to wear a Mantilla?

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Detroit Sue:
Humility as in submission to God. As in modesty. I found your comment interesting, because if you are meek and humble of heart, wouldn’t you suppose that would automatically reflect in your exterior life? I think if you asked any woman here why she covers her head, you would not get one reply stating “vanity.” I’m sorry you have such distaste for this.
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Ummm… :o

I have to admit that I will say I wear it out of vanity. :o

I am completely vain of my hair. It is my very best physical feature and I know it and I"m told as such all the time. I love to color it. When my hair looks good, I FEEL attractive although I am not otherwise physically attractive. :o

Vanity. I love to show off my best feature.

So I cover my head. I cover it to submit to God’s will and I feel naked without it. If I go to Mass or to a holy place without wearing my mantilla, I feel ashamed. It helps me to remember where I am and to behave like a woman, to be demure, feminine (none of which characteristics I used to have, being a gung-ho tomboy for many years, shunning my femininity).

When I got to be with the Lord at Mass or in adoration, I am not there for myself, but for God, and it is not all about my hair.

I have been attacked verbally for wearing it, while the people in question say they want to wear it, too. These conversations only strengthen my resolve to continue to follow what God has called me to do.

I hope to be an example, not attract attention. I would have to say I’m likely far less holy or devout than other women who do not cover their heads.

And I hate to stand out in any way so I was actually terrified the first few times I wore the thing.

I realize some disagree with me and others who wear the veil, and some may think that my resons are frivolous, but that’s OK. I do not think everyone should have to wear it but I would like to see the devotion more widespread.

I actullly gave a talk the other day in a Life in the Spirit seminar about the experience of the Holy Spirit…and it was about the internal transformation which becomes external as well. I have learned as I became more faithful, I became more bold in my expressions of faith within the Church and outside the Church. Wearing the mantilla is one of the external manifestations of what the Holy Spirit has done to transform my soul.

I just never actually realized that until recently.

Please don’t demean those of us who choose this devotion…we are sincere and our hearts are focused on God and his will for us.
 
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JCPhoenix:
Ummm… :o

I have to admit that I will say I wear it out of vanity. :o

I am completely vain of my hair. It is my very best physical feature and I know it and I"m told as such all the time. I love to color it. When my hair looks good, I FEEL attractive although I am not otherwise physically attractive. :o

Vanity. I love to show off my best feature.

So I cover my head. I cover it to submit to God’s will and I feel naked without it. If I go to Mass or to a holy place without wearing my mantilla, I feel ashamed. It helps me to remember where I am and to behave like a woman, to be demure, feminine (none of which characteristics I used to have, being a gung-ho tomboy for many years, shunning my femininity).

When I got to be with the Lord at Mass or in adoration, I am not there for myself, but for God, and it is not all about my hair.

I have been attacked verbally for wearing it, while the people in question say they want to wear it, too. These conversations only strengthen my resolve to continue to follow what God has called me to do.

I hope to be an example, not attract attention. I would have to say I’m likely far less holy or devout than other women who do not cover their heads.

And I hate to stand out in any way so I was actually terrified the first few times I wore the thing.

I realize some disagree with me and others who wear the veil, and some may think that my resons are frivolous, but that’s OK. I do not think everyone should have to wear it but I would like to see the devotion more widespread.

I actullly gave a talk the other day in a Life in the Spirit seminar about the experience of the Holy Spirit…and it was about the internal transformation which becomes external as well. I have learned as I became more faithful, I became more bold in my expressions of faith within the Church and outside the Church. Wearing the mantilla is one of the external manifestations of what the Holy Spirit has done to transform my soul.

I just never actually realized that until recently.

Please don’t demean those of us who choose this devotion…we are sincere and our hearts are focused on God and his will for us.
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You don’t wear it out of vanity, you wear it out of MODESTY. 🙂
 
Thank you all. I have learned things here that I hadn’t learned before.
I seriously saw humility and modesty in a different light. The words meant something entirely different to me, it might appear.
I think vanity might mean something different as well.

I didn’t mean that in a bad way at all. I suppose if I called someone a vain person it might not sound very nice but I didn’t mean it that way.

Somehow, I have a hard time seeing a lace veil as a sign of either humility or modesty. Lace is a rather luxurious fabric to be seen as humble and it has never been known for modest dress when used in any other way. I guess that is what I am trying to say. Would you consider a lace chapel cap the same thing?

Back before Vatican II, women covered their heads for two reasons. First in obedience because it was demanded of them by Holy Mother Church. Don’t ask me why, I doubt anyone really knew for sure. Maybe as you say, humility or modesty. However, women were known to spend small fortunes on lovely hats, it was a common joke of the day … everyone was aware of the jokes.
Secondly, it was indeed the style. I do remember when lace mantillas became popular. It happened at a time when there were some very Romantic (what they call now as “girly” films out where the female leads were Spanish and usually quite rich with duenas keeping a very close eye on them. These beautiful ladies wore high combs in their hair with a mantilla falling over the top of it. They wore them though out the movie but you would always see them kneeling in Church praying.
Young girls would watch these movies, in romantic awe. I was one of them as were my friends. Mantillas could be purchased from little ads in movie magazines with pictures of the leading ladies shown in the ads.
It wasn’t long before we started seeing them in Church.
Maybe if you see this from my point of view you can see why I was so puzzled by the subject.
 
Buy a cheap same coloured head band and sew it onto the mantilla a little ways from the leading edge, works a treat.
 
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robertaf:
Somehow, I have a hard time seeing a lace veil as a sign of either humility or modesty. Lace is a rather luxurious fabric to be seen as humble and it has never been known for modest dress when used in any other way. I guess that is what I am trying to say. Would you consider a lace chapel cap the same thing?
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A woman is modest and humble, and pleasing to the Lord, when she embraces her femininity. Lace is a much more feminine fabric, then, say, a rough muslin or plain cotton. It is also appropriate for the occasion–mass–and probably draws LESS attention than a solid fabric, which would cover the hair entirely and people would see a big white blob sticking out of the crowd. Instead, it is less noticeable, except to our Lord and the angels, who recognize what the woman is doing and appreciate her obedience to modesty and humility.
 
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Princess_Abby:
A woman is modest and humble, and pleasing to the Lord, when she embraces her femininity. Lace is a much more feminine fabric, then, say, a rough muslin or plain cotton. It is also appropriate for the occasion–mass–and probably draws LESS attention than a solid fabric, which would cover the hair entirely and people would see a big white blob sticking out of the crowd. Instead, it is less noticeable, except to our Lord and the angels, who recognize what the woman is doing and appreciate her obedience to modesty and humility.
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:amen:

For a very young woman, you are wise beyond your years! 👍
 
Hi-

A question. Is what robertaf (not trying to “call you out”! just wanting some clarification of your point) saying true? THat the wearing of the mantilla a relatively modern devotion with the apex in the 50’s and early 60’s coinciding with Jackie Kennedy and popular film? Does anyone have the history of the devotion? I just assumed it was common throughout the history of the Church per St. Paul’s writings, lost after Vatican II.

Thanks
 
Thanks for all the suggestions folks! My wife thinks she’ll try sewing a comb to her mantilla, or possibly a headband (not sure yet).

You’ve all been very helpful! 👍
 
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Jennifer123:
Hi-

A question. Is what robertaf (not trying to “call you out”! just wanting some clarification of your point) saying true? THat the wearing of the mantilla a relatively modern devotion with the apex in the 50’s and early 60’s coinciding with Jackie Kennedy and popular film? Does anyone have the history of the devotion? I just assumed it was common throughout the history of the Church per St. Paul’s writings, lost after Vatican II.

Thanks
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Here’s an article I found that I thought was quite informative…​

Why Wear the Veil?

In ancient traditions dating back even thousands of years, the “veil” represented purity and modesty in many religions and cultures. A veil, or head covering, is both a symbol and a mystical sacrifice that invites the woman wearing it to ascend the ladder of sanctity.

Receiving Holy Communion, proudly wearing the mantilla

When a woman covers her head in the Catholic Church it symbolises her dignity and humility before God, not men. It is no surprise women of today have so easily abandoned the tradition of the chapel veil (head covering) when the two greatest meanings of the veil are purity and humility.

The woman who covers her head in the presence of the Lord Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is reminding herself that she must be humble before God. As with all outward gestures, if it is practised enough it filters down into the heart and is translated into actions that speak volumes. The “veil” covers what the Lord calls, in Holy Scripture, “the glory of the woman”, her hair. Covering her hair is a gesture the woman makes spiritually to “show” God she recognises her beauty is less than His and His Glory is far above hers.

In doing this she is reminded that virtues cannot grow in the soul without a great measure of humility. So she wears the veil to please God and remind herself to practice virtue more ardently.

There is no other piece of clothing a woman may wear to serve this function. The veil symbolically motivates the woman to “bow” her head in prayer, to lower her eyes before the great and mysterious beauty and power of God in the Blessed Sacrament. By the bowing of her head and lowering of her eyes, she is more able to worship God in the interior chapel of her heart and soul.

The veil or head covering a woman wears gives a beautiful sense of dignity to a woman. When she wears it, she identifies herself with God’s greatest creation, the Blessed and Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God. There was none on earth that loved and loves the Lord Jesus more than the Blessed Virgin Mary. In her love, her humility breathed forth like sweet scented incense before God. The veil she wore symbolised her purity, modesty and of course her profound humility and submission before and to God Almighty.

Those women who love Jesus must come to realise the imitation of His Mother in wearing a chapel veil (head covering) and in other virtues is a small sacrifice to make in order to grow in spiritual understanding of purity, humility and love.

The covering of a woman’s head in Church is a striking reminder of modesty, something old but lost in the society of today. Modesty and purity walk hand in hand.

When a woman veils her head she is shielding her heart to be wooed by the love of God in the Blessed Sacrament. This is a mystical ‘country’ that only the Eternal Father may enter. Her veil is like the lighted lamps of the virgins waiting for the Bridegroom, an indication that she is prepared to receive Him at a moment’s notice; an aureole of her spiritual love for the Bridegroom. Wearing the veil is an act of love of God.

Why should a woman wear a head covering or veil in church? Not to be praised, not to go along, not for tradition’s sake, not to stand out in the crowd, not because you say or I say or anybody says…But because she loves our Eucharistic Lord Jesus and it is another small sacrifice she may offer for her soul’s sake and for the sake of many souls who have no one to offer for them. Amen.

(Sr Patricia Therese, OPB)
 
Isidore_AK,

Thank you so much for posting that article! It made me cry!
 
A priest from the Franciscans of the Immaculate put it very beautifully. There are curtains in the tabernacles of the Blessed Sacrament, and women are the tabernacles of life, so it is beautiful to see them protect their modesty.
 
I put my hair in a pony tail to help it stay in place. I have sewn a clear comb into the center of the veil, just where the seam is for the lace edging. It is easier to hide my stitches there.

When I put my veil on at home – yep, I ride to church with the veil on – I can be sure of placement and take a moment to be give a tug for securtiy checking.

I now put the long edges behind my shoulders, but my sons find me more appealing to lean on when I where my veil. – They say I look more like the Blessed Mother with a veil.
 
St. Linus forbade women to enter a church with uncovered heads. Pope Linus was the second pope. This edict predates the College of Cardinals, the use of Holy Water, the use of “amen”, the prescription that hosts be made of unleavened bread, the ratification of matrimony as a sacrament, the use of the salutation "dominus vobiscum, et cetera. The Our Father is older. It was instituted by St Peter, the first pope. I read this from the Pope Chart which has the roman pontiffs from St. Peter through John Paul II.

I was amazed how old the head covering for women edict was. When I was a child, women usually wore hats. The mantilla seemed to be worn by spanish or native american women. I always keep one with my missal in case i forget a hat. I do usually attend a Tridentine mass.
  • Kathie 🙂
 
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robertaf:
Back before Vatican II, women covered their heads for two reasons. First in obedience because it was demanded of them by Holy Mother Church. Don’t ask me why, I doubt anyone really knew for sure. Maybe as you say, humility or modesty. However, women were known to spend small fortunes on lovely hats, it was a common joke of the day … everyone was aware of the jokes.
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Actually, women covered their heads to show their station in the village community. By looking at a woman’s head-covering, you could tell who the young girls were, who had been deemed of marriage age and was “available” by her parents, who was newly married, who was married with children, who was a grandmother and who was a widow.

In many regions, you could also tell what nationality the person was by the style and type of head-covering that was worn.

In many regions, the most important day of young woman’s life was the day she recieved her “wedding cap”. The day that the head-covering of an un-married girl was taken off and the head-covering of a married woman was put on. This symbolized that she was no longer a child but had become an adult and a functioning member of the village community with all the responsibilities of an adult.

hope this helps…
 
I like the symbolism behind women covering their heads in Church. I mean aside from the obvious orders from Paul to do so its really nice to note that everything sacred in our faith is veiled. The tabernacle has a veil, the Chalice when not in use has a veil, the Eucharist when not available for Adoration is veiled. Women are indeed sacred, they carry in their bodies the special ability to foster life. While men too participate in this, we will never no what it is to have life growing inside. So because a woman is in a sense sacred, I feel yes it is beautiful for her to cover her head so that even only when worshiping her creator she can hold her inner beauty from the eyes of others like a bride for her husband.
 
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robertaf:
Thank you all. I have learned things here that I hadn’t learned before.
I seriously saw humility and modesty in a different light. The words meant something entirely different to me, it might appear.
I think vanity might mean something different as well.

I didn’t mean that in a bad way at all. I suppose if I called someone a vain person it might not sound very nice but I didn’t mean it that way.

Somehow, I have a hard time seeing a lace veil as a sign of either humility or modesty. Lace is a rather luxurious fabric to be seen as humble and it has never been known for modest dress when used in any other way. I guess that is what I am trying to say. Would you consider a lace chapel cap the same thing?

Back before Vatican II, women covered their heads for two reasons. First in obedience because it was demanded of them by Holy Mother Church. Don’t ask me why, I doubt anyone really knew for sure. Maybe as you say, humility or modesty. However, women were known to spend small fortunes on lovely hats, it was a common joke of the day … everyone was aware of the jokes.
Secondly, it was indeed the style. I do remember when lace mantillas became popular. It happened at a time when there were some very Romantic (what they call now as “girly” films out where the female leads were Spanish and usually quite rich with duenas keeping a very close eye on them. These beautiful ladies wore high combs in their hair with a mantilla falling over the top of it. They wore them though out the movie but you would always see them kneeling in Church praying.
Young girls would watch these movies, in romantic awe. I was one of them as were my friends. Mantillas could be purchased from little ads in movie magazines with pictures of the leading ladies shown in the ads.
It wasn’t long before we started seeing them in Church.
Maybe if you see this from my point of view you can see why I was so puzzled by the subject.
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Here is why I wear a headcovering…to honor my husband. (not very popular with feminists or hippies)

I Corinthians 11:3-7
*But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.

But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth* with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.

For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.

For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.
 
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Patchunky:
Actually, women covered their heads to show their station in the village community. By looking at a woman’s head-covering, you could tell who the young girls were, who had been deemed of marriage age and was “available” by her parents, who was newly married, who was married with children, who was a grandmother and who was a widow.
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Interesting, I didn’t know that. Incidentally, I’m a woman who doesn’t fall into any of those categories.
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twiztedseraph:
Women are indeed sacred, they carry in their bodies the special ability to foster life.
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That doesn’t apply to me, either. I guess it’s OK for me to keep my head uncovered, then. 😉 😉 😉

Crazy Internet Junkies Society
Carrier of the Angelic Sparkles Sprinkle Bag
 
THANK YOU!!!

After years of telling people it was hats and not mantillas, somebody else remembers!!!

I was beginning to think I was fossilized- and I am not that old!!!

:tiphat:
 
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JCPhoenix:
Ummm… :o

I have to admit that I will say I wear it out of vanity. :o

I am completely vain of my hair. It is my very best physical feature and I know it and I"m told as such all the time. I love to color it. When my hair looks good, I FEEL attractive although I am not otherwise physically attractive. :o

Vanity. I love to show off my best feature.

So I cover my head…
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God has taken care of this for me. My hair is now graying, and no longer my best feature.

But I love your description. I might mention, as I’ve stated earlier, I don’t care if another woman wears a hat or veil.

I DO care that too many people think the entire female population of the Church ran around in lace until the mid-1960s, stopped the practice, and then let it go when the canon changed in 1983.
 
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robertaf:
Somehow, I have a hard time seeing a lace veil as a sign of either humility or modesty. Lace is a rather luxurious fabric to be seen as humble and it has never been known for modest dress when used in any other way. I guess that is what I am trying to say. Would you consider a lace chapel cap the same thing?

Back before Vatican II, women covered their heads for two reasons…Secondly, it was indeed the style. I do remember when lace mantillas became popular. It happened at a time when there were some very Romantic (what they call now as “girly” films out where the female leads were Spanish and usually quite rich with duenas keeping a very close eye on them. These beautiful ladies wore high combs in their hair with a mantilla falling over the top of it. They wore them though out the movie but you would always see them kneeling in Church praying.
Young girls would watch these movies, in romantic awe. I was one of them as were my friends. Mantillas could be purchased from little ads in movie magazines with pictures of the leading ladies shown in the ads.
It wasn’t long before we started seeing them in Church…
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This was why the sisters at our school insisted on beanies and (ugh!) the hat clip, and only “big” girls got to wear mantillas or chapel caps.
 
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