Is a head covering allowed in church and OK to be worn by catholics?

[NicoleCook]

Hi,
I have a question. Lately I have been praying and reading the bible much more recently. While praying, it occured to me ( about a year ago ) ( while in prayer ) that maybe God wanted me to begin wearing long skirts. I kind of tossed the idea to the side but every now and then the idea would come back meandering its way into my head. Recently, the idea is in my head more then ever! I can’t seem to get the idea out of my head and after much prayer began seeing Peter 1 and Timothy 1 every where I went. I keep hearing it, or seeing the words “Peter 1” or “Timothy 1” , so today I looked them up and Timothy is all about how women are supposed to dress! I am now even more convinced that God really does want me to wear ankle long dresses. I went out today and found some good deals on 3 ankle length dresses, I am so happy! But then I had the feeling that I was also supposed to wear a “covering” on my head. Does anyone else do this?? Before I became more religious I wore provacative clothing and spent alot of time an dmoney on my treasured hair. Now I feel like Jesus might be calling me to make an “ultimate” sacrafice ( it would be for me anyways ) by covering my treasured locks. I feel very strongly that it his His will that I do this. It this a normal Christian or Catholic practice? I know that Nuns do it, i am not really thinking a total covering would be necc. but more like a small scarf type of thing just as a simple gesture to the Lord that I hear him and am willing to sacrafice my hair for Him. Could I wear this in church? or would I be required to take it off? any thoughts? does anyone else ever or have ever doen this?
thanks!
Nicole

 

[lizaanne]

Please do a search of the forum for the following keywords: “head covering”, veil, mantilla.

You will find more threads than you would probably have time to read on this subject. It is discussed often here, and yes there are many of us good Faithful Catholic women who do cover our heads at Mass (EF and TLM).

Do the search and then see which discussion applies to your questions.

Welcome!

~Liza

 

[yablabo]

Hi,
I have a question. Lately I have been praying and reading the bible much more recently. While praying, it occured to me ( about a year ago ) ( while in prayer ) that maybe God wanted me to begin wearing long skirts. I kind of tossed the idea to the side but every now and then the idea would come back meandering its way into my head. Recently, the idea is in my head more then ever! I can’t seem to get the idea out of my head and after much prayer began seeing Peter 1 and Timothy 1 every where I went. I keep hearing it, or seeing the words “Peter 1” or “Timothy 1” , so today I looked them up and Timothy is all about how women are supposed to dress! I am now even more convinced that God really does want me to wear ankle long dresses. I went out today and found some good deals on 3 ankle length dresses, I am so happy! But then I had the feeling that I was also supposed to wear a “covering” on my head. Does anyone else do this?? Before I became more religious I wore provacative clothing and spent alot of time an dmoney on my treasured hair. Now I feel like Jesus might be calling me to make an “ultimate” sacrafice ( it would be for me anyways ) by covering my treasured locks. I feel very strongly that it his His will that I do this. It this a normal Christian or Catholic practice? I know that Nuns do it, i am not really thinking a total covering would be necc. but more like a small scarf type of thing just as a simple gesture to the Lord that I hear him and am willing to sacrafice my hair for Him. Could I wear this in church? or would I be required to take it off? any thoughts? does anyone else ever or have ever doen this?
thanks!
Nicole

Hi, Nicole,

Contrary to the belief of most, the fact that woman must cover her head at public prayer is a matter which must be believed with divine and Catholic faith. The First Vatican Council taught us what must be believed with divine and Catholic faith in a way that is binding on us with the assent of faith.

Chapter 3 (On Faith), #8:

Wherefore, by divine and Catholic faith all those things are to be believed which are contained in the Word of God as found in Scripture and Tradition, and which are proposed by the Church as matters to be believed as divinely revealed, whether by her solemn judgment or in her ordinary and universal Magisterium.

Most women argue against head covering being a matter of Tradition for whatever reason, but the fact remains that it IS the Tradition of the Catholic Church. It is also very clearly Scriptural as mandated by St. Paul in 1 Corinthians ch. 11. This makes it obvious that it is a matter of faith as defined in the First Vatican Council.

The First Vatican Council, under Canons (4. On Faith and Reason), #3:

1. If anyone says that it is possible that at some time, given the advancement of knowledge, a sense may be assigned to the dogmas propounded by the Church which is different from that which the Church has understood and understands: let him be anathema.

And so in the performance of Our Supreme Pastoral Office, We beseech for the love of Jesus Christ and We command, by the authority of Him Who is also our God and Saviour, all faithful Christians, especially those in authority or who have the duty of teaching, that they contribute their zeal and labour to the warding off and elimination of these errors from the Church and to the spreading of the light of the pure faith.

A lot of people will argue that the Second Vatican Council has abolished such a requirement for women to cover their heads at public prayer or during prophesy, but that is just plain false. The Second Vatican Council in no way dealt with the issue of head covering.

Also, the fact that many women were disobedient to this article of faith (and to Canon Law) in the 1960’s, and still even now, does not change the fact that this is an article of faith as found in Scripture and Tradition. The fact that the requirement is not included in current Canon Law means nothing; since it is an article of faith, it is still binding.

It is not a discipline, as it was not given only for one specific time or place, but given for all time and all places…because of the angels. It IS, in fact, the Tradition of the Catholic Church…it IS, in fact, bound on all Catholic women by St. Paul in Scripture…it IS, in fact, an article of faith.

You can…and, in fact, must wear a head covering at public prayer…and there are many women who do all around the world, so have no fear to do so yourself. For whatever reason, so many women hate to wear the sign of an authority on them…but we have no choice in the matter…God has made His will manifest…and we must obey.

I hope you see some merit in what I have written you.

– Nicole

 

[turtleoompa]

I wear a knitted beret. I have many colors that match my attire. You can get a lot of them now in the stores because the cold weather is back. I now cannot enter the Church without a cap out of reverence for our Lord who is always present in the Tabernacle. I too have become closer to our faith. It has been wonderful. I read many books on our Church now.

 

[ibkc]

I too wear a head covering to mass, always. I felt odd in a mantilla, even though most of the women in my new parish wear them, so I experimented with other head coverings. I generally tie a long scarf around my head, or wear one of several handmade caps/berets that I have.

 

[reggieM]

We make veils available for women to use at our parish – and many young girls even do wear them. Veils or head coverings are not only a way to show reverence to God at Mass and to teach that modesty to others (especially the men in the parish) – but it’s a mark of reverence for the beauty of women and feminine nature.

 

[corsair]

I’m very proud of my wife. She began wearing long dresses and a chapel veil several years ago. She says she feels so much better now. It doesn’t seem to matter to her that very few women dress this way at our NO parish. But now we are about to commit to the long drive to the FSSP parish.

 

[Miserys_Fence]

I’ve always felt led to wear a head covering at Mass. My own church does not require it (but has nothing against it), and to my knowledge, it doesn’t seem to be a requirement in the Catholic church. The only times I did NOT cover at Mass was when my Catholic fiance would spontaneously suggest going, while we were already out and about, and I didn’t have a scarf with me. He was very devout, and if there was a problem with me going bare-headed, he wouldn’t have taken me.

I’ve recently begun covering all the time, but that’s just a personal thing.

Miz