Lenten veiling of statues

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I attend a diocesan Traditional Latin Mass that is essentially “hosted” in a Novus Ordo church. Today, upon entering the church, I noticed that the statues in the church were already veiled.

My understanding is that the Lenten veiling of statues is to be performed only during Passiontide (i.e., the last two weeks of Lent).

In fact, during his sermon today, our priest was advocating that we perform of the Stations of The Cross during Lent. But, he then remarked that all of the stations in our church had already been veiled by the N.O. pastor.

I know that, at my previous parish, the priest would lead the parishioners in the Stations during Lent after the Friday morning TLM had been offered. And, the Stations were definitely not veiled on those days I attended (if ever).

So, I suspect that I’m not off base here. But, I’ll gladly stand corrected if I’m mistaken.
 
368ofk said:
I attend a diocesan Traditional Latin Mass that is essentially “hosted” in a Novus Ordo church. Today, upon entering the church, I noticed that the statues in the church were already veiled.

My understanding is that the Lenten veiling of statues is to be performed only during Passiontide (i.e., the last two weeks of Lent).

In fact, during his sermon today, our priest was advocating that we perform of the Stations of The Cross during Lent. But, he then remarked that all of the stations in our church had already been veiled by the N.O. pastor.

I know that, at my previous parish, the priest would lead the parishioners in the Stations during Lent after the Friday morning TLM had been offered. And, the Stations were definitely not veiled on those days I attended (if ever).

So, I suspect that I’m not off base here. But, I’ll gladly stand corrected if I’m mistaken.
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Not sure but here are some links I found

ewtn.com/library/Liturgy/ZLITUR72.HTM

dsjliturgy.blogspot.com/2007/03/to-veil-or-not-to-veil-statues-and.html

We do not do it till Holy Thursday after Mass and I find nothign abut doing it earlier.
 
Well, I should have searched the forums a bit better before I posted.

A short discussion was posted on this matter about a year or so ago, in which the text from this EWTN Q&A was posted.

Apparently, the local pastor was indeed premature in his veilings. And, the Stations are never to be covered.

Maybe I should bring some scissors to Mass next week? :knight2:
 
368ofk said:
Well, I should have searched the forums a bit better before I posted.

A short discussion was posted on this matter about a year or so ago, in which the text from this EWTN Q&A was posted.

Apparently, the local pastor was indeed premature in his veilings. And, the Stations are never to be covered.

Maybe I should bring some scissors to Mass next week? :knight2:
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Or just maybe ask him about it.😃

scissors:eek:
 
oneGODoneCHURCH said:
Or just maybe ask him about it.😃

scissors:eek:
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Unfortunately, such a question would not be received well by this pastor. It would be seen as challenging his actions. Believe me.

But, I’ll leave my scissors at home. :angel1:

I’m sure this was done with good (albeit premature) intentions.

Though, I just realized that, while all the statues and the Stations were covered, the main crucifix at the altar curiously wasn’t veiled. :hmmm:
 
368ofk said:
Unfortunately, such a question would not be received well by this pastor. It would be seen as challenging his actions. Believe me.

But, I’ll leave my scissors at home. :angel1:

I’m sure this was done with good (albeit premature) intentions.

Though, I just realized that, while all the statues and the Stations were covered, the main crucifix at the altar curiously wasn’t veiled. :hmmm:
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Glad to hear the scissors will stay at home:clapping:

sorry to hear that the priest is not open to being asked bout thing such as that 😦 would wonder why you would cover the station though as lent is the time when most think to pray them.🤷 :hmmm: But good to hear the Crucifix has not been covered.
 
368ofk said:
I
My understanding is that the Lenten veiling of statues is to be performed only during Passiontide (i.e., the last two weeks of Lent).

.
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that is the rule published for this diocese
 
In the church I grew up in (Pre-Vatican II Dominican), the statues were veiled the entire duration of lent. Stations of the Cross were every Friday, and the stations were never veiled.
 
I just remembered this video from Good Friday last year at the Oratory I attend (it’s the procession with the Blessed Sacrament to the Altar of Repose).

If you look close, you will notice the statues veiled but the Stations of the Cross not veiled.

As a side note, during the Easter Vigil midnight mass here, the unveiling of all the statutes as the lights were coming on and as the Gloria was being sung and as the bells being were being rung again…well it was like nothing I’d ever seen before. Goosebumps aplenty.

Peace in Christ,

DustinsDad
 
DDad - wouldn’t that be on Holy Thursday? That’s the Pange Lingua the choir is singing (and what a fight it was for us to get to sing it in Latin! “Sing My Tongue the Savior’s Glory” is just not the same as Pange Lingua Gloriosi".) Anyway, I haven’t heard the wooden clappers used since I was a kid. Great video.
 
brotherhrolf said:
DDad - wouldn’t that be on Holy Thursday? That’s the Pange Lingua the choir is singing (and what a fight it was for us to get to sing it in Latin! “Sing My Tongue the Savior’s Glory” is just not the same as Pange Lingua Gloriosi".) Anyway, I haven’t heard the wooden clappers used since I was a kid. Great video.
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You are absolutely correct - I stand corrected 👍 .
 
This question (well, not by our pastor, but by me as Liturgy Director) came up in our parish, and long story short…
according to *Ceremonies of the Liturgical Year *according to the Roman Rite, a manual for clergy and all liturgical ministers, published by Msgr. Peter J. Elliott with Imprimatur, Nihil Obstat, yada yada, page 67, Section 124
" The custom of veiling crosses and images in these last two weeks of Lent has much to commend it in terms of religious psychology, because it helps us to concentrate n the great essentials of Christ’s work of Redemption. The episcopal conference decides whether this should be obligatory within its territory but any pastor may choose to restore or maintain this wise practice in his own parish. The violet veils should preferably be made of a plain light fabric, without any decoration. The STATIONS OF THE CROSS AND IMAGES IN STAINED-GLASS WINDOWS ARE NEVER VEILED. Crosses and images are veiled before the First Vespers of Vigil Mass of the 5th Sunday in Lent. Crosses are unveiled after the Good Friday ceremonies. All other images are unveiled, without any ceremony, just before the Easter Vigil begins."

Also in the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments’ document *Paschales Solemnitatis *provides that “the practice of covering the crosses and images in the church may be observed if teh episcopal conference should so decide. The crosses are to be covered until the end of the c elebration of the Lord’s passion on Good Friday. Images are to remain covered until the beginning of the Easter Vigil.”

That being said, the 1995 Committee on the Liturgy Newsletter 31:14 says "the National Conference of Catholic Bishops has never voted to continue the practice of covering crosses and images and so the practice, in accord with the rubric of the Sacramentary has not been permissible for the past twenty five years. Individual parishes are not free to reinstate the practice on their own. HOWEVER, not left to the decision of the conference is the custom of covering crosses after Mass on Holy Thursday. “It is fitting that any crosses in the church be covered with a red or purple veil, unless they have already been veiled on the Saturday before the Fifth Sunday of Lent”…

Which is kinda funny, because it says “It is not permissible and individual parishes are not free to reinstate the practice (Read with a grumpy harumphy voice), immediately followed by …unless they have already been veiled on the Saturday before the 5th Sunday of Lent”…
So, I’m going with the Paschales Solemnitatis and the book at which I am looking right now, which are both official documents from the Church.

Hope this helps too, along with the other responses…
(maybe fingernail clippers instead of scissors?..)
 
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