Need help explaining head coverings to 6 y/o

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im_wildrose

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Hello,

I recently began wearing a head covering (usually a mantilla but occasionally a hat) to Mass. I’ve felt called to do it for a long time but just now started acting on it. My 6 y/o son LOVES his cowboy hat but knows he’s not allowed to wear it to Mass. Now that I’ve worn a hat to Mass he, of course, wants to know why I can wear a hat and he can’t. I understand the reasons for women to cover their heads in the Lord’s presence at an inner, spiritual level, but not in a way that allows me to explain it to my 6 y/o. Anybody have any suggestions?

Thanks and God bless, Jen
 
I think just explain that appropriate dress for men in church is different from women. It is about respect for God. Explain that the bread and wine are truly Jesus now, even though it doesnt look like it, and you need to respect Him…but that it for you it means covering your head, and for your son it means taking it off.
 
im_wildrose said:
Hello,

I recently began wearing a head covering (usually a mantilla but occasionally a hat) to Mass. I’ve felt called to do it for a long time but just now started acting on it. My 6 y/o son LOVES his cowboy hat but knows he’s not allowed to wear it to Mass. Now that I’ve worn a hat to Mass he, of course, wants to know why I can wear a hat and he can’t. I understand the reasons for women to cover their heads in the Lord’s presence at an inner, spiritual level, but not in a way that allows me to explain it to my 6 y/o. Anybody have any suggestions?

Thanks and God bless, Jen
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Well, that is a tough one! May I suggest a yahoo group of lovely, Magisterium dedicated, and covering bunc of wonderful supportive women? groups.yahoo.com/group/Catholic_Covered_Plain_N_Crunchy/ If anyone has this answer, they surely do! 👍 Kathie
 
For men it is a sign of respect to remove a hat when going into a Church, so it is disrespectful for a man to wear a hat in Church. He is a little man and that is how he shows respect for God.

This is an excellent time to give him a sense of dignity in being a boy as this is constantly undermined these days in all levels of society and schooling. Have him recognize his masculinity and how he is different from girls. How he shows respect for God differently.

Ladies show respect for God in many ways and one way is to wear a headcovering in Church for God and also because of the Angels.

God bless
Scylla
 
skatepixie said:
I think just explain that appropriate dress for men in church is different from women. It is about respect for God. Explain that the bread and wine are truly Jesus now, even though it doesnt look like it, and you need to respect Him…but that it for you it means covering your head, and for your son it means taking it off.
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Exactly. You might also point out that while Jewish men will not pray without their little hats (yarmulkes) on, even the Pope is required by the rules of respect to take off his very-similar hat (zucchetto) during the Canon. (You can find pictures on the internet.) These are just customary ways of showing respect.

More to the point: if you want to be a cowboy, you have to know the rules of being a cowboy.
No *real *cowboy would wear his hat in church, unless his mother had not taught him any manners. Many cowboys would not wear their hat indoors at all. It is just a rule that cowboys have…like being respectful of women, and especially their mothers! 😉
 
Just wanted to say thanks, all! I do have to say, one very good thing about John Paul is that he has a strong sense of what is for boys and what is for girls. So much so that when his little brother (4 mos) was born, he got upset that I was taking him into the women’s bathroom to change his diaper. He insisted that little Stevie just CAN’T go into the GIRL’S room! lol He hasn’t fought me on this or anything either, just questions it. I have tried just saying that it’s one of those things that’s different for men and women so we’ll just go from there.

Kathie - thanks for the link! The past couple weeks, I’ve actually been wearing a scarf of some sort on my head all the time so I’m seriously considering joining that group. It’s a funny thing that I can’t quite understand or explain but feel called to do. Anyway, thanks very much!

God bless all, Jen
 
so it is disrespectful for a man to wear a hat in Church.

Except for a biretta, mitre, zuchetto, skouphos, kamelavka, klobuk, or cowl, right?
 
skatepixie said:
I think just explain that appropriate dress for men in church is different from women. It is about respect for God. Explain that the bread and wine are truly Jesus now, even though it doesnt look like it, and you need to respect Him…but that it for you it means covering your head, and for your son it means taking it off.
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I think thats all thats needed, just as a boy would not want to wear a dress to Mass, he would not want to wear a hat.
 
bpbasilphx said:
so it is disrespectful for a man to wear a hat in Church.

Except for a biretta, mitre, zuchetto, skouphos, kamelavka, klobuk, or cowl, right?
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But, even those are taken off during the essential part of the Mass.

There’s a Bible verse that spells it out. (I was never a good protestant… can’t quote chapter and verse.) Paul specifically said that men shouldn’t cover their heads, while women should.
 
skatepixie said:
What does this mean? I’ve heard it mentioned quite a bit, but never explained.
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During the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the Angels join us in praise of God. Because of the Angels, women show their respect and acknowlegement of their presence and of course respecting the Holy Sacrifice which is taking place, by putting on a head covering. Men take off their head covering in the same way, showing their obedience.
I believe every male must, even the Pope, out of respect, this includes biretta, mitre, zuchetto, skouphos, kamelavka, klobuk, or cowls. The only ones who do not usually are soldiers or those who cannot.

Nowdays it is not fashionable to be humble, so this is not as prevelent in most Catholic Churches, except for those who hold to more traditional Catholic values. It is making a comeback as Catholics rediscover what Catholicism is all about.

To cite a Biblical verse, 1 Corinthians 11:10

God Bless
Scylla
 
Grace and Peace,

Actually, when we go to TLM my daughter loves to wear them. She thinks she’s dressing up like Our Blessed Mother Mary. :o
 
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