New Catholic mantilla question

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CheyenneK

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I am a 26 year old female who became Catholic 3 years ago. I felt a strong pull towards the faith. I am still learning so much! I recently started wearing a mantilla to Mass. I went to Catholic Familyland for the first time this summer and saw a young girl about my age wearing a beautiful lace black mantilla. I asked where she got it and ordered one. It was inspiring to see someone my age so traditional. Mantillas were worn in my mom’s days, but I rarely see them now. I am self-conscious though and walk into Mass with my head down so as not to draw attention to myself. I say my responses with my head down for the same reason. Similar questions addressed not wanting to seem “holier than thou.” I told God that my intentions were good. I feel a deeper connection to God when I wear my mantilla. I am more focused on prayer and the words being said. I like the traditional aspect. And the mantilla reminds me of Mary. Mary is so beautiful and pure and the greatest saint to emulate. I want to be like her. I have a strong devotion to Mary through the Rosary and the Memoraire is my favorite. Curious, what goes through your mind when you see someone wearing a mantilla? Would you females wear one?
 
When I was becoming Christian I wore one spontaneously (from private interpretation of Scripture), but was shamed out of it by family.

When I became Catholic, I chose not to begin head covering, in an attempt to be obedient to the fact that the new norm within the Church I was putting myself under, seemed to be not covering.

I’m not currently… within the Church. It’s complicated.

But I will say that I’ve never lost my love for seeing other women wear a head covering. To me what I always see, is a sincere act of devotion. And it encourages me.

I’m still struggling to return to the Church overall; if I do manage to re-enter, I doubt I’d begin to head cover any time soon (mainly because of social pressure not to). But hypothetically speaking, I’d like to. It’d just be more comfortable for me if more women were doing it.

Just my $0.02.
 
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CheyenneK said:
Curious, what goes through your mind when you see someone wearing a mantilla?
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Not much other than, “There’s a lady wearing a mantilla”.
If it’s a particularly nice or unusual mantilla, I might also think, “That’s a nice mantilla” or “That’s an unusual mantilla.”
Would you females wear one?
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Sure, when I go to TLM I might wear one, if I had time to locate it and still get to Mass on time.
Or I might choose to wear some other kind of head covering like a hat or a scarf.
Yesterday I was in a rush because I had a long drive to the TLM so I wore my leopard-spotted kerchief that I keep in the car in a little plastic bag for such emergencies. It worked fine.

The point for me is to cover my head, not so much what with, as long as it’s dignified. I don’t go to Mass to be looked at, I would hope people are looking at Our Lord.

For me personally, I don’t get any kind of spiritual feeling from covering my head. It’s something I do for the traditional Mass because it’s part of the tradition associated with that Mass. If I want to feel close to Mother Mary, I will generally pray a Rosary or similar, and I’m more concerned myself with emulating her charity and her obedience to the will of God rather than externals.
 
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I’m a guy, but I don’t have any particular thoughts about it, other than assuming that the woman is probably of more of a traditionalist bent. Really, it’s perfectly fine to wear one if you feel it’s spiritually beneficial to you, and anyone who has a problem with it can shove it.

As long as it doesn’t make you start thinking of yourself as superior to women not wearing one (and it sounds like that’s not an issue for you) wear it every Sunday if you like.
 
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I’m a male, and I’d totally wear one of it was appropriate! I think they are absolutely beautiful looking and great methods to show devotion to the Real Presence.
 
I usually wear my mantilla during spring/summer/fall and a hat during winter. I have white, black, red (1 - for the Holy Cross and Christmas), light blue (1 - for feasts of the Blessed Mother) and green (1 - for Pentecost) mantillas.

Two of my black mantillas was given to me as a gift. The lady told me that one of them was blessed but she couldn’t remember which one! 😱
 
Out of respect for Christ’s presence in every Catholic Church, as well as respect for the Divine Liturgy, itself, I veil as well, and I am always happy when I see others do so as well! At my old parish, very few women veiled, but I did just because of Paul’s words and what I said above. I have since moved to a TLM parish where veiling is the norm, but I encourage women everywhere to veil, even if you are the only one!

Think of it this way: if you saw Jesus this very moment, and nobody else knelt down, would you, too, ignore Him just because you didn’t want to appear holier than thou? I would kneel because He knows what is in my heart, and honestly I’ve given up caring what others think 🙂 It’s so wonderful that you are veiling!
 
I don’t think anything when I see someone wearing a mantilla probably because I grew up when females were required to cover their heads in church. and, no, I wouldn’t wear one because I don’t feel called to wear one.
 
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Go to a Latin Mass and you’ll see plenty of women, of all ages, wearing them.
 
I understand this. I’m just self reporting what my thought process was at the time, trying to not put my private interpretation or preference about the prevailing practice in the Church I was joining.
 
CheyenneK said:
Would you females wear one?
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I wear either a veil, hat or large headband type covering every time I enter a church. I do it out of honor and reverence toward the Eucharist. I used to keep my head down a lot in the past also because I was usually the only one covering, though not always. Then I read to just act normal and smile politely to someone if they are staring or whatever, which no one has ever done. On the opposite I have had a couple of women ask me where I got my veil.
 
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