Ok to cover head at mass?

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nurselisa99

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Just a quick question I am hoping someone can answer for me. I am a relatively new Catholic. I went to a traditional Latin low mass on Saturday and wore a mantilla over my head as did all of the other women in attendance. This seemed very reverent to me, and when we went to ordinary mass on Sunday, I felt like I should cover my head. No one else does this in our parish. Am I allowed to do this, and will people think I am nuts if I do?
Thanks!
 
Yes, you are allowed to. It was once required by canon law, until 1983, I believe.

Don’t do it from a holier than thou attitude. Other women may not like it; act how you think is best, and do not care about the approval of people other than God.
 
nurselisa99 said:
Just a quick question I am hoping someone can answer for me. I am a relatively new Catholic. I went to a traditional Latin low mass on Saturday and wore a mantilla over my head as did all of the other women in attendance. This seemed very reverent to me, and when we went to ordinary mass on Sunday, I felt like I should cover my head. No one else does this in our parish. Am I allowed to do this, and will people think I am nuts if I do?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Absolutely you can cover!!! 👍

Welcome to CAF! Please consider joining this CAF group for women who cover their heads at Mass an other times as well: Veiled in Grace

~Liza
 
Indeed yes! Cover that hair of yours:yup:. never mind what others think of you. In my opinion EVERY female should wear a veil over their heads in church because the angels demand it!

“And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is just as though her head were shaved. If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head. A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. For this reason, and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head.” 1 Corinthians 11:5-10
 
Yes, you can cover your head.
Yes, many people will think you are nuts. As long as you do it for the right reasons (e.g. not doing it because for a holier than thou).
It’s also important to remember that you don’t have to cover your head. It’s no longer required.
 
Do it 🙂

If you want to ease into it with a hat or beret first, go ahead. But my advice is to jump right in. Be ready to answer questions with a smile.

Lol right after I started covering I thought, oh, a visiting priest is speaking tonight at the church, I’ll not cover since it’s not Mass. Well, I ended up sitting there looking like a fool wearing a hoodie over my head the entire time 😃 So you might want to keep a backup in your car or something!
 
I agree with the above along with one addition. If you cover your head I am confident that at least one woman in the church will be inspired by your piety. As people as said, it important that you veil out of true piety and respect for our Lord. Afterall, this is the reason for veiling and removing your hat in the case of men. God bless you for your piety!
 
Yes!
Go right ahead. I see a few women at my church do the same thing. It is a very beautiful thing to see and very inspiring. God Bless!

Laura
 
Hi!
This is a really quick question and I really didn’t know where to post this, but this seemed fine. 🙂
Anyway. I know men have to (I think) take their hats off during prayer, but do women have to? And I noticed some women wear appropriate hats at church. Is that fine?

Thank you.

Laura
 
Yes, it’s a tradition, plus backed up by First Corinthians! 👍 Up until 1983 it was Canon Law. (I mean for men to pray with their heads bare, women with their heads covered)

Once I saw a woman take off her baseball cap to pray… it was really absurd. She put it over her heart all flamboyantly like a man would do… it was a crack up 😃 Also one time a guy friend of mine tried to snatch off my hat when we were helping clean the pews… I think it’s a matter of education, people aren’t getting down and dirty religious education these days :tsktsk:

After a lot of thought and prayer, I cover my head at Mass/in church too… not something I grew up with or anything since I’m only 18. As a personal devotion without any pride or superiority involved, God likes it 🙂
 
As the others have said, “YES”. My wife covers her head for every Mass and every Adoration of the Eucharist. In fact she won’t enter a church without her mantilla or a chapel cap.
 
nurselisa99 said:
Just a quick question I am hoping someone can answer for me. I am a relatively new Catholic. I went to a traditional Latin low mass on Saturday and wore a mantilla over my head as did all of the other women in attendance. This seemed very reverent to me, and when we went to ordinary mass on Sunday, I felt like I should cover my head. No one else does this in our parish. Am I allowed to do this, and will people think I am nuts if I do?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Consider wearing an appropriate hat instead of the mantilla. If that doesn’t appeal to you then you’re probably wearing the mantilla for the wrong reasons.
 
Thanks for all the answers and suggestions! I really do not want to cover my head at mass because I am not one who likes attention drawn to myself, like most people. But I for some reason felt like God is asking me to do this. I am very embarrassed to try it. We were at an SSPX chapel when I did it, and everyone else did it, too. But I feel like God is letting me know this is how He prefers me personally to show my respect for Him. A hat is a good idea, can you even buy hats anymore? 🙂
My biggest reservation is that people will think that I am somehow this “holier than thou” person or that the priest won’t like it. But when I start telling myself these things, I keep thinking of how many people were called upon to do “strange” things for God. I am glad to know that this is permissible in a regular Catholic church, but I don’t know how often I will have the fortitude to actually do it. A more conservative parish might be easier to do it in. I will just have to pray about it, I guess.
 
nurselisa99 said:
Thanks for all the answers and suggestions! I really do not want to cover my head at mass because I am not one who likes attention drawn to myself, like most people. But I for some reason felt like God is asking me to do this. I am very embarrassed to try it. We were at an SSPX chapel when I did it, and everyone else did it, too. But I feel like God is letting me know this is how He prefers me personally to show my respect for Him. A hat is a good idea, can you even buy hats anymore? 🙂
My biggest reservation is that people will think that I am somehow this “holier than thou” person or that the priest won’t like it. But when I start telling myself these things, I keep thinking of how many people were called upon to do “strange” things for God. I am glad to know that this is permissible in a regular Catholic church, but I don’t know how often I will have the fortitude to actually do it. A more conservative parish might be easier to do it in. I will just have to pray about it, I guess.
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Please do visit the group I linked you to above - there is a great deal of support there, and a thread entirely about different options for head coverings, not just hats and lacy veils. 😉

Also many stories about first time covering, feeling uncomfortable, and all the rest that goes with stepping outside society’s comfort box.

~Liza
 
Thanks, I joined the group and am reading through the threads right now. “Society’s comfort box” is hard to step outside of, you are right! I know it is supposed to be hard, or we wouldn’t have been asked to take up our cross daily. But, my husband already thinks I am a zealot of some type, so I’m not sure I can do it until I gain his support. I am going to work on this first. And I am going to shop for a small hat to try first. Thanks! But, I can break out my mantilla for praying the rosary.
 
nurselisa99 said:
Just a quick question I am hoping someone can answer for me. I am a relatively new Catholic. I went to a traditional Latin low mass on Saturday and wore a mantilla over my head as did all of the other women in attendance. This seemed very reverent to me, and when we went to ordinary mass on Sunday, I felt like I should cover my head. No one else does this in our parish. Am I allowed to do this, and will people think I am nuts if I do?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
yep, and actually we have one such woman who does this in my parish @ the 12:15 mass. While I can’t say anything about it since I’m a guy, I feel the same way you do… I wish more women did this, and I wish for our Part more guys showed up dressed up truely in their Sunday best rather than “lets make this as short as possible so I don’t miss too much of the game” causual.
 
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