Opinions on veiling - Husbands

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HCC said:
Why is it appropriate to veil for a visit to the Holy Father, but not before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament?

mantillawithme.blogspot.com/2010/09/politicos-and-pope-wearing-mantilla-in.html

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We were honored to have a private audience with Pope John Paul II in 2001. Several other families were awaiting their audiences, as well. The only person wearing a head covering was a Spanish mother, wearing a traditional Spanish mantilla.

We received a call the night before from one of the Sisters in the Pope’s household with specific instructions as to how to dress: at least knee-length skirts, covered shoulders, (possibly jacket and tie for my husband, but I don’t remember…) Head coverings were not on the list; but, then again, none of us was a head of state or royal!

Were I to start wearing a head covering, my husband would be highly perplexed, as we share the opinion, expressed in at least one Church document, that the practice no longer has “normative value”. I guess I would say that I share Joan’s view of the historical perspective on head covering/veiling.

We have occasionally been to the Liturgy at my husband’s childhood Byzantine Catholic parish in another state; covering hasn’t been the practice there for as long as we can remember. There is one woman in our very large parish who wears a hat; no one gives it a second thought. It just isn’t something that’s on the radar as a big issue.
 
MissClaire said:
As a converting to Catholic, I have noticed the head coverings once before in Mass, donned by the women of a visiting family. I thought they were beautiful and very respectful. I do believe that ‘to each her own’ most definitely applies in this situation.
That being said, the Mass I go to is practiced ‘ad deum’ (I believe that’s the right term) where Fr. Joe faces the ‘liturgical East’ when preparing the Eucharist and everything. I don’t know if I would wear a head covering to this, especially since it is a lot of younger folks (college students).
If I do decide to do so, where could I find such a head covering? Or does any scarf-like covering work? What are some guidelines?
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Any scarf or head covering will do. But you can shop online for a mantilla or chapel veil if that is what you are interested in. Some Religious stores have them as well.
 
HCC said:
Why is it appropriate to veil for a visit to the Holy Father, but not before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament?

mantillawithme.blogspot.com/2010/09/politicos-and-pope-wearing-mantilla-in.html

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Some of the people who veiled when visiting the Holy Father do not believe in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. However, they either believe in showing respect for our Holy Father or they are just doing what all the other heads of state and royalty do when they visit the Vatican. Or perhaps they haven’t gotten an update on what the appropriate attire for a Vatican visit is. Here is an article stating the proper attire for a Vatican visit.
theblackcordelias.wordpress.com/2009/07/18/proper-attire-for-a-vatican-visit/
Some blogs and news stories assumed U.S. first lady Michelle Obama wore a long black veil to her July 10 audience with the pope because she was required to do so.
But the Vatican does not mandate that women cover their heads. In fact, the pontifical household said there is no formal or specific dress protocol at all.
 
Perhaps I’m just bias, please excuse me, but because there are enough women out there who still remain apprehensive about veiling even though they desire to because there are aware of enough people around them having negative opinions about such practices. As such, women who genuinely desire to veil are often intimidated into not doing, rather than not wanting to do so.

For awhile I was struggling with the fear that I would appear ‘pretentious’ for doing so, especially when there are plenty of ladies older and more religious than myself who chose not to veil. But after thinking about it I still decide I will do what I want to do, and if God does not disapprove, he would be on my side and I should not fear. Since starting out to do so, I’m always prompted to ‘behave’ because of the way I dress. It seemed utterly disrespectful to wear a veil and then behaving badly.😃
 
zab said:
Some of the people who veiled when visiting the Holy Father do not believe in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. However, they either believe in showing respect for our Holy Father or they are just doing what all the other heads of state and royalty do when they visit the Vatican. Or perhaps they haven’t gotten an update on what the appropriate attire for a Vatican visit is. Here is an article stating the proper attire for a Vatican visit.
theblackcordelias.wordpress.com/2009/07/18/proper-attire-for-a-vatican-visit/
Some blogs and news stories assumed U.S. first lady Michelle Obama wore a long black veil to her July 10 audience with the pope because she was required to do so.
But the Vatican does not mandate that women cover their heads. In fact, the pontifical household said there is no formal or specific dress protocol at all.
Click to expand...
I am aware of all of that zab, I was trying to prompt a more reflective, personal response.
 
HCC said:
Why is it appropriate to veil for a visit to the Holy Father, but not before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament?

mantillawithme.blogspot.com/2010/09/politicos-and-pope-wearing-mantilla-in.html

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Veiling to visit the Holy Father has nothing to do with liturgy. In fact, it’s only appropriate for some women, not all. It depends on the culture of the woman visiting the Holy Father and her status in that society. It’s only done when it’s a private audience, not when it’s a group or at a public event such as the mass that we saw yesterday. If you remember, the Sisters of the Work approached the Holy Father with relics and other articles relating to Bl. John Newman and they did not wear veils. Had it been a private audience, it would have been inappropriate for them to wear a veil all the same, because it’s against the wishes of their foundress. They never wore veils and are mandated not to do so in their constitution.

The rule for veiling to visit the Holy Father is not as rigid as we think. It factors in culture, state in life and social status. The same applies to other forms of dress. Just one simple example of how fluid the rule is, if you’re male and a member of a religious order, you must wear a habit, not a Roman collar. If you’re male and a member of a religious congregation, you may wear a habit, if your congregation has one, or a Roman collar or a shirt and tie. If you’re a secular priest, you must wear a cassock. The rules vary. That’s my point.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF 🙂
 
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