Veiling

[paul11b]

My wife wants to know if she should veil if we have to attend a Novus Ordo Mass. She wants to know if there are any other women that veil at the Novus Ordo. She feels like she’ll be out of place because she’d literally be the only person in our parish that veils.

 

[kamaan]

Yes, she should. She could also wear a scarf, hat, or kerchief.

 

[thistle]

My wife wants to know if she should veil if we have to attend a Novus Ordo Mass. She wants to know if there are any other women that veil at the Novus Ordo. She feels like she’ll be out of place because she’d literally be the only person in our parish that veils.

It is NOT required.

 

[Apagano]

When I must attend the NO I wear my veil. I am usually the only one veiled.

 

[noellesdad]

I know it’s not required, but if she is comfortable doing so I would encourage her to do so.

I witnessed a sad commentary on the division between these two traditions at my home basillica. Prior to the 8 a.m. Latin Mass there was a basket of mantillas with a sign in front that said “Out of respect for our Lord in the Holy Eucharist, we request that all women wear veils in the church.” We came back for the 10:00 mass and the veils and sign were gone. So, at 8:00 we have to have respect for our Lord and veil accordingly, but at 10:00 we do not? How telling.

 

[TrueLight]

So, at 8:00 we have to have respect for our Lord and veil accordingly, but at 10:00 we do not? How telling.

Hmmm. Something to think about.

In response to the OP’s wife, I would say it would depend on why you veil. If you veil solely for the customs of the 1962 mass (a when in Rome sort of thing), then there is no reason to veil at the Novus Ordo because most of the women don’t veil.

If you veil because you feel called to veil for whatever reason, then it shouldn’t matter which mass you are attending.

I recently went to a Novus Ordo where I was the only woman veiled. I was cool with that.

I have recently been feeling called to veil whenever I set time aside to formally pray as well.

 

[mick321]

It is NOT required.

Exactly! It is NOT required.

And THAT is the best reason for Catholics to present and conduct themselves reverently before, during and after Mass. The Novus Ordo Mass is a valid Mass. The Holy Father has made that fact abundantly clear. Catholics should have the courage to treat it with the same reverence as the Traditional Latin Mass.

Blessed be God. Blessed be His Holy Name.

 

[Monarch7]

I started wearing a veil about 1yr ago. My daughters 13 and 8 now wear a veil as well–by their own choice. What prompted me was 2yrs of discernment about wearing a veil and then I read a small pamphlet on the tradition and it had some very valid points about wearing one in Mass. The one that was the clincher for me was a quote by a women in the feminist, pro-abortion movement who said, “send me your veils and I will burn them in effigy.” They have this quote from a newspaper. That just put me over the top. I wish I could put my hand on the book so I could give you the direct quote and citation

I believe the little book is called The Veil you might be able to find it at TAN books.

I live in a parish where many women wear veils and we only have the NO as the regular Mass. On Special occasions our pastor will say Mass in Latin.

 

[YoungTradCath]

Exactly! It is NOT required.

And THAT is the best reason for Catholics to present and conduct themselves reverently before, during and after Mass. The Novus Ordo Mass is a valid Mass. The Holy Father has made that fact abundantly clear. Catholics should have the courage to treat it with the same reverence as the Traditional Latin Mass.

Blessed be God. Blessed be His Holy Name.

I’m not sure what you mean by this. No one questioned the validity of the Novus Ordo. Getting defensive for no reason.

Anyways, no, it’s not required. But if she wants to, power to her. My parish priests celebrate the Novus Ordo exclusively, in English, and several women (like 10-15 at every Sunday mass) choose to veil. No one cares, they don’t get dirty looks. It also happens that these women are on the more pious end of the stratum of parishioners.

 

[paul11b]

I don’t really care what she does, I just want to tell her what other women think and do, and I also want her to know what Catholic women did for 2000 years prior to 1968. I guess I just wonder why, if the Novus Ordo is the same Mass as the Tridentine Mass, do women show respect for Jesus in the Eucharist and they feel that it is not required at the NO mass? I thank you all for your responses.

 

[dixieagle]

I don’t really care what she does, I just want to tell her what other women think and do, and I also want her to know what Catholic women did for 2000 years prior to 1968. I guess I just wonder why, if the Novus Ordo is the same Mass as the Tridentine Mass, do women show respect for Jesus in the Eucharist and they feel that it is not required at the NO mass? I thank you all for your responses.

For a long time, women wearing a head covering was the norm, and something that respectable women did, whether in church or not. It was also customary for men to wear hats, though not inside. Gradually, cultural norms changed, and the practice of wearing head coverings in day to day life simply faded away. Here is a link to a previous Catholic Answers question/answer on the subject:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=4222

In a nutshell, even as far back as the 1970s, it was acknowledged by the Church in at least one official document, that the practice was likely an outgrowth of the customs of times past, and no longer of “normative value.” Women with uncovered heads were no longer regarded as shocking or disrespectful.

My personal opinion is that I agree completely with that document, but have no issue at all with women who prefer to wear something on their heads. It’s really nobody else’s business. Just remember that hats, scarves, etc., are also perfectly fine, and are, in fact, what most women wore in church in the US (and, I would guess) Canada, during the past century. I tend to think there has been some romanticizing of “veils”, when they were not the norm for most women (in my experience pre-1970s it was only elderly Italian and Hispanic women who actually wore veils.)

 

[Immaculata90]

I attend the NO during the week and the Traditional Latin Mass on Saturdays and Sundays. I usually veil at both, because it’s the same Jesus. I don’t veil at the Traditional Mass because we’re supposed to, I veil because it exemplifies the modesty we are supposed to have for Jesus as women. I also just get chills when I begin to think about the brideship of Christ in a veil.

Of course people may stare at some parishes for a minute, but they’ll get over it. I’ve never had anyone come up to me and tell me they were offended, but I have had a few old ladies come and say “I used to wear one of those when I was young!” (I’m 21).

Overall, I think it helps me be more reverent and allows me to focus on Jesus instead of what is going on around me. I would tell your wife it’s okay and encourage her!