Wearing a church veil

[lizaanne]

I’ve been wearing mine for almost a year now, and I’ve never had anyone ask me why I’m wearing it. I think most people are more concerned with their own appearance than others, anyway.

Me too, it’s been almost a year now. In fact, the only comments I have received have been positive! Anyone who says anything about it usually tells me they are so glad to see a woman covering her head. I just say thank you and leave it at that. But I’ve NEVER had any negative comments or even looks. Curious looks perhaps, but never anything I would say is negative. But then again, I mostly frequent parishes where this would not be out of the ordinary in the first place. Though I have covered my head at three funerals I’ve been to in the last year. I will usually slip it on once I’m in the pew, and slip it back off when I’m leaving, and no one really notices unless they are watching people receive Holy Communion.

~Liza

 

[byers]

This is not about headcoverings. I just wanted to post a warning about the site catholicplanet that was mentioned in a previous post… The owner of the site has a BA in theology and is not always in line with catholic teaching or the magisterium. He has his own agenda as the way the church should be.

For example, he has his ‘own’ list of approved and unapproved apparitions giving his reasons why he thinks certain ones should be approved - even those which has not been approved by the rightful authority and some of which have been outright disapproved by the local bishop. He has even written a book on the “secrets” of medjugorje and garabandal.

That is just one example of his disobedience to the teaching authority of the Church, but there are others. Therefore I would advise a certain caution in paying any heed to this person’s opinions on anything else to do with catholicism.
His forum is basically the blind leading the blind.

Beware also that some of his links are to members of or schismatic groups. Just because the title of the site has the word ‘Catholic’ in it, does not mean it’s trustworthy.

I just feel it’s important to mention this as some catholics may not be aware of the dangers of so many of the sites out there posing as ‘experts’ on catholicism. He is no expert!

 

[byers]

I’m so sorry I forgot to mention that mr conte of catholicplanet due to his careful research and study says that Jesus will return in the year 2437.

 

[ElizabethPH]

Me too, it’s been almost a year now. In fact, the only comments I have received have been positive! Anyone who says anything about it usually tells me they are so glad to see a woman covering her head. I just say thank you and leave it at that. But I’ve NEVER had any negative comments or even looks. Curious looks perhaps, but never anything I would say is negative. But then again, I mostly frequent parishes where this would not be out of the ordinary in the first place. Though I have covered my head at three funerals I’ve been to in the last year. I will usually slip it on once I’m in the pew, and slip it back off when I’m leaving, and no one really notices unless they are watching people receive Holy Communion.

~Liza

And I agree too. I’ve only had positive comments and a couple of curious looks. And there is just me and a couple of other ladies; but we often don’t go to the same Mass so sometimes I am the only one. I think those that might think we stand out like ‘sore thumbs’ are for the most part far and few between; and they are the ones with the problem about it. It’s not a problem for me. I don’t notice too much about others; except it’s great to see everyone at Mass. It’s about coming together for God; not for checking each other out to see who’s wearing what.

 

[Mary_girl]

Many Blessing to you all!!!
Thanks again for all the great responses I have recieved. I feel informed for the most part and will try to keep you as updated as possible but with the end of junior year in sight I will be pretty busy!
I just want to confirm what I have heard so far concerning my first question:
I should wear my head covering…
1)during the Holy sacrifice of the Mass
2)anytime I am in His presents, such as at stations of the cross or when I’m just praying or in a church when He is in the tabernacle
3)?
am I missing any, I want to be humble before God!
Also if you could, please pray for the intention of the discernment of my vocation. It is a long story but I want to do God’s will in my life and the only way I can be in tune to his will is by prayer and listening. so please, if you could, pray that “not my will Lord, but yours”
thanks again everyone,
Mary girl

 

[gemtwin84]

I’m so sorry I forgot to mention that mr conte of catholicplanet due to his careful research and study says that Jesus will return in the year 2437.

:bigyikes:

So, what exactly is the Church teaching on this? Did Vatican II abolish the practice or did American women just stop the practice themselves?

I’ve only ever seen one woman at my parish cover her head and it drew quite a lot of stares. I thought it was beautiful that she was so devote and strong to wear it but then I got to thinking…we are told to do things together at Mass to be in union with one another. Is this one woman trying to be in union with the assembly or have we all been deceived and she is the one lone leader to draw us back to this practice?

Are there any Church documents that support the wearing of the veil for women?

 

[leonie]

:bigyikes:

So, what exactly is the Church teaching on this? Did Vatican II abolish the practice or did American women just stop the practice themselves?

I’ve only ever seen one woman at my parish cover her head and it drew quite a lot of stares. I thought it was beautiful that she was so devote and strong to wear it but then I got to thinking…we are told to do things together at Mass to be in union with one another. Is this one woman trying to be in union with the assembly or have we all been deceived and she is the one lone leader to draw us back to this practice?

Are there any Church documents that support the wearing of the veil for women?

We are in union in the Mass, but not in our dress. At my parish, there are ladies dressed to the nines and others in Colts jerseys and jeans. Why would wearing a veil be a sign of disunity anymore than if someone wore a (Heaven forbid!) a Patriots jersey.

 

[gemtwin84]

Ok, good point. We all differ in our dress.

So how do we know if we cross the line from being devote enough to wear a veil at Mass to wearing a veil that would cause undue attention to us at Mass when all we want with the wearing of a veil if to draw attention to our Lord.

Does that make sense?

Is this where intent comes in?

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Ok, good point. We all differ in our dress.

So how do we know if we cross the line from being devote enough to wear a veil at Mass to wearing a veil that would cause undue attention to us at Mass when all we want with the wearing of a veil if to draw attention to our Lord.

Does that make sense?

Is this where intent comes in?

Its in the heart that counts. However, out of humilty, we try not to stand out among the crowd, but rather, be least among them.

Wearing a veil at Mass, in a culture where veils are rarely worn, can be a distraction, and can also be a sign of spiritual pride, in that the person believes that outward appearances, make one more holy.

God reads the heart, and could care less about what we wear. If he did, he would’ve brought us onto the world fully clothed, instead of naked.

Jim

 

[leonie]

.

God reads the heart, and could care less about what we wear. If he did, he would’ve brought us onto the world fully clothed, instead of naked.

Jim

Okay, so wearing a veil or any specific item of clothing is entirely for us, not God, who really only cares for our heart’s intentions.

Accepting that some women feel a call from God to veil, why would he ask them to do this, esp. in a Pauline parish where it is not common?

I’ve thought about this. I think it has several purposes.

*For one, it is a mortification of vanity–I still maintain women wish to conform, not to stand out.

It is a reminder of the proper sense of reverence and piety that should occupy our minds during Mass.

It is a unity with a traditional practice of Catholic women throughout several centuries.

It is a physical expression of submission both to Christ and to a Biblical tradition.

It is an expression of admiration for the Virgin Mary who is seldom pictured unveiled.

It is an expression of obedience to a discerned spiritual prompting of the Holy Spirit*.

As for others, I don’t think they really notice so much. A distraction? Well, to be honest, I think that most women have to train their eyes not to notice other woman’s attire and hair styles. I know that if I’m not recollected, I’m surveying clothes and hair styles. Even if I look down, I’m tempted to check out shoes. So, I don’t see it as a distraction.

But, maybe veiling is a distraction for men. I can only speak as a woman.

 

[Mary_girl]

WOW,
I’ve been busy and not able to check up on my thread lately, this is some deep stuff here.
An update on my veil wearing:
I got my veil but didn’t wear it for a while because I had nothing to hold it in with. I finally realized I was being too picky about what kept the veil in my hair and knew I was, naturally, afraid to stand out. I’m shy so I don’t enjoy attracting attention to myself unless I’m with a close group of friends. It was hard but I wore it to Mass before school, I go to a Catholic school, and at one other Mass. The big test of my endurance is coming up this Thursday when my school has a school wide Mass. This will be hard as no one else does this and these are my peers so I would appreciate prayers that I carry through with this. I’ve been praying recently that God will give me the grace to forget about what others think and focus on what he thinks. In this day and age it is a challenge but with God all things are possible.
I’ll keep you updated as things progress.
PS I have SAT’s this weekend and an AP US History exam next Friday so if you could pray about those too. THANKS!

 

[BarbaraTherese]

Quoting Leonie
*

It is a reminder of the proper sense of reverence and piety that should occupy our minds during Mass.

I dont wear any sort of veil and probably never will as long as we are free to choose, and not out of any humility either as my actual motivation, but I really like your reason quoted above, Leonie…I must admit that those women I do see wearing a veil at Mass I do think very highly of and do admire them and if it became mandatory, I would wear a veil with joy. Our Archbishop has just bought in for our diocese that we are to bow before receiving Holy Communion and I will adopt this act of deep reverance with great joy…Barb *

 

[beckycmarie]

Hey everyone!
I have a question that anyone is free to answer respectfully ! I am about to begin wearing a lace church veil or mantilla and I was wondering about any specifications surrounding it. I know that one should wear it during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass but should it be worn any other time, say when in a church where Christ is present in the tabernacle? Please and thanks!
Mary girl

Hi Mary Girl,

I would just add to the posts something no one told me and I learned the hard way. Make sure to use bobby pins or clips to keep the veil on your head, otherwise it slips off constantly even when sitting still. I fought with mine the whole first time I wore one.

I went to Walgreens and got “mini salon clips” by Scunci. I wear my hair in a ponytail or bun and clip my mantilla to my hair just above my ears. It doesn’t budge at all anymore.

 

[Mary_girl]

Thanks! I did do that but thanks for the heads up. I do have a hard time keeping the clips in, i have thin hair i guess, so i had to mess w/ it a little during Mass a few times but it hasn’t fallen off yet.