When to start veiling?

[lilypadrees]

Sadly, most Catholic women don’t veil anymore, finding it unnecessary to do so. I am one who does veil and will always do so out of respect and humility for the One I am going to see: my Lord, Savior, Redeemer and King.

My personal opinion is that since you feel called to veil, the Easter Vigil would be most appropriate.

 

[Loud-living-dogma]

You may want to ask your pastor. But he might not approve since you wouldn’t have a similar appearance to any other women confirmands. I think there are pastors who don’t have a problem with it, with the exception of women such as choir directors who want to veil, or others who create a non-uniform appearance (on display).

 

[zosch]

Thank you so much! I am also excited to see women becoming more interested in it again, and do agree that someone like the ladies at Veils by Lily would be great to reach out to. She seems very invested in educating about the traditions of head coverings, and I hadn’t thought about approaching someone like that, but it’s a really good idea!

 

[MagdalenaRita]

You’re welcome. It is exciting, I agree. Veils by Lily came to a Catholic women’s conference we had in our city, once. They are very good and have a lot of good answers regarding veiling.

 

[CilladeRoma]

I think the key thing here in your comment, is “nowadays”, in which I would agree there hasn’t been any Church etiquette for veiling since around 1970

There was never any etiquette regarding “veiling”.
Woman covered their heads, mostly with hats or kerchiefs.
Sometimes with crumpled tissues.
“Veiling” is something that was done to nuns.

OP, if you want to cover your head, cover your head. It doesn’t matter how, or when.

 

[BoomBoomMancini]

It appears from her last post that she understands that there is nothing doctrinal about head coverings presently in the Church but is just wanting to know if she is to choose to wear a head covering what is the proper times and places to do that. That is why I do not believe she will get a good answer here at CAF. The opinions will be too vast, some supportive but also some hostile toward veils, so rather she will get better answers from someone who deals with and answers these type of questions more frequently.

I see this attitude a lot among people on CAF who observe very traditional practices; they feel like they’ll meet with hostility if they mention things like veiling or communion in the hand. I don’t think that’s the case.

I’ve never met anyone who has an issue with a woman wearing some type of head covering if she chooses. The issue is sometimes people on the traditionalist side will imply the practice in question makes the person more reverent or holy or authentically Catholic. Not saying you’re doing that, just saying it happens. That can be dangerous for someone new to the Church, because, as Bear said, she’s going to meet tons of Catholic women who don’t wear head coverings. If she starts assuming that they’re lax or irreverent or whatever, that’s a bad introduction to the Church.

 

[MagdalenaRita]

Woman covered their heads, mostly with hats or kerchiefs.

So, yes the word veiling is used frequently today, but I agree many women did wear hats also. I love hats and wear them frequently. I think most women today who choose to wear a veil realize it is not the same as the “veiling” that is done to nuns. Many women use the word covering synonymous with veiling.

There was never any etiquette regarding “veiling”.

So, when I speak of etiquette I am not speaking of Church doctrine or rules but just what women traditionally (with a small t) would have done in the past. Women who choose to “veil” or “cover” do have questions and that is okay.

OP, if you want to cover your head, cover your head. It doesn’t matter how, or when.

That is not always easy to do, especially if you are a timid person. Again, it is okay to have questions and it is also okay to have a desire to follow some of the traditions that were in place before Vatican II.

God bless.

 

[Loud-living-dogma]

Was done? Some religious sisters wear veils now, right?

 

[zosch]

I have no judgment for women who don’t veil, and I don’t think veiling will make me better or more holy than anyone else. Based on my own scriptural understanding and the reverence I feel for the True Presence, I feel drawn to cover my head. It’s a deeply personal decision (with vast opinions surrounding it, evidently) which is why I have been timid to approach more people about it. I just don’t want to be out of line if I start veiling when I shouldn’t. I’ve come to find through this thread, though, that the only person who might care “when” is my pastor who may feel it out of bounds for purposes of decorum at the Easter vigil. My inclination is that he won’t care, but fortunately I can find out for sure.

 

[BoomBoomMancini]

It’s a deeply personal decision (with vast opinions surrounding it, evidently) which is why I have been timid to approach more people about it. I just don’t want to be out of line if I start veiling when I shouldn’t

No, I get it. I don’t think anyone is trying to talk you out of it or say that it’s bad. They just want to make sure you’re not mistaking something that is personal preference for a “rule.” It seems like you’ve got a good grasp of that, though, so veil away.

 

[MagdalenaRita]

I see this attitude a lot among people on CAF who observe very traditional practices; they feel like they’ll meet with hostility if they mention things like veiling or communion in the hand. I don’t think that’s the case.

I would have to disagree here. I have seen women come here, ask a question about veils and are met with hostility. It is just the culture here at CAF. It is not easy to have a simple discussion regarding the devotion.

The issue is sometimes people on the traditionalist side will imply the practice in question makes the person more reverent or holy or authentically Catholic

If she starts assuming that they’re lax or irreverent or whatever, that’s a bad introduction to the Church.

I have not seen this with any woman that covers. Most posts start out just as this person’s, asking a question and I can usually see exactly where it is headed, most every time, right where we are now. Whether or not women who veil think they are more holy or whether or not you can even use the word veil or questioning the why of veils and was it hats or veils.

I would think rather than go down this road it would be better just to help the OP and answer what she is asking or help her find answers for this devotion, which is a personal one, but also a beautiful one. Definitely not for everyone, and that is okay.

though, so veil away.

Absolutely, yes.

 

[EnglishTeacher]

You don’t have to wait to become a Catholic; you can do it whenever you like. Back when wearing a hat or chapel veil was the common practice, I believe it was etiquette for all women to wear some sort of headcovering upon entering a Catholic Church, even if they weren’t Catholic. (Although according to my mom who grew up in the 60s and was not Catholic, women all wore hats and gloves almost everywhere they went anyway, especially to church. So this was probably not so much a “rule” that needed to be enforced but just a common practice everywhere anyway.)

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Although according to my mom who grew up in the 60s and was not Catholic, women all wore hats and gloves almost everywhere they went anyway, especially to church. So this was probably not so much a “rule” that needed to be enforced but just a common practice everywhere anyway.

This is correct. And historically, the Church basically expected women to wear the type of headcovering common in their region, that a lady of their age and status would typically wear when going out in public. It might be a veil, or kerchief, or shawl pulled over the head, or certain kind of hat. You might be running around with no hat when you were at home cooking meals and feeding the livestock, but when you went out to town, or to a social evening with your aunt, or to church, you were expected to wear the form of headcovering in general social use for your time.

 

[Loud-living-dogma]

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[Loud-living-dogma]

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[Loud-living-dogma]

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[CatholicNewGirl]

Hi, newbie here! Hubby and I just registered at our local parish and I will be taking the RCIA classes this fall. I would love to veil, but there are very few women who do at our parish that I’ve seen. I’ve always liked the idea of head coverings and if you feel drawn to do so I don’t see an issue. I’ve been researching them for quite a while and will start doing so soon even though I’m not an official Catholic yet. In my mind it seems to be more reverent even though that’s truly not that case these days. I tend to be more conservative in dress and things like that so maybe that plays into my feelings as well.

 

[CilladeRoma]

okay to have a desire to follow some of the traditions that were in place before Vatican II.

I don’t think I ever said any different.

I am not sure why you see the need to pick apart every thing I post.

 

[MagdalenaRita]

I don’t think I ever said any different.

No, you didn’t I was just adding that thought to the conversation.

I am not sure why you see the need to pick apart every thing I post.

I’m sorry, I am not meaning to pick apart your posts, it is just the way I answer. Sometimes there are a lot of thoughts in a post. I guess I hope to avoid confusion to what I am responding to. I do not mean it as picking apart.

 

[SMHW]

Yes, Jackie Kennedy is frequently given credit for making the lacy veil popular with women who came from a tradition of wearing hats or other forms of head coverings.