Why Are Statues Covered?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Galnextdoor
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
G

Galnextdoor

Guest
I went to mass last night and noticed that all the Statues were covered with purple tent type coverings. I assume it has something to do with lent, but why now and is there a particular meaning behind this?
 
My understanding is that it is suppose to represent Christ in the desert. When he was alone and being tempted. Not all churches do this. My does and I am o.k. with it but some people and parishes are not.
 
Galnextdoor said:
I went to mass last night and noticed that all the Statues were covered with purple tent type coverings. I assume it has something to do with lent, but why now and is there a particular meaning behind this?
Click to expand...
I don’t know? They shouldn’t be, not until after Holy Thursday or at the earilest after Palm Sunday for Holy Week.
 
Traditionally, Passion Sunday is today (5th Sunday) and the beginning of Passiontide, the two weeks before Easter and a time of going spiritually deeper into the Passion of Christ. Yes, I know now Passion Sunday and Palm Sunday are the same, but there was a time . . . My parish has covered the statues (not the Stations of the Cross) in simple purple veils as it has always done, although we are not a “Traditional” (with a large T) parish, just a regular diocesan one. I believe the symbolism of the covering is that Christ was “hidden” (as opposed to being “public”) during this time before His Passion. At least, that is what my mid 1950s missal says . . .
 
I think the old form was to veil them this Sunday [Passion Sunday in the EF].
 
I dug up my “Saint Joseph Catholic Manual” (copyright 1956) with the relavent information . . . (Please forgive the typos – this was not “cut and paste” 🙂
Passion Time
Click to expand...
Passion time begins on the fifth Sunday of Lent, which is called Passion Sunday or Sunday of Suffering, and from that day until Easter the Church enters more deeply into the Passion of our Blessed Lord and brings His sufferings mor and more forcibly before the people. The liturgy puts aside all symbols and expressions of joy and shows forth in word and action the sorrow and penance which should fill the Christian soul contemplating the closing scenes in Our Savior’s earthly life.
Click to expand...
Before Vespers on the Saturday preceding Passion Sunday, the crucifix, statues and pictures on the altar and throughout the church, except the pictures of the Stations of the Cross, are covered with plain violet veils. The crucifix remains covered until it is uncovered on Good Friday. The statues and pictures remain veiled until the Gloria of Holy Saturday. The crucifix is veiled because Christ, during this time, no longer walked in public, but “hid Himself.” The statues and pictures of the angels and saints are covered to show that the Church shrouds herself and mourns while her Lord and Master is preparing to undergo suffering and death to redeem the world By all these outward signs and ceremonies of Passion Time the faithful are reminded how the Lord his His divinity during the time of His Passion, and, by sight as well as by hearing, sinners are warned to do penance by withdrawing farther from worldly pleasures, by devoting themselves more earnestly tot he Lenten exercised and meditating on the sufferings of Christ, who died for love of them.
Click to expand...
 
kennewickmike said:
My understanding is that it is suppose to represent Christ in the desert. When he was alone and being tempted. Not all churches do this. My does and I am o.k. with it but some people and parishes are not.
Click to expand...
Ours were veiled today also including our crucifix in procession. I believe the desert aspect applies to when the fonts are emptied next week. Today our pastor mentioned that it is to help keep us from distraction. In other words, to help us focus as we go spiritually deeper in these last two weeks. It worked too…a somber moment when you enter the sanctuary and they are all covered. It immediately called to mind what an important time we are entering and what it is leading us to.
 
Normally it should be done during Holy Thursday and Good Friday. Yeah not all churches are doing this but they suppose to do it during those two days.

Actually, those easily removed statues be kept for two days and those irremovable are covered by purple cloth.

The reason for this is for us to focus our whole attention to the Blessed Sacrament even for these especial days only. The Eucharist is Jesus Christ himself hidden in the form of bread who suffered people indifference.

Could you imagine what Jesus feels if the people he waited to visit him are busy doing their station of the cross at those curve tablets or praying at their favorites Saints’ statues while He is exposed at the altar?.. I don’t say that we should not do the station of the cross during this hour. We can do the station of the cross during the Visita Iglesias but instead of looking at the statues, we should kneel in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
 
Thanks so much to everyone who has responded. I have never heard an explanation for this.
 
For our EF Mass today we veiled the crucifix over the altar before Mass, and removed it afterwards as the chapel will be used for OF Masses during the week. I am glad our chaplain remembered to do so.
 
Br.Rich_SFO said:
I don’t know? They shouldn’t be, not until after Holy Thursday or at the earilest after Palm Sunday for Holy Week.
Click to expand...
No, actually, if you look at*** Paschale Solemnitatis, January 16, 1988 *** you will see that it is OK to cover the statues starting with the 5th Sunday of Lent.
Holy Thursday
57. After Mass (of the Lord’s Supper), the altar should be stripped. It is fitting that any crosses in the church be covered with a red or purple veil, unless they have already been veiled on the Saturday before the fifth Sunday of Lent. Lamps should not be lit before the images of saints.
Click to expand...
 
When I walked in church for Mass today, I noticed that the statues of Our Lady & St. Joseph as well as the tabernacle were covered with a purple cloth. This is the first time I’ve seen this at our church and just wondered what it meant and if it was ok. Thanks!
 
Yes, in fact, this practice usually happens on the Fifth Sunday of Lent. According to Paschale Solemnitatis:
  1. The practice of covering the crosses and images in the church may be observed, if the episcopal conference should so decide. The crosses are to be covered until the end of the celebration of the Lord’s passion on Good Friday. Images are to remain covered until the beginning of the Easter Vigil. [30]
Click to expand...
The sybmolism here can be taken from St. John’s Gospel (which we read Friday) where Jesus traveled to one of the Jewish feasts in secret. Thus, he was in secret until his hour had come.

I hope this helps.
 
Thanks for your quick reply! I figured it was ok; it just struck me because for the past 2 Lenten seasons, no one covered them!
 
AngelRose81 said:
When I walked in church for Mass today, I noticed that the statues of Our Lady & St. Joseph as well as the tabernacle were covered with a purple cloth. This is the first time I’ve seen this at our church and just wondered what it meant and if it was ok. Thanks!
Click to expand...
The tabernacle is a different matter. The tabernacle is traditionally “veiled” or “vested” in the color of the day–in other words the same color as the priest’s vestments. The only exception is that even if the color of the vestments is black, the tabernacle is never veiled in black. So in other words, traditionally, the tabernacle should be “veiled” or “vested” everyday of the year.
 
FrDavid96 said:
The tabernacle is a different matter. The tabernacle is traditionally “veiled” or “vested” in the color of the day–in other words the same color as the priest’s vestments. The only exception is that even if the color of the vestments is black, the tabernacle is never veiled in black. So in other words, traditionally, the tabernacle should be “veiled” or “vested” everyday of the year.
Click to expand...
I never knew that! The first time I had ever seen it was today. And it was purple.
 
I think it has something to do with the fact that last Sunday was Passion Sunday? I’m Anglican so I don’t know if it is interpreted the same way by Catholics?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top