Why do women wear a head covering in Mass?

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My Pastor has talked with our women’s bible study group about wearing a veil during Mass, and we are all considering it. My question is how do I explain it to others who might ask why I’m wearing it. I don’t feel I could give a good answer. Thank You
 
jaci said:
My Pastor has talked with our women’s bible study group about wearing a veil during Mass, and we are all considering it. My question is how do I explain it to others who might ask why I’m wearing it. I don’t feel I could give a good answer. Thank You
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I can’t answer this for you. As a matter of fact, I was thinking about this myself, so I will be watching this thread for advice from wiser ones 🙂

Gertie
 
I am not a “wiser one”, in fact I’m not even a Catholic yet. That said, 1 Corinthians 11 has a lot to say about women’s head coverings. You should read it and try to find good Catholic commentary on it.

I cover my head at Mass because it seems to contribute to my reverence and love for God and His Church. However, I am careful that this doesn’t become a matter of drawing attention to myself, since only a few ladies in our church cover their heads. When I was in the Easter choir I didn’t cover my head because the other ladies in the choir don’t and I didn’t want to stick out or be thought what the Protestants would call “legalistic”.

Father has been teaching me weekly, and I mentioned it to him once. He seems to feel it’s optional and we can do as we like. If he asked me to cover my head I’d burn some rubber on the way to buying a suitable head covering.

Peace be with you.

Luminous Hope (this expresses how I feel about becoming a Catholic)
 
Perhaps this might be of help: there a several threads about this in another forum here. Here is [thread=329241]one[/thread] which is quite recent, but there are others that are older.
 
jaci said:
My Pastor has talked with our women’s bible study group about wearing a veil during Mass, and we are all considering it. My question is how do I explain it to others who might ask why I’m wearing it. I don’t feel I could give a good answer. Thank You
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Because it is stated in the bible, and was a standard practice in the catholic church until VII. ( my older aunts would not dare wear pants in church either), just one of those changes
 
I’ve always wondered about this… It would be great if someone could help me get a better understanding :]

I was always taught that when the Bible mentioned women and head coverings it meant that a woman didn’t have to have a veil or hat because her hair WAS her covering.

Can someone explain the Catholic teaching on women and head coverings?

That would be awesome and I’ve always liked the idea of wearing a veil in church anyway…I even wear them at home sometimes just because they’re fun. lol :]

Thanks and God Bless!!
 
jaci said:
My Pastor has talked with our women’s bible study group about wearing a veil during Mass, and we are all considering it. My question is how do I explain it to others who might ask why I’m wearing it. I don’t feel I could give a good answer. Thank You
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Largely because it used to be specified in Canon Law. That changed in 1983. It’s no longer required.
 
jaci said:
My Pastor has talked with our women’s bible study group about wearing a veil during Mass, and we are all considering it. My question is how do I explain it to others who might ask why I’m wearing it. I don’t feel I could give a good answer. Thank You
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jaci,
1Cor.11:1-14:tells us about "Propriety in Worship.
It also discusses the length of hair. some chrisian ladies do not cut their hair, based on this passage.

God bless,
jean
 
Speaking as someone who was around before V2, I can tell you that a woman never went into a church without a head covering. We generally wore hats but, in those days, hats were popular.

Another poster mentioned that a woman’s hair was her head covering. One of the reasons given to us growing up was that a hat was considered to be an act of modesty because it covered a woman’s hair which was considered her best feature.

I now generally wear a mantilla but I always carry a chapel cap with me to put on my head for a visit to the Blessed Sacrament when the opportunity arises. I remember the days of placing a hankerchief, even a tissue on one’s head. I never put a glove on my head, but some women did.😊

I don’t feel out of place wearing a mantilla or chapel cap to Mass even though very few women do. I am happy that the idea is becoming more common though. I don’t wear it for show, I wear it out of reverence to our Lord.:byzsoc:

:harp:
 
I would like to list a few thoughts for you to consider in giving a reply to anyone who might ask you why you choose to wear the veil at mass:
  1. First, to state that it’s not a requirement, but a choice.
  2. However, it used to be a requirement, which provides evidence of its spiritual relevance.
  3. Paul urges the women to in 1 Corinthians.
  4. It represents that you are in submission to and under the protection of the Church and her teachings and also in submission to and under the protection of your husband (if you are married), as both of these are required of a Catholic woman.
  5. That it shows respect for your being in the very real presence of Jesus.
  6. It represents the mystery of being a woman in the divine order, that God touches your womb to produce life. God veils mysteries (examples: mist covered the earth at creation, smoke covered Mt. Sinai when Moses received the law, Jesus’ ascension was into a cloud, etc.) It’s a sign of consecration for some specific purpose. That is why nuns wear them. That’s why brides wear them; they are consecrated to their spouse.
  7. It reinforces the idea (which has been lost greatly in our culture) that a woman should be valued and respected.
And just something that’s interesting to consider which I heard recently in a sermon about veiling: the Greek word for the unveiling of the bride (which the Church represents with Christ as the bridgegroom) is “apocalypse”!
 
The Bible also tells men to wear Tefillin in Exodus 13:9, Deuteronomy 6:8 and Deuteronomy 11:18. I don’t see those verses being abrogated with the New Covenant in Jesus Christ but I guess that’s another example of relying on oneself to interpret the Bible.
 
sarahraegraham said:
I would like to list a few thoughts for you to consider in giving a reply to anyone who might ask you why you choose to wear the veil at mass:
  1. First, to state that it’s not a requirement, but a choice.
  2. However, it used to be a requirement, which provides evidence of its spiritual relevance.
  3. Paul urges the women to in 1 Corinthians.
  4. It represents that you are in submission to and under the protection of the Church and her teachings and also in submission to and under the protection of your husband (if you are married), as both of these are required of a Catholic woman.
  5. That it shows respect for your being in the very real presence of Jesus.
  6. It represents the mystery of being a woman in the divine order, that God touches your womb to produce life. God veils mysteries (examples: mist covered the earth at creation, smoke covered Mt. Sinai when Moses received the law, Jesus’ ascension was into a cloud, etc.) It’s a sign of consecration for some specific purpose. That is why nuns wear them. That’s why brides wear them; they are consecrated to their spouse.
  7. It reinforces the idea (which has been lost greatly in our culture) that a woman should be valued and respected.
And just something that’s interesting to consider which I heard recently in a sermon about veiling: the Greek word for the unveiling of the bride (which the Church represents with Christ as the bridgegroom) is “apocalypse”!
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Why do you suspect it is no longer a requirement?
 
Charioteer said:
Why do you suspect it is no longer a requirement?
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Because it is true to state that the Catholic Church at this time does not require women to veil at Mass. I’m not interested in hijacking the thread by arguing on whether or not it was abrogated. That’s not an appropriate topic here in this thread. You could begin a new one if you’d like, I would not object to that.
 
From what I understand according to 2 different priests I have read, this practice came about because St Paul wanted the Christian women in Corinth to be identified as such

There was a papgan temple filled with prostitutes in this city and it was a very sinful city…The prostitutes had sex right in their temple

Christiian women were told to veil so they would be known to be chaste on sight, and not like a temple hooker
 
redrosetea said:
From what I understand according to 2 different priests I have read, this practice came about because St Paul wanted the Christian women in Corinth to be identified as such

There was a papgan temple filled with prostitutes in this city and it was a very sinful city…The prostitutes had sex right in their temple

Christiian women were told to veil so they would be known to be chaste on sight, and not like a temple hooker
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The problem with that explanation is that if you read the full text of 1 Cor. 11, Paul never once mentions anything about the city or culture of his readers; he makes blanket statements about men and women.
 
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