Why do women wear a head covering in Mass?

[gby247]

Remember the verse 1 Corinthians 11:5,
which says, “Every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved.” The early Christian
women veiled their heads not only in church, but also anytime they were in public.

I realized it is an obedience to 1 Corinthians 11:5. What we do as individuals should be for God and for God alone, we should not worry what others would think or feel. You living is for him alone, doing for him alone, you honor him, by trying to fit in and do as others do, than goes without saying, your following the rules of man and not God.

My mother always used this phrase, probably yours did too. “If you friends all jump of the cliff will you follow”. We must be individuals as he created us, we must follow our hearts and do what we know and feel is righteous, if our neighbor is not than she or he will answer to God, but as individuals we will stand before our maker and answer to him,

Nothing is optional, the words were written to be followed. God gave these commands to our prophets not only as guidelines but to live in righteous, we cannot decide what fits our needs, and take out what we want out of the words in the Holy Book. For all of it applies, God did not say if you want to cover your head, it is optional, he says,

“Every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved.”

Therefore do what your heart tells you and don’t worry about looks and legalistic, not sure what you mean by that. At the end we must all face our creator.

 

[jean8]

You could pin it on your head. I’ve seen this strips that have a comb that you can attach to your hair, and then bobby-pin the veil on it. It stays on very well.

Or, you could just sew a hair comb on the underside (buy from drugstore). There are good ways to keep it on.

girl25,
I had to chuckle about the answer, “you co
uld pin it on your head”
I think it would be better to pin it on your hair.
the comb idea is nice.

God bless,
jean

 

[jean8]

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,
You may want to read 1cor.11:11-16

God bless,
jean

 

[EasterJoy]

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

Or, you could just try this:
“On good hair days, it keeps my hair from distracting the fellows, and
on bad hair days, it keeps my hair from distracting me!”

 

[Aramis]

Or, you could just try this:
“On good hair days, it keeps my hair from distracting the fellows, and
on bad hair days, it keeps my hair from distracting me!”

A woman’s hair seldom even gets a moment’s notice from me.

FAR, FAR more distracting is perfume.

 

[Kristopher]

Women wear a head covering at mass, and the reasons might actually vary; however, it is to signify to men, that when and / or if they should become head of a household, they are too follow Jesus–to better serve their wife and children as head of the household.

 

[EasterJoy]

A woman’s hair seldom even gets a moment’s notice from me.

FAR, FAR more distracting is perfume.

Keep in mind that in the Apostle’s time, a woman’s hair was the only part of her “glory” that she would dream of exhibiting in public!

As for perfume, that’s not the kind of distraction I meant, colors not found in nature excepted.

 

[Aramis]

Keep in mind that in the Apostle’s time, a woman’s hair was the only part of her “glory” that she would dream of exhibiting in public!

As for perfume, that’s not the kind of distraction I meant, colors not found in nature excepted.

Hair, hands, feet and face, and married women often only showed the latter three.

But in terms of distraction, most perfumes are physically painful to me.

 

[yablabo]

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

In the First Vatican Council, Chapter 3 (On Faith) #8 it says “Wherefore, by Divine and Catholic faith all those things are to be believed which are contained in the Word of God as found in Scripture and Tradition, and which are proposed by the Church as matters to be believed as divinely revealed, whether by her solemn judgment or in her ordinary and universal Magisterium.”

Obviously women’s head covering at public prayer and during public prophesy is mandated by St. Paul in Scripture (1 Corinthians ch. 11) and it is the Tradition of the Church…which makes it an article of faith. Simply because some women, starting in the 1960’s, were disobedient to Canon Law and this matter of faith does not remove it from Tradition. Also, the fact that the 1983 Canon Law does not mention it, does not remove the necessity of wearing the head covering for public prayer and prophesy.

To specifically answer your question: One could say that she wears the head covering out of obedience to St. Paul; or one could say that she wears the head covering out of obedience to the Divine Will as revealed by St. Paul.

– Nicole

 

[PhilotheaZ]

In the First Vatican Council, Chapter 3 (On Faith) #8 it says “Wherefore, by Divine and Catholic faith all those things are to be believed which are contained in the Word of God as found in Scripture and Tradition, and which are proposed by the Church as matters to be believed as divinely revealed, whether by her solemn judgment or in her ordinary and universal Magisterium.”

Obviously women’s head covering at public prayer and during public prophesy is mandated by St. Paul in Scripture (1 Corinthians ch. 11) and it is the Tradition of the Church…which makes it an article of faith. Simply because some women, starting in the 1960’s, were disobedient to Canon Law and this matter of faith does not remove it from Tradition. Also, the fact that the 1983 Canon Law does not mention it, does not remove the necessity of wearing the head covering for public prayer and prophesy.

While I love to wear a veil in church, I would recommend some caution here.

First, some things written by Paul were written to the circumstances of the specific communities to which he wrote. Corinth had some specific problems and needs to be addressed, and this may be one of those situations where what he wrote was intended for that community, and not necessarily for all Christians in all places and times. We leave it to the teaching Church to interpret.

Second, the 1983 Code of Canon Law abrogated all law that preceded it. I think that if the Popes reigning since 1983 thought head covering was an important issue, they would have addressed it, since they were/are fully aware that many women don’t cover their heads.

We have to be careful not to be “more Catholic than the Pope.”

 

[yablabo]

While I love to wear a veil in church, I would recommend some caution here.

First, some things written by Paul were written to the circumstances of the specific communities to which he wrote. Corinth had some specific problems and needs to be addressed, and this may be one of those situations where what he wrote was intended for that community, and not necessarily for all Christians in all places and times. We leave it to the teaching Church to interpret.

Second, the 1983 Code of Canon Law abrogated all law that preceded it. I think that if the Popes reigning since 1983 thought head covering was an important issue, they would have addressed it, since they were/are fully aware that many women don’t cover their heads.

We have to be careful not to be “more Catholic than the Pope.”

We can’t argue with the First Vatican Council.

 

[PhilotheaZ]

We can’t argue with the First Vatican Council.

I’m not arguing with any council. Doctrine can’t change. Discipline can change. What we wear is a discipline, not a doctrine.

 

[slyboots]

Thanks for the web site Lizanne. Those are lovely.

Most usually threads like this one get locked because of uncharitable discourse. It is nice to see this one has been open for a while.

I cover because God moved me to do so. If God does the same for you I hope you will obey Him. If He does not seem to be calling you to cover then perhaps He has other ways for you. That is not my concern. It is between you and Our Lord.

Some days it is difficult. I worry about “sticking out like a sore thumb” at mass. But I go ahead and pin it on and go. Or wrap a scarf around my head and neck. Like sacramentals we use to keep us focused on Our Lord for me my cover reminds me to be humble and prayerful and to listen. Mind you I am not saying that my scarves are sacramentals or holy or anything like that. But they keep me listening and attentive to God.

 

[Augie1530]

I personally wish they would revive the custom as I think of it as a matter of respect and humility toward God and the church I recall as a child back in the 60’s all of my mothers sisters and female cousins would wear what they called a mantilla a very large and beautiful lace covering for the head which was usually hand made, I have seen several of them recently with the TLM but not to many with the NOM but maybe in time that custom will catch on with them as well

 

[weepixie71]

i do not even think about walking into a Church where Christ is still present in the tabernacle without a head-covering.

the reason being is not only because it was a tradition for almost 2000yrs in the Catholic faith but because it is an outward sign of God’s hierarchy.

God made man in the image of God and woman was made for man. this is why it is so so so important for man to be good to their wife. he is to be the image of “Christ” in his household. it is why often some priests give men a harsher penance
since men represent “Christ” women cover their heads as an outward sign of humility not towards man but to Christ. so when Christ is present at mass woman cover their heads.
women quit wearing the veil because of the womens movement. they mistook the veil for submission to man instead of submission to God and the way he designed His hierarchy.

i have found since i have been wearing my veil, i am more aware of my modesty in and outside of Church. i am not distracted as easily at mass. as a matter of fact when i kneel for the canon of the mass, the veil flows forward to the sides of my face and i feel an intimacy with God during the consecration.
noway, could i ever give up my veil now.

 

[maslibertad]

I’ve been wearing a veil to Mass for several years now. Two bobby pins on the top of my head keep the veil on perfectly. When I take the veil off, I leave the bobby pins attached and they are always ready. My veil is black and my bobby pins don’t show at all.

I wear a veil as well and I actually hot glue gun it to one of the plastic headbands (like the one little girls wear) I dont have any children to take care of during Mass but I think it probably would stay on just as well as it does.

Also, for Cathryn, I just want to make sure because I have heard it elsewhere, but do usually only married/widows women wear black veils? I heard some people say that anyone can wear any color. However I have also heard some say that only never married women wear white and others wear black. I am single and wear white for that reason, but my hair is dark and stands out a great deal. Does any one know if it would it be proper for me to wear a black veil or should I stick to the white until I marry?

Thanks,
~ Mayra

 

[PhilotheaZ]

I just want to make sure because I have heard it elsewhere, but do usually only married/widows women wear black veils? I heard some people say that anyone can wear any color. However I have also heard some say that only never married women wear white and others wear black. I am single and wear white for that reason, but my hair is dark and stands out a great deal. Does any one know if it would it be proper for me to wear a black veil or should I stick to the white until I marry?

There may be some “tradition” to this, but you can wear any color you like. I have seen married women wearing white or off-white, teens wearing black, and vice versa.

 

[slyboots]

Because the Holy Spirit has moved/urged us to do so. I don’t know that God asks it of every woman. Paul sounds as if He did in 1 Corinthians 11. Maybe it’s because some of us need extra help remembering to be attentive at mass and this helps us. Or maybe some of us have been too vain about our hair dos and covering handles that. I do not know what reasons God puts in the hearts of others, I do know I felt it was to help me be more humble, obedient, more attentive in Mass and prayer, and to learn modesty. And those are things I have been in fact learning since.

The other thing about 1 Corinthians 11:6 "For if a woman does not have her head veiled, she may as well have her hair cut off. But if it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should wear a veil… whereas if a woman has long hair it is her glory, " Do you have long hair? I don’t. Most of the ladies I see at Mass don’t. I wear a mantilla,or a scarf. Is the veil about subordination? Yes. It is a sign of submission to God. At least it is for those of us who feel God requires it of us.

Do I judge you if you do not veil/cover? No, not at all. If God wants you to do so, He will tell you and it is up to you and Him how you will answer.

One more thing: the rest of that chapter in 1 Corinthians 23 …
For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.
Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord. A person should examine himself, and so eat the bread and drink the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself.

Betcha don’t have the same confusion over that part which is in the very same chapter. Paul is speaking clearly I think. Just something to think about. No pressure.

 

[RedSoxWife]

I wear a veil as well and I actually hot glue gun it to one of the plastic headbands (like the one little girls wear) I dont have any children to take care of during Mass but I think it probably would stay on just as well as it does.

Also, for Cathryn, I just want to make sure because I have heard it elsewhere, but do usually only married/widows women wear black veils? I heard some people say that anyone can wear any color. However I have also heard some say that only never married women wear white and others wear black. I am single and wear white for that reason, but my hair is dark and stands out a great deal. Does any one know if it would it be proper for me to wear a black veil or should I stick to the white until I marry?

Thanks,
~ Mayra

I’ve heard different people say different things about this. I tend to wear whatever blends in the most with the outfit that I’m wearing.

One woman told me that when she was living in South America they wore black during the week and white on Sunday.

I go back and forth and often wear a hat because my one year old daughter is very adept at ripping the veil off my head so she can play peekaboo with it and seems to only want to touch the wide brim of my hat (not so wide people can’t see though).

 

[RedSoxWife]

I started veiling because I felt strongly drawn to do so. I resisted the feeling for about a year, but it persisted, and so I finally bought a veil and started to wear it. It just feels right to me, to have my head covered when I enter a holy place.