Why head covering?

[dixieagle]

Nobody wearing head coverings is hardly a reason not to wear them. Remember this is the pope who allowed girl altar servers, another very debatable break with Holy Tradition.

My point was not that no one was wearing them, but that**, despite very particular instructions about how we should dress** for our audience with His Holiness, the mandate to wear a head covering was conspicuous in its absence, indicating strongly that it is not the issue some folks would like to make it.

People really get their knickers in a twist over this; there are so many more important things demanding our energies.

 

[latinmass]

My point was not that no one was wearing them, but that**, despite very particular instructions about how we should dress** for our audience with His Holiness, the mandate to wear a head covering was conspicuous in its absence, indicating strongly that it is not the issue some folks would like to make it.

People really get their knickers in a twist over this; there are so many more important things demanding our energies.

What is more important than obedience? Shouldn’t all our energy be put into obedience to our Lord? I would go with the obedience of almost 2,000 years of tradition over the opinions of some in these modern times of do as you please. To your specific point, an audience with the pope is far different than the instructions St. Paul gave women for prayer in Church. You were not in the liturgy.

 

[latinmasslover]

As Catholics we know that whatever St Paul said in scripture is to be interpreted by the CHURCH. And the Church no longer requires this old custom. The Church, not scripture and our own private interpretation of it, does the “mandating”.

Headcoverings today are a superficial non-issue. It makes no difference. It might make you “feel” more holy. But it is not what makes you holy.

It is much more important what is in your heart that what is or is not, on your head.

Head coverings are not a matter of holiness, they’re a matter of obedience to the Word of God which never changes. The Church has always practiced it, and it was never done away with. Culture took over here, as it did in every other aspect of Catholic life.

God does know the heart, but we cannot follow the heart if it means disobedience. My reasons for doing good are not always holy, but that doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t do good to others. Inner dispositions need to be discussed with the confessor and the Lord. The exterior is very importants as this is what others see, and cause scandal is a very serious offense.

I’m not exactly fond of head coverings as I love have very beautiful hair, but I still where it. I do feel out of place, especially when at a Novus Ordo Mass, but God’s Word doesn’t change, and the Church cannot (and has not) change(d) the truth. The Holy Ghost, God, through St. Paul, told women to cover their heads. If one’s intentions are good, Deo Gratias! If not, pray for holy dispositions. “If you love Me you will obey Me.” It’s that simple. If a woman is truly humble before God then she will not have a problem covering her head. Pride is the ultimate reason for not wearing one.

 

[Eilish_Maura]

Head coverings are not a matter of holiness, they’re a matter of obedience to the Word of God which never changes. The Church has always practiced it, and it was never done away with. Culture took over here, as it did in every other aspect of Catholic life.

The Church in her wisdom has stopped requiring it and the form of this decision is that it is no longer mandatory.

 

[latinmasslover]

The Church in her wisdom has stopped requiring it and the form of this decision is that it is no longer mandatory.

The Church in her *“weakness” *has stopped requiring it.

 

[dixieagle]

To your specific point, an audience with the pope is far different than the instructions St. Paul gave women for prayer in Church. You were not in the liturgy.

True…just in the presence of the Vicar of Christ on earth. He and his representatives seemed to understand that, with regard to the nonessentials, times do, and sometimes should, change.

 

[dixieagle]

Head coverings are not a matter of holiness, they’re a matter of obedience to the Word of God which never changes. The Church has always practiced it, and it was never done away with. Culture took over here, as it did in every other aspect of Catholic life.

God does know the heart, but we cannot follow the heart if it means disobedience. My reasons for doing good are not always holy, but that doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t do good to others. Inner dispositions need to be discussed with the confessor and the Lord. The exterior is very importants as this is what others see, and cause scandal is a very serious offense.

I’m not exactly fond of head coverings as I love have very beautiful hair, but I still where it. I do feel out of place, especially when at a Novus Ordo Mass, but God’s Word doesn’t change, and the Church cannot (and has not) change(d) the truth. The Holy Ghost, God, through St. Paul, told women to cover their heads. If one’s intentions are good, Deo Gratias! If not, pray for holy dispositions. “If you love Me you will obey Me.” It’s that simple. If a woman is truly humble before God then she will not have a problem covering her head. Pride is the ultimate reason for not wearing one.

When and if a directive comes from the Vatican that we should again start covering our heads, I will, gladly. In the meantime, I refuse to see “scandal” where there is none, and will not judge whether others are “truly humble” by what they wear, or not, on their heads.

 

[SemperFidelis]

True…just in the presence of the Vicar of Christ on earth. He and his representatives seemed to understand that, with regard to the nonessentials, times do, and sometimes should, change.

Yes, but immemorial customs don’t, as they are just that: immemorial, especially when they come from St. Paul and Sacred Scripture. This wouldn’t be the first time the Church has become lax in enforcing it’s own laws. Look at certain periods in the Middle Ages. Shoot, just look at how many annulments are granted today. Laxity is a disease, and unfortunately it is prominent in certain sectors of the Church today.

 

[dixieagle]

The Church in her *“weakness” *has stopped requiring it.

The Church in her wisdom has stopped requiring it. Wear one if you want, but otherwise…case closed until such time as a new rule is promulgated.

 

[Sure]

Yes, but immemorial customs don’t, as they are just that: immemorial, especially when they come from St. Paul and Sacred Scripture. This wouldn’t be the first time the Church has become lax in enforcing it’s own laws. Look at certain periods in the Middle Ages. Shoot, just look at how many annulments are granted today. Laxity is a disease, and unfortunately it is prominent in certain sectors of the Church today.

Then women should always wear headcoverings. The custom was not “when at Mass” it was always. Women did not leave the home without a scarf or hat or veil even 60 years ago.

What settles this debate is the authoritative statement by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith subsequently published in AAS 0 (1977):

Another objection is based upon the transitory character that one claims to see today in some of the prescriptions of Saint Paul concerning women, and upon the difficulties that some aspects of his teaching raise in this regard. But it must be noted that these ordinances, probably inspired by the customs of the period, concern scarcely more than disciplinary practices of minor importance, such as the obligation imposed upon women to wear a veil on the head (1 Cor 11:2-6); such requirements no longer have a normative value.

ewtn.com/library/CURIA/CDFINSIG.HTM

So, here we have an authoritative document from the Church clearly communicating that veils are no longer required. This was then confirmed when the requirement was eliminated from the 1983 Code of Canon Law.

You can wear a veil if you want to, but you don’t have to. And anyone who says you must, is completely incorrect.

 

[latinmasslover]

When and if a directive comes from the Vatican that we should again start covering our heads, I will, gladly. In the meantime, I refuse to see “scandal” where there is none, and will not judge whether others are “truly humble” by what they wear, or not, on their heads.

Your answer says it all.

A woman who doesn’t where a head covering isn’t necessarily not humble…ignorant of Church practice.

 

[latinmasslover]

The Church in her wisdom has stopped requiring it. Wear one if you want, but otherwise…case closed until such time as a new rule is promulgated.

It wasn’t wisdom, it was cowardice. Wear one or don’t. Sit in the presence of God or kneel, or stand, or jump around a campfire nude. Do what you want, as that’s been the spririt from Rome (which does seem to finally be turning around). Rome has lately not wanted to be the Parent but the friend, in following the advice of modern psychiatry vs. God.

One doesn’t do away with God’s words and a constant practice within the Church because women want to flaunt their hair during worship.

Directives from Rome will come as soon as reverence and piety become number one, but while being friends with everyone is the priority, well…the results are obvious.

 

[Eilish_Maura]

It wasn’t wisdom, it was cowardice. Wear one or don’t. Sit in the presence of God or kneel, or stand, or jump around a campfire nude. Do what you want, as that’s been the spririt from Rome (which does seem to finally be turning around). Rome has lately not wanted to be the Parent but the friend, in following the advice of modern psychiatry vs. God.

One doesn’t do away with God’s words and a constant practice within the Church because women want to flaunt their hair during worship.

Directives from Rome will come as soon as reverence and piety become number one, but while being friends with everyone is the priority, well…the results are obvious.

**Jump around a campfire nude?

Flaunt their hair during worship?

???**

 

[Sure]

It wasn’t wisdom, it was cowardice. Wear one or don’t. Sit in the presence of God or kneel, or stand, or jump around a campfire nude. Do what you want, as that’s been the spririt from Rome (which does seem to finally be turning around). Rome has lately not wanted to be the Parent but the friend, in following the advice of modern psychiatry vs. God.

One doesn’t do away with God’s words and a constant practice within the Church because women want to flaunt their hair during worship.

Directives from Rome will come as soon as reverence and piety become number one, but while being friends with everyone is the priority, well…the results are obvious.

Look, either Christ gave the Church authority over disciplines or he didn’t. You don’t get to claim that something still applies when it doesn’t. The Church has spoken. You don’t have to like it, but you have to accept that they have the authority to do so.

And flaunting hair??? Nude campfires??? What planet are you from? Nothing like a little intelligent discourse!

 

[dixieagle]

Your answer says it all.

A woman who doesn’t where a head covering isn’t necessarily not humble…ignorant of Church practice.

Your previous statement: “If a woman is truly humble before God then she will not have a problem covering her head. Pride is the ultimate reason for not wearing one.”

You seem to contradict yourself. You seem to be clearly stating that humble women cover their heads…prideful ones do not.

I’m a little confused. What do you mean by “your answer says it all?” And, are you saying that women who don’t where" (sic) head coverings are ignorant of church practice?

 

[Indyann]

**Jump around a campfire nude?

Flaunt their hair during worship?

???**

Our parish only dances around the campfire nude when we light the Paschall candle.

I flaunted my hair once, and it caught on fire

 

[LilyM]

True…just in the presence of the Vicar of Christ on earth. He and his representatives seemed to understand that, with regard to the nonessentials, times do, and sometimes should, change.

latinmass, you’re essentially saying you know better how to interpret the Bible than the Holy Father himself, who surely personally determined that women need not veil to meet him.

You’re saying you know better than the Holy Father who promulgated the code of Canon Law which did away with the headcovering requirement

And you’re ALSO saying you know better than the Vatican which ALSO stated explicitly that headcovering is a changeable norm and not immemorial custom.

I have only one question - who died and made your opinion more authoritative than that of the Holy Father and the Vatican?

 

[Greg72]

latinmass, you’re essentially saying you know better how to interpret the Bible than the Holy Father himself, who surely personally determined that women need not veil to meet him.

You’re saying you know better than the Holy Father who promulgated the code of Canon Law which did away with the headcovering requirement

And you’re ALSO saying you know better than the Vatican which ALSO stated explicitly that headcovering is a changeable norm and not immemorial custom.

I have only one question - who died and made your opinion more authoritative than that of the Holy Father and the Vatican?

The Holy Father can make allowances for all sorts of reasons - right up to communion in the hand, etc…

That doesn’t mean that one way is as good as another.

Why do women feel the need to reveal their hair in Church? When did it start?

Before my conversion, I went to the United Church of Canada - an extremely liberal Christian community - and the older women there covered their heads in Church while the younger ones did not.

To me, it looks like a cultural shift of some sort occured and the Vatican simply reacted to it. So, yes, technically it is perfectly legal for women to bare their heads in a Roman Catholic Church - but please don’t give the impression that the idea of it came from the Vicar of Christ on earth.

 

[IrishAm]

Can’t begin to express how sorry I am I even started this thread. Sigh.

 

[latinmasslover]

Your previous statement: “If a woman is truly humble before God then she will not have a problem covering her head. Pride is the ultimate reason for not wearing one.”

You seem to contradict yourself. You seem to be clearly stating that humble women cover their heads…prideful ones do not.

I’m a little confused. What do you mean by “your answer says it all?” And, are you saying that women who don’t where" (sic) head coverings are ignorant of church practice?

I apologize for the ambiguity. Prideful women throw fits about covering their heads. Women who truly love God and throw fits anyway are ignorant of why our heads are to be covered.

The act of covering the head is an act of humility. Yes, some where it for show. Then again, some people attend Mass on Sunday simply for show, and become EOEMHC for the same reason.

Men are not to cover their heads, women are. This is what the Holy Ghost said through St. Paul. I see no reason to go against it in favor of modern mentality which has proven to be most unhealthy for the Church. My question to all who don’t where it is this: Why not? God says to do it, the Church has always done it…only recently (which isn’t a good sign) was a choice given. Why not cover your head? “The Church says we don’t have to” isn’t a reason.