Why head covering?

[Eilish_Maura]

We are never outside the presence of God, for He is omnipresent, but He is present in a REAL way in the tabernacle. Wouldn’t you agree?

No, we are nothing and can’t possibly compete with God’s glory in any way, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t act as if we recognize this fact.

If a majestic oak tree could lower its eyes, cover its beauty (which came from the Creator) and bow down before God in submission, it would. The difference is that we human beings are able to do so.

Difference is that we are made in God’s image and likeness - are oak trees?

The rationales do not make sense to me at all.

 

[lizaanne]

In my opinion, wearing a veil is an act which presupposes a recognition of a woman’s innate feminine beauty. Regardless of her exterior appearance, a woman is created to be beautiful, and therefore, it is a sign of humility to cover that beauty – if only symbolically, when in the presence of the glory of God. A woman doesn’t cover up her hair because she thinks it’s the most beautiful part of her and therefore might distract others. A woman symbolically covers her innate beauty because she doesn’t wish to distract from the glory of God. If I were a woman I’d wear a veil, just as a man would take off his hat when entering a church, if he were the hat-wearing sort.

This is the most beautiful explaination of this devotion that I’ve ever heard. Thank you for posting this!

I understand you completely.

~Liza

 

[IrishAm]

So . . . in case anyone is interested . . . having started this thread, taken your advice and admonitions seriously . . . and sometimes gagged a bit at some of the suggestions put forth as “Gospel truth” . . . this is what I did.

Our parish had its first Tridentine Mass last night. It was wonderful. The solemnity, the holiness, the FULL HOUSE, were all amazing. I felt the ancient link between saints and sinners, my Church and my God.

I wore a head covering. Not a frilly one, but a woven scarf that probably made me look slightly Muslim. And my response to the experience was as follows:

• I am not a mantilla or lacy headpiece person. They are not my ethnic tradition, and feel much too juvenile for my persona.
• I was not one whit holier with the head covering than I am without. The covering did not make me more acceptable to God.
• HOWEVER, it was of great value in this particular venue. Wearing the head covering increased the solitary prayer nature of the Tridentine mass, it was as if the covering placed me within a spiritual cocoon, allowing me to place myself before my God. It increased my focus and deepened my prayer. Wearing the head covering was almost a cloistered experience, and I appreciated it very much.

So, yes, I will wear it again during the Tridentine Mass, but not likely at Masses where I am appropriately more connected to my brothers and sisters in Christ. And I will find one that, stylistically, is somewhere between a burka and a Quinceañera headpiece.

Thank you for all your (name removed by moderator)ut. (And my opinions are, of course, subject to change. )

 

[Eilish_Maura]

Wearing the head covering increased the solitary prayer nature of the Tridentine mass, it was as if the covering placed me within a spiritual cocoon, allowing me to place myself before my God. It increased my focus and deepened my prayer. Wearing the head covering was almost a cloistered experience, and I appreciated it very much.

So, yes, I will wear it again during the Tridentine Mass, but not likely at Masses where I am appropriately more connected to my brothers and sisters in Christ. And I will find one that, stylistically, is somewhere between a burka and a Quinceañera headpiece.

These two segments generate some interesting jumping off points.

Should mass ever be solitary prayer?

Should we ever be less ‘connected’ to our brothers and sisters in Christ?

 

[IrishAm]

These two segments generate some interesting jumping off points.

Should mass ever be solitary prayer?

Should we ever be less ‘connected’ to our brothers and sisters in Christ?

Perhps I should have differentiated between spiritual and physical or social connections. Sometimes we are far more communal than others, and I think that is appropriate. A parish priest, for example, is much more “connected” in this sense than one in a monastic environment. Both serve the people of God.

 

[Eilish_Maura]

Perhps I should have differentiated between spiritual and physical or social connections. Sometimes we are far more communal than others, and I think that is appropriate. A parish priest, for example, is much more “connected” in this sense than one in a monastic environment. Both serve the people of God.

I have a friend who is a hermit/monk/priest - he is totally connected - sometimes more so than an average parish priest.

 

[Paten]

Any positives that might come from a woman covering her head at Mass are more than erased by those who suggest those who do not are doing something wrong, or something less than those that do.

 

[IrishAm]

I have a friend who is a hermit/monk/priest - he is totally connected - sometimes more so than an average parish priest.

Give me a break. You have been Catholic long enough to know the jargon and know that I am not splitting hairs here.

Oh, wait, I forgot. Splitting hairs is the game some people play . . .

 

[IrishAm]

Give me a break. You have been Catholic long enough to know the jargon and know that I am not splitting hairs here.

Oh, wait, I forgot. Splitting hairs is the game some people play . . .

Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa – to Elish Maura – I’m quite cranky tonight . . . don’t mean to sound unkind or uncharitable (especially since I have a child – now quite grown – named Maura) . . . this thread has made me more “touchy” than usual . . Maybe I will bury myself under a blanket and claim it as a head covering . . .

 

[SemiTrad]

Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa – to Elish Maura – I’m quite cranky tonight . . . don’t mean to sound unkind or uncharitable (especially since I have a child – now quite grown – named Maura) . . . this thread has made me more “touchy” than usual . . Maybe I will bury myself under a blanket and claim it as a head covering . . .

IrishAm,

Your comments about your experience of wearing a headcovering at mass was beautiful and inspiring to read. Thank you for that, and thank you for this post.

I’m new to this forum, and I see now that there have been many threads on the subject of veiling for women. Judging from the comments, this is a touchy subject for many people.

Many arguments for veiling seem to imply that wearing one would be a more pious, or holy, or obedient act. This in itself is offensive to some, because it is assumed that the opposite would be true. Nobody wants to be considered less pious than anyone else.

The fact that it is now a voluntary practice for Catholic women makes veiling a very humbling thing to do. For a woman to begin to wear a veil these days, she would have to overcome her own inhibition, potential embarrassment of looking funny and feeling awkward and possible criticism from others because she might be making them look bad. Wow – that’s a lot of baggage associated with a piece of lace!

I’d say to all women: wear one if you want to, but give yourself time to get used to it. However awkward it feels, it does look nice, and people are busy praying themselves to notice anyway. For those who don’t like it: Don’t wear one if you don’t want to. It’s not required, and it’s not a reflection of your piety if you choose not to wear one.

 

[latinmass]

First, let’s take care of your straw men. No one said any of these practices are wrong – only you are in an attempt to make your point. Trying to use straw men fools no one, and makes the user look extremely ignorant. Use them again with me and I’ll ignore them altogether.

Now to your question. No one is saying that “worshiping in all ways in a pre V2 manner” is wrong. Again, only you are. You error though when you do two things:

Insisting that YOUR preferred way is inherently “better” than what the Church actually directs. If you attend a Mass/Liturgy whose official Church rubrics says to stand – then stand. Don’t assign yourself as the arbiter of what is “better.” Just follow the Church.

Also if there are legitimate options allowed by the Church such as receiving in one’s hand or tongue, don’t place yourself ahead of the Church by pronouncing one to be superior to the other. Make your choice and stop judging others or the Church. Simply put, you are not qualified to suggest one is better than the other when the Church allows both.

We are in agreement then. Thank you for answering my question. There is nothing wrong with one worshiping in a pre-V2 manner. To set the record straight for you. I never said worshiping in a pre-V2 manner is better, I said I choose to worship this way do to all the confusion these days to be safe. I choose to worship as all the Saints have for almost 2,000 years. If you choose to worship in the modern ways of the Church God bless you. I aplogize if you misinterpreted something I said to make you feel you needed to defend something which you do not.

 

[Eilish_Maura]

We are in agreement then. Thank you for answering my question. There is nothing wrong with one worshiping in a pre-V2 manner. To set the record straight for you. I never said worshiping in a pre-V2 manner is better, I said I choose to worship this way do to all the confusion these days to be safe. I choose to worship as all the Saints have for almost 2,000 years. If you choose to worship in the modern ways of the Church God bless you. I aplogize if you misinterpreted something I said to make you feel you needed to defend something which you do not.

I don’t understand what you mean by ‘to be safe’.

TIA for the clarification.

 

[stayathomemommy]

it was as if the covering placed me within a spiritual cocoon, allowing me to place myself before my God. It increased my focus and deepened my prayer. Wearing the head covering was almost a cloistered experience, and I appreciated it very much.
quote]

This is what ultimately convinced me that I could never enter a church ever again without my headcovered. I could feel the pride of the angels and Jesus as a appeared before him like this. I could never go back. We do not go to a TLM mass so it is very humbling being the only one, besides Mother Mary, wearing a veil.

One day i realized that I wasnt the only one that before me Mary was the only one covering her head and I had finally opened my eyes and joined her in this beautiful tradition in devotion to her son. Makes you feel less alone.

 

[Eilish_Maura]

IrishAm;3213016:

it was as if the covering placed me within a spiritual cocoon, allowing me to place myself before my God. It increased my focus and deepened my prayer. Wearing the head covering was almost a cloistered experience, and I appreciated it very much.
quote]

This is what ultimately convinced me that I could never enter a church ever again without my headcovered. I could feel the pride of the angels and Jesus as a appeared before him like this. I could never go back. We do not go to a TLM mass so it is very humbling being the only one, besides Mother Mary, wearing a veil.

One day i realized that I wasnt the only one that before me Mary was the only one covering her head and I had finally opened my eyes and joined her in this beautiful tradition in devotion to her son. Makes you feel less alone.

Mary did not cover her head because of her son.

 

[LilyM]

stayathomemommy;3216095:

Mary did not cover her head because of her son.

I’m sure Mary covered her head well before her son was born - before she even knew he was coming.

And I suppose all of Jesus’ other female followers only started covering when they met him? And all those Roman ladies only when they became Christian? If you know any Greek, Roman or Jewish history you’ll know that it isn’t the case.

Yes it’s respectful, yes I would encourage everyone who wants to do it to do so, but please don’t tell me you’re closer to imitating Mary by doing so than I am.

Why don’t you wear ankle-length dresses if that’s the case? (I’m sure she’d never heard of a skirt, certainly never uncovered ankle or knee, let alone wearing trousers).

Extending the logic - why don’t you speak Aramaic? Why don’t you call yourself Mary for crying out loud. We can be absolutely certain the last two are applicable at least - they would, by your logic, bring us closer to her. Except they don’t - the desire to be closer to Mary is what matters, regardless of what behaviour you may indulge in to do so.

 

[lizaanne]

Extending the logic - why don’t you speak Aramaic? Why don’t you call yourself Mary for crying out loud. We can be absolutely certain the last two are applicable at least - they would, by your logic, bring us closer to her. Except they don’t - the desire to be closer to Mary is what matters, regardless of what behaviour you may indulge in to do so.

Why don’t you chill out? Why are you getting SO excited and upset over someone else’s personal experience? No one directed it toward you, and no one said you were less holy if you didn’t agree with it.

I just can’t understand all the angst over this. Wear it if you want to , don’t if you don’t. It’s really pretty simple.

~Liza

 

[Eilish_Maura]

Why don’t you chill out? Why are you getting SO excited and upset over someone else’s personal experience? No one directed it toward you, and no one said you were less holy if you didn’t agree with it.

I just can’t understand all the angst over this. Wear it if you want to , don’t if you don’t. It’s really pretty simple.

~Liza

I am trying to get a better understanding.

That is not allowed?

 

[Eilish_Maura]

Why don’t you chill out? Why are you getting SO excited and upset over someone else’s personal experience? No one directed it toward you, and no one said you were less holy if you didn’t agree with it.

I just can’t understand all the angst over this. Wear it if you want to , don’t if you don’t. It’s really pretty simple.

~Liza

BTW - the quote you used was NOT mine.

I asked about feeling “safe”.

 

[LilyM]

Why don’t you chill out? Why are you getting SO excited and upset over someone else’s personal experience? No one directed it toward you, and no one said you were less holy if you didn’t agree with it.

I just can’t understand all the angst over this. Wear it if you want to , don’t if you don’t. It’s really pretty simple.

~Liza

This was actually based on my comment, not on yours Eilish.

Liza, we’ve had people on this very thread saying that the custom of veiling was still binding because if St Paul said to do it then it must be. So I dont’ think proveiling people have necessarily all quite got the message yet. This is in spite of everything that has been said by the Church over the last 25 years to indicate the exact opposite.

The poster I responded to was making another version of the same argument - essentially saying that if Mary did it then we must or should do the same. Just making abundantly clear that it in fact isnt a valid point.

Yes I’ve been a bit extreme but there is a HECK of a lot of implication - and not a little outright saying - both on this and other threads about veiling - that veiling is either necessary or that to do so is better than not.

 

[CradleCath]

Borrowing an explanation from another religion/culture I had been exposed the idea of reserving seeing a woman’s hair for her husband was tied to hair on other parts of the body and that is what made going uncovered so shameful.

The above “reason” is absurd. If such were the case, women would not have been allowed to appear in public without a head covering.

The reason for the now extinct custom of wearing a hat or veil during Mass is comes from St. Paul’s words to the Corinthians:
1 Corinthians 11:4-16 :

4Every man praying or prophesying with his head covered, disgraceth his head.

***5But every woman praying or prophesying with her head not covered, disgraceth her head: for it is all one as if she were shaven.***
6For if a woman be not covered, let her be shorn. But if it be a shame to a woman to be shorn or made bald, let her cover her head.

7The man indeed ought not to cover his head, because he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of the man.

8For the man is not of the woman, but the woman of the man.

9For the man was not created for the woman, but the woman for the man.

10Therefore ought the woman to have a power over her head, because of the angels.

11But yet neither is the man without the woman, nor the woman without the man, in the Lord.

12For as the woman is of the man, so also is the man by the woman: but all things of God.

13You yourselves judge: doth it become a woman, to pray unto God uncovered?

14Doth not even nature itself teach you, that a man indeed, if he nourish his hair, it is a shame unto him?

15But if a woman nourish her hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering.

16But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor the church of God