Why is the mantilla (specifically) so popular among US traditional Catholics?

[Irishmom2]

That sounds very pretty!

 

[DarkLight]

It’s special actually. It’s the same fabric as my confirmation top that I wore for christmases and easters, that was destroyed in the apartment fire last year. So it was very nice to find the fabric on the veils by lily website! I had to call them to have it made, but it came in yesterday and it looks very nice.

 

[HeDa]

I think the mantillas became popular in the late1960s as the fashion for women and girls changed to not wearing hats, gloves and a coat (even in the summer) when leaving the house for errands/work. Ladies in their 80s still talk about the knitted cottongloves they wore even in +30C degrees.

 

[AnaCarolina7]

Idont know but i love my 2 mantillas- Black and another
Beige.
For me it hides the sides if my viewing area so i can lesson distractions. I usually pray the rosary beforemass.

 

[felsguy]

I don’t know. Maybe because we only thought of it as “covering our head in church” and not ‘veiling”?!

Just as some anecdotal information from a (gentle)man older than Phemie, I don’t recall that my sisters or the other girls in grade school wore anything on their heads at daily Mass except hats in the winter but in high school all the girls had beanies (chapel caps?) for daily Mass and if they forgot theirs they usually pinned a kleenex on their head with a bobby pin. My mom and the other ladies religiously (pun intended ) made sure “their heads were covered,” usually with hats or scarves, whenever they were in church, even as the volunteer cleaning squad. I don’t remember seeing veils though or hearing talk of “veiling” back then.

 

[Jen7]

I always wonder why the mantilla is the choice and not the round one for those that wear veils to mass. It would seem that it is a fashion statement although many vehemently deny that is the case.

Definitely a fashion statement for me! It confuses me when ladies swear their mantilla isn’t worn to look nice. Why ever not?! They’re lovely.

 

[Jen7]

I never quite got the denial either, honestly. Us ladies tend to like pretty things, you know? If you’re going to wear a head covering, I never saw much issue with wearing one that you like. And in this era it’s hardly like lace is particularly ostentatious or out of reach for most women.

I ordered a black and gold one recently that’s very nice, in the infinity scarf style. I think it’ll look nice for sundays. Been using a plain ivory kerchief for everyday though.

Sounds lovely!

 

[pulchraesamicamea]

In Korea, we wear medium sized white veils. Veiling is very popular among Korean Catholics. I also wear a medium sized white veil in church.

 

[HomeschoolDad]

For me it hides the sides if my viewing area so i can lessen distractions. I usually pray the rosary before mass.

I had never thought of this aspect before (and not being a woman, it wouldn’t occur to me), but this is wonderful. Thanks for bringing this up.

Not sure what us guys are supposed to do about distractions, though…

Any traditional Catholic guy worth his salt, would find veiled ladies pretty distracting in the first place… “now there’s a woman who could be a good mother to my children, a faithful mate to me, and help me get to heaven!”.

If there’s a single guy who doesn’t think that way… he needs to spend some time in Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament and ask himself why he doesn’t think that way.

 

[Sarcelle]

Is it forbidden to wear a mantilla with slacks? Are mantillas only mean to be worn with skirts or dresses?

I heard of women being accosted by church busybodies because they were wearing a mantilla but not wearing a skirt or dress.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Is it forbidden to wear a mantilla with slacks?

Nope. I’ve seen older ladies at daily Mass in jeans with a mantilla on their head.

There are also a goodly number of ladies who attend TLM in modest trousers. Although you’ll see a lot of women in skirts, it’s not a requirement that women wear skirts rather than trousers. Of course almost all of them have a head covering on whether they’re in trousers or skirts.

As for “Church busybodies” they’ll always find something to neb into. The TLM parish here has an explicit note in their bulletin that if you think someone is dressed inappropriately you are to tell the priest and he will handle it as he sees fit; you are NOT to approach the person yourself. Probably to avoid this kind of gunk where some person decides to be the self-appointed fashion police.

 

[Anne1964]

I wear a mantilla with slacks in the winter when I attend the TLM and no one has ever commented on it.

 

[HomeschoolDad]

Is it forbidden to wear a mantilla with slacks? Are mantillas only mean to be worn with skirts or dresses?

I heard of women being accosted by church busybodies because they were wearing a mantilla but not wearing a skirt or dress.

The “bifurcated lower-body garments for women — yes or no?” battle has been fought for probably 100 years now among more traditionally-oriented Catholics, and it will probably continue to be fought until the parousia. People rarely change their minds about this matter either way.

 

[neophyte]

Why is the mantilla (specifically) so popular among US traditional Catholics?

I don’t know, but I wouldn’t be bothered if they were more popular. I find them to be a particularly elegant and lovely accessory that also reminds one of the mystery and sacredness of feminine beauty.

 

[Jen7]

Is it forbidden to wear a mantilla with slacks? Are mantillas only mean to be worn with skirts or dresses?

I heard of women being accosted by church busybodies because they were wearing a mantilla but not wearing a skirt or dress.

I wear my mantilla with slacks. Why not? Besides… part of me enjoys messing with the picky people who expect mantillas to always go with skirts. Heh. Heh. Whatever I feel like wearing to church that day, the mantilla goes with. If someone says it looks silly tell them you’re a trend-setter. You can always remind yourself that it looks way better than the trend of shorts that have the pockets hanging out the bottom. Lol.

 

[Jen7]

The TLM parish here has an explicit note in their bulletin that if you think someone is dressed inappropriately you are to tell the priest

The poor priest!!

 

[DarkLight]

If you really want to confuse people, ask how to keep a mantilla on a shaved head. I’ve kept my hair buzzed down flat for like 3 years now.

 

[Jen7]

If you really want to confuse people, ask how to keep a mantilla on a shaved head. I’ve kept my hair buzzed down flat for like 3 years now.

I love it! So how do you keep it on?! I use wig clips but I have hair. I’m intrigued by your situation & want to know what you’re doing so I can put a teeny mantilla on my bald baby.

 

[DarkLight]

DarkLight:

If you really want to confuse people, ask how to keep a mantilla on a shaved head. I’ve kept my hair buzzed down flat for like 3 years now.

I love it! So how do you keep it on?! I use wig clips but I have hair. I’m intrigued by your situation & want to know what you’re doing so I can put a teeny mantilla on my bald baby.

Hah! Honestly if I’m using the regular triangular kind, I’ll either tie the corners back behind my head (like a kerchief) or attach some ribbons or something to use as a tie. But I tend to prefer either long scarves or an infinity scarf style.

 

[Jen7]

Hah! Honestly if I’m using the regular triangular kind, I’ll either tie the corners back behind my head (like a kerchief) or attach some ribbons or something to use as a tie. But I tend to prefer either long scarves or an infinity scarf style.

Ah! The baby wouldn’t go for that. But I have been thinking of popping a little crocheted cap on her. It has a pink rose on the front… :smiling_face_with_three_hearts: