Why is there a covering on the statue of Mary during the Easter Triduum?

[dandn5000]

Hello, all. I haven’t posted in a long time, but I figured the best time to start back up was when I had a question.

My parish was built 130-odd years ago, and has three altars with three tabernacles. The main, center altar and tabernacles are the only ones used today; the other two flank the main one and aren’t used. The one on the left has a large statue of Joseph above it, and the one on the right has a statue of Mary holding the child Jesus. On Holy Thursday, a large, white curtain is hung in front of the statue of Mary, and that tabernacle is the place where the Body of Christ is placed after it is removed from the main tabernacle. This curtain remains in place on Good Friday, but it is removed by the Easter Vigil Mass.

I have a friend that came to Good Friday service who isn’t Catholic and she was curious as to why there was a curtain hung. I didn’t really have a solid answer for it. I haven’t ever been to another parish for Holy Thursday or Good Friday, so I didn’t know if it was a local custom or if there was an instruction for it. In either case, I don’t know why there is a curtain there in the first place. Does anybody else’s parish do something similar, and does anybody know why it is done?

 

[dixibehr]

My understanding is that from the Fifth Sunday in Lent all the statutes and crucifixes and such in the church are veiled until Pascha, or possibly the Eve in the Latin rite.

 

[Spirithound]

I think it is just statues and depictions of Jesus that are veiled, so since Mary is sculpted holding Baby Jesus there, then the whole statue is veiled.

 

[Holly3278]

My understanding is that from the Fifth Sunday in Lent all the statutes and crucifixes and such in the church are veiled until Pascha, or possibly the Eve in the Latin rite.

In my church, they were only veiled on the Triduum.

 

[Gardenman]

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe the statue was covered because that particular altar (and tabernacle) are used as the “Altar of Repose” from after Holy Thursday night mass until Easter Sunday. A vigil of the faithful parishioners is maintained for this time frame with someone(s) always present with the Eucharist until Easter Mass begins.

My church doesn’t “veil” or cover the statue itself. The entire wall where the statue is, is covered with a white drape for the period mentioned, then removed for Easter Sunday.

It isn’t done to “discount” or “downplay” Our Lady by any means whatsoever. I suppose they could use the other side altar of St. Joseph for the same reason. (?)

 

[Psalm45_9]

The USSCB permits the veiling of images, ie statues of the saints and crucifixes, from the 5th Sunday in Lent, to the Easter Vigil. Although the crucifixes are to be unveiled on Good Friday for venearation of the cross. Look up “passiontide” in the Catholic Encyclopedia, and it will give you some background about this. The last two weeks of Lent are a subseason known as “Passiontide.” From the 5th Sunday in Lent until the Easter Vigil, we begin to focus on the Passion of Christ. As a sign of mourning, the Church is given the option of covering her images during this period.

This practice stems from the old funeral practice of covering pictures and reminders of the deceased at wakes. Since wakes are no longer held in the home of the deceased, this practice no longer continues, and its meaning has become lost.