Women and head coverings

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Mercy_and_Grace said:
:confused: I can’t help but wonder - why hasn’t there been any effort by the Vatican to clear this up? Also, when you see pictures of the faithful meeting with our Holy Father, the women are almost always veiled. Why for the Holy Father and not for God, our Father?:confused:
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But to 95% of Catholics or more it’s abundantly clear already - one does not need to veil up for Mass. Why does the Vatican need to clear anything up?

As for veiling for the Holy Father, well why do women wear expensive ballgowns and drip with diamonds to go attend the Oscars or Grammys and not when (as presumably at least some of them do sometimes!) they go to Mass - OR meet the Holy Father?

Clearly a less formal dress code does not always mean less respectful. And again, 95% of people understand as much.
 
LilyM said:
But to 95% of Catholics or more it’s abundantly clear already - one does not need to veil up for Mass. Why does the Vatican need to clear anything up?

As for veiling for the Holy Father, well why do women wear expensive ballgowns and drip with diamonds to go attend the Oscars or Grammys and not when (as presumably at least some of them do sometimes!) they go to Mass - OR meet the Holy Father?

Clearly a less formal dress code does not always mean less respectful. And again, 95% of people understand as much.
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LilyM,

Why would one dress up to meet with the Holy Father, but not do so when attending the Holy Sacrafice of the Mass where Jesus comes among us? Is the Holy Father more important than God? You might view this as an attempt at twisting your words, and maybe it is, I’m not sure, but this argument is very easily made.

Seriously, I don’t know what it is like to wear a veil, but I believe that just as men should not wear hats in Church women should wear veils.

Catholig
 
LilyM said:
But to 95% of Catholics or more it’s abundantly clear already - one does not need to veil up for Mass. Why does the Vatican need to clear anything up?

As for veiling for the Holy Father, well why do women wear expensive ballgowns and drip with diamonds to go attend the Oscars or Grammys and not when (as presumably at least some of them do sometimes!) they go to Mass - OR meet the Holy Father?
Clearly a less formal dress code does not always mean less respectful. And again, 95% of people understand as much.
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Look,
It really is OK if you don’t wear a headcovering. Really, it is.
A veil is only and OUTWARD expression of respect, piety, humility, call it whatever. It says NOTHING for certain what is inside. Only one who is intimately involved with that person would have any knowledge of their interior disposition.
As a custom. I can only suggest when with the Trads, do as the Trads, when with the NOM’s do as they do.
I notice that in the Anglican Use Parish, it’s 25 with/75 without.
 
This is an interesting thread to me, if only because it has unearthed very old memories.

Nearly 40 years ago, when my Dear Sweet Mother, bless her marvelous soul, took me to Europe for the very first time, and THEN we wouldn’t have DARED to enter any church without AT LEAST a mantilla as a head covering. Yes, a mantilla is just flimsy lace but it was something rather than nothing. I suppose it was the “style” of the time. And to enter a church with a bare head? It just wasn’t done. That would include St. Peter’s in Rome but also every other church we entered along the way. I wouldn’t have DREAMED of going in to any church any other way because I RESPECTED the faith (even if it was not my own) of those that worshiped there. My Mother and I were both Episcopalian at the time, but we wouldn’t have even IMAGINED doing otherwise.

And I have to admit, I lit candles everywhere!

NOW we go to church wearing trousers and head coverings are old fashioned. But have we progressed? And if so, how?

Love, Melanie
 
CherryBomb said:
I would love to, but no one at our parish covers. I would feel like I was trying to draw attention to myself, you know? Maybe I’ll ask my priest about it. I asked in RCIA and they didn’t really know what I was talking about :confused:
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I am currently waiting for an order for a triangular kerchief type thing that is made by a woman at www.headcoverings.com. I think they are unobtrusive enough to blend in a bit better than mantillas, if no one in your parish covers. They are reversible, so I ordered mine in black and kaiki, and another one in denim and navy–that should cover most of my wardrobe! They do also have mantillas as well.
 
I wear my mantilla every Sunday to an NO mass. Once in a while I see another lady or two with chapel caps. The African American ladies in our parish most often wear hats.
I have been doing so for over a year now. People still look at me occasionally. I just smile at them to show them I am not one of those people who is unapproachable. And if they ask I tell them why I wear my cover. Our priests always seems ok with it as well.
If you feel moved by the Spirit to cover at mass (or otherwise), hopefully you will do so. If not so moved, please smile back when you see me smile at you.🙂
 
I have always wondered why it bothers some people when we cover? I don’t stand at the door and ask others to do so or make a big thing of it. Yet it tends to be a controversial thing and not a personal one for some people, men and women.
 
This is fantastic! I was about to ask the same question about head coverings. I am just back with my Catholic faith after a long lost absence. I noticed almost no women were wearing head coverings and felt funny with my headband/ear coverings. Nevertheless, I ordered lace chapel veils because I love the idea of covering my head in church. Then I thought I’m going to stick out like a sore thumb. I’ve seen only one or two intentional head coverings (veils and ONE Easter hat on Easter Sunday…sheesh…I miss Easter bonnets!) My conclusion is that women are being a little defiant. It’s an attitude of, “We don’t have to, so we’re not going to.” Fine, if that makes them happy. I’m starting to wear my lace head coverings as of today’s vigil mass. When I sing in choir, I’ll wear a little hair band covering. Thanks, folks! (I was about to ask a priest if it was okay…)🙂
Rosalie
 
RosalieM said:
This is fantastic! I was about to ask the same question about head coverings. I am just back with my Catholic faith after a long lost absence. I noticed almost no women were wearing head coverings and felt funny with my headband/ear coverings. Nevertheless, I ordered lace chapel veils because I love the idea of covering my head in church. Then I thought I’m going to stick out like a sore thumb. I’ve seen only one or two intentional head coverings (veils and ONE Easter hat on Easter Sunday…sheesh…I miss Easter bonnets!) My conclusion is that women are being a little defiant. It’s an attitude of, “We don’t have to, so we’re not going to.” Fine, if that makes them happy. I’m starting to wear my lace head coverings as of today’s vigil mass. When I sing in choir, I’ll wear a little hair band covering. Thanks, folks! (I was about to ask a priest if it was okay…)🙂
Rosalie
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Rosalie,
I would love to hear more about your “hair band” covering. Are you talking about a head band that holds your hair back off your face? Or is it something more like this pre-tied, 12" headband covering at coveryourhair.com?

http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/yhst-69048406276313_1947_1587447
 
4HisChurch said:
I am currently waiting for an order for a triangular kerchief type thing that is made by a woman at www.headcoverings.com. I think they are unobtrusive enough to blend in a bit better than mantillas, if no one in your parish covers. They are reversible, so I ordered mine in black and kaiki, and another one in denim and navy–that should cover most of my wardrobe! They do also have mantillas as well.
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I like that! It’s a way of covering yourself while at the same time attracting attention to yourself.
 
I didn’t know that I am an “indult Catholic” until today.
On Easter I took a very young 40-year-old friend and her children to a nearby indult Mass. She had never been to a Latin Mass, but because her native language is Spanish, she quickly realized that she understood a lot of the Latin.
At the door, she was loaned a simple white mantilla and she was lovely wearing it. Guess I’m just a sucker for a feminine, ladylike appearing woman.
In México, the older women never stopped wearing a head covering, while among those younger it seems to be an on-again off-again thing.
 
I initially wasn’t going to publicly post this; but I changed my mind. Yesterday I wore a black lace mantilla to Mass for the first time. At first I was self-conscious. There were two women with hats and one elderly lady with a babushka. The rest of the women had uncovered heads. I can only say what I feel undeniably in my heart: the wearing of this lovely lace veil enhanced my experience of the Mass. I am looking forward to wearing other head coverings in different colors, whether they are required or not doesn’t matter to me. p.s. Today on EWTN I saw most of the women taking communion from the Holy Father with no head coverings.
🤷
Rosalie
 
Hey, Rosalie! I remembered that I had a black, long scarf so I wore it today as a “head band with tails”, if you can picture that! No one said anything–not even dh. I think it is a good way to ease into covering, for me.

Re: covering at Mass with the Holy Father–I saw something…I think on Youtube…about the Holy Father’s daily life, and they showed a Mass he said in his private chapel. I was surprised to see the few ladies there were uncovered. 😦
 
When did women lose the head covering in history? Was the reason religion or just changing times?
 
From what I heard, a reporter asked a bishop(?) after Vatican II, whether there would be anything said at the Council about women having to wear head coverings in Church. When the answer was, “No”, the reporter (and everyone else, apparently) took that to mean, it was no longer required. I love your smiley, btw.
 
It is amusing that everyone talks about a veil. Veils were not a common practice, hats were.

It is a fond memory of Easter of getting a new hat and purse.

Try to get a hat now. Oh there are few here and there but hats for women as part of being dressed up is gone.

It was this change in society that caused the change in women wearing hats to church. Just like men don’t wear hats anymore. Now we have a movement of veils. If you want to wear something on your head, I think you should. Those who don’t should be given the same courtesy.

The veils in the bible was not the same as the veils being talked about now. The veils were more like what the Muslim require of their women.
 
Another post-script on this subject:
I’m amazed at what a gratifying experience it was to wear my head covering at mass. I received subtle, positive reactions from the monsignor and priest. I could see a lady looking from the corner of her eye at me, perhaps considering it for herself. I think wearing a head covering, like a small lace scarf or mantilla, could be inspiring for the wearer and for observers. It’s choosing to do something even though the Church may no longer require it. I’d encourage women to give it a try. If you’re not comfortable, forget it. However, if it inspires you, as it does me; then you’ve acquired a precious little gem from the limitless, timeless spiritual treasures of our Holy Mother Church.
👍
 
adrift said:
It is amusing that everyone talks about a veil. Veils were not a common practice, hats were.

It is a fond memory of Easter of getting a new hat and purse.

Try to get a hat now. Oh there are few here and there but hats for women as part of being dressed up is gone.

It was this change in society that caused the change in women wearing hats to church. Just like men don’t wear hats anymore. Now we have a movement of veils. If you want to wear something on your head, I think you should. Those who don’t should be given the same courtesy.

The veils in the bible was not the same as the veils being talked about now. The veils were more like what the Muslim require of their women.
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I have been saying this for years. THANK YOU!
 
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