Women covering their heads at Mass

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MichelleTherese:
I used to cover my head all of the time (at a bigger parish). I’d love to do it again but I don’t want to have another “war” going on at my parish. I feel like I’ve turned into a clone with my uncovered head and taking-commuion-in-the-hand, two things I didn’t want to do. But…it’s such a hard choice to “fit in” or cause trouble. Ugh!
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Just do it, and don’t make a big deal out of it.

I think the only way one would be “disruptive” is if they covered their heads in order to make a statement, rather than to do what they felt comfortable with in front of God.

Women at may parish often wear veils and hats in some instances because their hair needs combing…
 
I think personal modesty is great, if covering your head means alot to you, and you feel called to do it, you should. Not everyone feels the need to do this. I am modest in other ways, but have respect for women who choose to wear a veil or hat. If people are distracted by modesty they need to get over it, I am more distracted by the lack thereof! Be brave!
 
Melman:
For the second time today: what do you hope to accomplish by posting pictures with no other meaningful contribution?
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Um… what do you mean, “no other meaningful contribution?”

It’s meaningful to anyone who hasn’t ever SEEN a mantilla (which is what that lace scarf is called back when I wore it to Masses before Vatican II) and how it’s worn.

As a little girl in the 50’s and early 60’s, I wore a small one that was round – not falling beyond the tips of my ears. Used about a bazillion bobby pins to hold it on top of my head. When trying to put those bobby pins in so that they would hold, sometimes I accidentally poked my scalp.

That’s how I learned the term “offer it up” – that’s what Mom told me to do when I yelled ouch! :o

I knew I was becoming an adult not because of what my femine body was fixing to start doing, but because now Mom let me wear a mantilla that was long, just like the one in that picture!

Sometimes Mom and us girls would wear a scarf on our heads – folded in half – in a triangular shape so that we could tie two corners of the scarf under our chin and let the third corner of the scarf hang down behind our head.

Wish I had a picture of that kind.

I support that person for clarifying her post with a picture of what she’s talking about.

Thank you.
 
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Crusader:
Just do it, and don’t make a big deal out of it.

I think the only way one would be “disruptive” is if they covered their heads in order to make a statement, rather than to do what they felt comfortable with in front of God.

Women at may parish often wear veils and hats in some instances because their hair needs combing…
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I concur,
Just do it. Both are acceptable. I think you are getting too hung up on your appearance and what others think. If you rattle on and on about why you do it, the others will make you uncomfortable as you make too much of nothing. If it makes you feel good and it is not disruptive then wear one. Same with receiving communion. If you wish to receive on the tongue by all means do. Again, keep your lips sealed about why you do what you do. Don’t grandstand.

It’s not a reason to carry on as though it were a crusade or something. I think the constant whining on message boards back and forth on such issues has you feeling confused. Your parish I hope is not as opinionated and brash as some of the more off the wall people trashing things on a message board.Your reverence is to God, not man. As long as you are not being disruptive, and it is permitted by the priest, dioceses and church (which both are) it is Holy and good.

I do both when the mood strikes me. Lord help the ninny that would even bring it up. I certainly will not and they don’t either btw. Relax, and wear your veil. Smile and keep praising God. 😉
 
<<what do you mean, “no other meaningful contribution?” … I support that person for clarifying her post with a picture of what she’s talking about. >>

Except that the picture-post in question was that person’s first contribution to the thread. It did not appear to be in response to anyone in particular, and wasn’t clarifying any previous post. So what point was he/she trying to make?
 
I must say that we could all respond with more charity when we disagree. I know it takes a little more effort to be tactful and charitable but it seems we would be setting a much better Christian example for those non-Catholics who visit forums if we were kinder to each other in our responses.

Sometimes I just cringe when I read not the context of the responses but the tone.
 
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Crusader:
Just do it, and don’t make a big deal out of it.

I think the only way one would be “disruptive” is if they covered their heads in order to make a statement, rather than to do what they felt comfortable with in front of God.

Women at may parish often wear veils and hats in some instances because their hair needs combing…
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Um… nobody knows whether anyone who’s wearing a mantilla (that’s the name in Spanish for the lace scarf where I grew up) at Mass is trying to make a statement by wearing that mantilla!

It’s not like folks who recently wore a rainbow sash in line for Communion as a way of insisting that the Church give them Communion even though they are “out as a gay person practicing homosexual sex acts and proud of it… so you better give me Communion.”

So… what I (and I suppose other women) who wish to wear a mantilla want to do is just have a more solemn and prayerful and worshipful sense at Mass.

If I wore a lace scarf (mantilla) again to Mass (the first time since Vatican II and women started to not wear them any more), I’d say that is MUCH more respectful of “meeting Jesus at Mass” than any fancy, dressed up clothes.

I wear clean jeans, clean tennis shoes, and a clean top to Mass.

I don’t need to “dress up” for Mass as a way of making a statement by my clothing.

However, wearing a mantilla just does something wonderful for helping me feel more worshipful.

I’m not wearing a mantilla these days especially and only because I do not want to be disruptful.

Like folks who insist on grabbing my hand at the Lord’s prayer when holding hands is NOT part of the rubrics of Mass.

See what happens when the rubrics are not followed… and the people in the pews are not educated about what the rubrics are about that… and even when some priests encourage that hand-holding kumbaya thing?

I’m hoping that I’m makig sense, here?
 
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dcs:
It’s not nonsense at all. Do you think Laura Bush wore the veil by choice when she and Pres. Bush met with the Pope? (It is also a requirement that married women wear black and unmarried wear white, but that is neither here nor there.)

I didn’t say that it was a requirement. Nevertheless, I feel confident in recommending it since it was explicitly recommended by St. Paul. As to “better or worse,” that’s a matter of opinion; and your opinion is neither better nor worse than mine. 😉
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Just a thought…your probably both too young to make me picture you as Paul asking me to do anything. I shall follow my idea as to wear one, not wear one, and the color and the style I choose. 😃 😃 I don’t pick your football uniforms out. Leave my headgear to me and my fellow woman worshipers. 😉
 
In several posts above, Crusader said there is no requirement for women who meet the Pope to cover their heads. This is incorrect.

He may be failing to make a distinction between visiting St. Peter’s, attending a public audience, and meeting the Pope in private.

To get into St. Peter’s women (and men) must not have bare shoulders or legs. No headcovering is required of women. The chief issue here is modesty (and, frankly, trying to minimize the “slobbiness” of tourists).

To get into a public Wednesday audience the requirements are slightly stricter. Still, no headcovering is required.

When it comes to a private audience with the Pope, what matters is the formality of the occasion. For the most formal or official (state) visits, a woman must wear a long-sleeved, full-length black dress with a black mantilla. For less formal visits, a woman must wear a mantilla along with a long-sleeved black dress that is calf- or knee-length.
 
I have covered my head in the presence of Our Lord (whether Mass or Adoration) for the last 6-7 years. It was a personal choice. I had a calling to modesty, and I answered it. It was a little uncomfortable for me because only some of the old ladies did it, but I got over it. Soon, many of the women (and young girls) in the parish were doing it. In some of the more liberal parishes I’ve visited, some women look at me like I have three eyes. I don’t wear a full mantilla to those places, because I don’t want to draw attention to myself, but a small chapel cap.

FYI, it’s not that it’s been “done away with,” it’s just never been formally addressed. Kind of like holding hands during the Our Father. 🙂

It has to be a personal calling, but if you are called to do it, perhaps it’s Our Lady nudging you.
 
Karl Keating:
In several posts above, Crusader said there is no requirement for women who meet the Pope to cover their heads. This is incorrect.

He may be failing to make a distinction between visiting St. Peter’s, attending a public audience, and meeting the Pope in private.

To get into St. Peter’s women (and men) must not have bare shoulders or legs. No headcovering is required of women. The chief issue here is modesty (and, frankly, trying to minimize the “slobbiness” of tourists).

To get into a public Wednesday audience the requirements are slightly stricter. Still, no headcovering is required.

When it comes to a private audience with the Pope, what matters is the formality of the occasion. For the most formal or official (state) visits, a woman must wear a long-sleeved, full-length black dress with a black mantilla. For less formal visits, a woman must wear a mantilla along with a long-sleeved black dress that is calf- or knee-length.
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Thanks. I was not aware of that last instance.
 
Detroit Sue:
I have covered my head in the presence of Our Lord (whether Mass or Adoration) for the last 6-7 years. It was a personal choice. I had a calling to modesty, and I answered it. It was a little uncomfortable for me because only some of the old ladies did it, but I got over it. Soon, many of the women (and young girls) in the parish were doing it. In some of the more liberal parishes I’ve visited, some women look at me like I have three eyes. I don’t wear a full mantilla to those places, because I don’t want to draw attention to myself, but a small chapel cap.

FYI, it’s not that it’s been “done away with,” it’s just never been formally addressed. Kind of like holding hands during the Our Father. 🙂

It has to be a personal calling, but if you are called to do it, perhaps it’s Our Lady nudging you.
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When Canon Law was updated in 1983 the need for a woman to cover her head at Mass (#1262.2) was abrogated.

Holding hands during the Lord’s Prayer is an unauthorized addition to the Mass, and is therefore unacceptable.
 
“It’s not a reason to carry on as though it were a crusade or something.”

Good grief! You make me sound rather dorky. Look, I’m not blathering on about wearing a veil at my Parish. I’m talking about it here. I wanted some opinions on weather or not I’d be too disruptive. Also, I am asking for other peoples’ (name removed by moderator)ut, ideas, and feelings about women comvering their heads - independent of me wearing a veil. Since this is a Catholic forum I don’t think that it’s wrong of me to create a thread about a Catholic (small t) tradition. Thank you kindly!

Here’s another question:

I’m aware of what Saint Paul wrote about women covering their heads in church. Since it is commanded by an Apostle and is written down in Scripture, why is it not a command today?

What are your feelings about women not covering their heads at Mass these days?

What about women wearing short skirts, spagetti-strap dresses, and short-shorts to Mass? Should this be stopped or is it ok?

It’s always interesting to hear opinions about things like this. 🙂
 
Wow! I didn’t know there were dress codes for meeting the Pope. That’s really cool! What a good way to foster respect.

I have been really impressed with the way Catholic Churches in Rome are cracking down on tourists wearing shorts and tanktops. When I read about it in the news I was cheering!
 
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Crusader:
When Canon Law was updated in 1983 the need for a woman to cover her head at Mass (#1262.2) was abrogated.
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If I’m not mistaken, cruscader, the 1983 Code of Canon Law ignored this issue.
 
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MichelleTherese:
What do you all think about women covering their hair at Mass?
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While it is no longer required by canon law, it is a practice discussed in Holy Scripture and seems to me, at least, to be certainly laudable.

In our very small mission parish, mantillas/chapel veils are making a comeback. There are now about a half dozen women wearing them, and the number seems to be gradually growing.
 
The Hidden Life:
I like the idea, I wish it would return. I wish I could do it without being seen as the local nutcase. :whacky:
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I do it and I don’t give a rip what people think. I am very subtle in that I wear a chapel cap (like a large lace yarmulke). I also have something called a “whisper veil” which is a small piece of tulle. I vary them with my outfits.

Vatican II never made any comment whatsover about women covering their heads. In the post-Vatican II days, people just stopped. Any reference was omitted from the 1983 version of the CCC but I don’t think that necessarily negates the requirement.

I do it because:
*it denotes that I am in total submission to my God
*it symbolizes my adherence to the natural order that God has established (God, husband, woman, children)
*it is a symbol of feminity, of which I am very proud (I believe very strongly in the differences between the sexes)
*in church, I am in the presence of the King

I do think that it does send a subtle message to people that maybe, just maybe, we have gotten it wrong over the last few years. I have had older people remark positively and appreciately to me. My peers have gotten used to it, though I had one obnoxious Deacon laugh at me for it.

If you want to wear a veil, please do so. I could use the company and maybe, one person at a time, we can help return our Church to her glory.

ps: I get them at halo-works.com/shopping/smveils.html

She has a wonderful selection of veils in all styles, sizes and colors. There is something for everyone.
 
I have been looking online for chapel caps and mantillas. I intend to start attending church with my head covered. It is biblical, after all, and all women wore headcoverings pre-VII. VII said nothing about abandoning the practice.
 
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krazykatlady:
I have been looking online for chapel caps and mantillas. I intend to start attending church with my head covered. It is biblical, after all, and all women wore headcoverings pre-VII. VII said nothing about abandoning the practice.
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Try www.halo-works.com.

I saw their ad in the National Catholic Register. Beatiful stuff, even wedding mantillas.

She has a nice assortment of chapel caps which is what I wear mostly.
 
Detroit Sue:
If I’m not mistaken, cruscader, the 1983 Code of Canon Law ignored this issue.
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Women covering their heads in church is no longer even part of the code. You cannot abrogate it more than that.
 
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