A Woman's Hair Is Her Glory
Reasons for Veils in Church
Awhile back, one of my posts about the traditional Latin Mass brought this response from a female Cave visitor who was in favor of dumping the Sign of Peace and
contemporary “band” music, but didn’t care for another accessory common at the Latin Mass:“I’m a girl – please don’t subject me to putting the old lace handkerchief on my head.”
Her honest plea is one likely shared by many women who have grown up since Vatican II. It also speaks of a misunderstanding of the veil at Mass. Needless to say, most men today are equally ignorant of the reasons for women’s head coverings at Mass.
As one who attends a traditional Latin Mass each Sunday, as I did before we entered the “springtime” desert 40 years ago, I can attest that not all women wear a hat or veil to Mass. Never did. (Although I’ll admit it would raise a few eyebrows in the “old days.”)
Jackie Freppon is writing a book called "The Unveiled Woman" that beautifully 
explains the historical, religious, and spiritual reasons for women’s head being covered during worship. For example:
“Sacred Scripture presents several reasons for wearing the veil. St. Paul tells us in his first letter to the Corinthians (11:1-16) that we must cover our heads because it is a Sacred Tradition commanded by our Lord Himself and entrusted to Paul: "The things I am writing to you are the Lord’s commandments" (1 Cor. 14:37).”
This link will take you to a short synopsis of the entire subject. Pictured above are the chapel
explains the historical, religious, and spiritual reasons for women’s head being covered during worship. For example:
“Sacred Scripture presents several reasons for wearing the veil. St. Paul tells us in his first letter to the Corinthians (11:1-16) that we must cover our heads because it is a Sacred Tradition commanded by our Lord Himself and entrusted to Paul: "The things I am writing to you are the Lord’s commandments" (1 Cor. 14:37).”
This link will take you to a short synopsis of the entire subject. Pictured above are the chapel
posted by Former Altar Boy at
12:33 AM
12 Comments:
I'm sure eyebrows were raised in the "old days" if a woman entered a church sans head covering (1917 Code of Canon law!).
I never saw a chapel veil until 8 yrs ago when I visited Christendom College. It was so strange to me. Then I learned why it was so valuable.
I didn't realize that protestants also wore head coverings until I saw some old photos of elderly family members. Come to think of it, that's probably why the Amish and Menonites wear head coverings all the time, not just when in church.
Of course, if a lady doesn't want to wear a veil, she can wear a hat!
My hesitation with wearing chapel veils to the Novus Ordo is that I may be the only one and I don't want to draw attn to myself.
I vaguely remember a talk by Alice von Hildebrand about the priviledge of being a woman and things that are sacred are veiled (e.g. chalice, tabernacle,).
Anyway... thanks for posting.
"A woman's hair is her glory..."
Umnnnhhh..Vir, old pal, I disagree to a great extent. Clairol and hair-stylists have reduced that "glory" to painted or knotted (or worse) shades of silliness or ugliness not imagined by the Poet who wrote your headline...
Further, Paul was concerned that males would look upon the hair of women and be distracted.
Paul NEVER imagined that women would display about 40 square feet of, aaaahhh... chest ...thus making the coifs absolutely irrelevant.
Daddy-O, old pal.... as much as I wold like to take credit for this post, Former Altar Boy penned it.
Here's another way to look at it: for us mmen to wear a hat, we have to get ordained whereas women can wear any kind of hat. For example at our skete near her mum's I quickly threw my baseball cap on her upon entering and the Abbot thought nothing of it. :-)
Not that I'd advise wearing a baseball cap
The chapel veil in the US was popularized by Jackie Kennedy--most women before the 1960's wore hats to Mass. (I seem to recall the veil itself was a suggestion of the Kennedy stylist, who also suggested the hatless look that JFK affected.)
It's kind of a nice recent custom, though not required, and not terribly ancient in the USA.
FAB:
You make a good argument for the wearing of veils...mmmmm. The Church, however, will lead us to all truths--if it is Cannon law, I will start wearing a veil, but if not, my hair is not distracting men, and like Sarah in the previous comment, I believe wearing a veil would be more distracting in my parish.
Besides that, when I wear a motorcycle helmet I get "helmet hair" I think wearing a veil would give you "veil hair."
But if Father Erik or my husband told me to wear a veil--I would, because I do believe as women we are under the authority of men (not all men, but my priest and husband).
If wearing a veil is distracting to other parishoners at Mass then THEY are the ones that need to get a grip and focus on Jesus and not on what people are wearing! Are we so weak that we will forget all about God and stare, gape-mouthed, at a woman wearing something on her head?
I get so sick and tired of being told "You shouldn't wear a hat or veil to Mass because it will draw attention to you and distract people!" Sorry but that is not MY problem. If people can't stay focused on the Mass or their prayers then instead of bullying me out of my head covering they need to focus and develop some spiritual discipline!
You know what *I* find distracting? The chick chatting away in front of me with her bra straps hanging out of her short tank top. That and her flip-flop-and-beach-shorts wearing boyfriend yacking back with her while I'm trying to pray with my hands between them because they are sitting back in the pew instead of kneeling! Yeah, I think we have far more to worry about then a woman wearing a hat or veil! You know: like those RUDE young trendy girls snickering and laughing out loud when a veiled woman walks by. Why doesn't someone speak to THEM about "drawing attention to yourself" and "being a distraction"??
Sisters, if you want to wear a hat or veil then do so - don't let the "you'll distract someone!" crowd intimidate you. It's time folks were shown how to dress (and behave??) when they come into the presense of the King of Kings!!
I find attending the NO alot like attending a Kindergarten. Tough to pray there. And I wonder if that is not unintentional...
Back to chapel veils, I love mine. One Sunday morning when I first started attending Latin Mass, I was in the bathroom stuggling with my stupid hair and fuming because I had bed head and I could never do a damn thing with this mess anyway...
I realized I was going to be wearing a veil anyway, so why bother? I gave my hair a general comb-thru and danced out the door.
A chapel veil covers a multitude of sins.
Coffee Wife: You use the same logic as those girls with "40 square feet of chest" who refuse to dress more modestly (i.e. the problem is not with the woman showing skin, but with the male oogling her).
Wearing a veil may not be an occasion of sin as immodest dress is, but the possibility of bringing distraction, confusion and airs of being "holier-than-thou" due to wearing a veil should be considered. Mass is not the place to be a spectacle. This is where good judgment comes into play, and that does not mean that a woman cannot wear a veil to a NO Mass.
This is my opinion, however, I am writing from experience and personal confrontations.
Sarah, if people want to talk about you, they will find any excuse.
I don't see mantillas becoming compulsory, but I think they could be encouraged. I wear one as a sign of respect and reverence in the presence of God. It is perfectly licit to do so. If people want to gossip about that, then that's their problem, not mine.
Some people will mutter about others because they kneel to receive Communion... just because it causes a "spectacle" doesn't mean it should be stopped.
Oh, and now hardly anyone looks at my mantilla... they've gotten used to it.
You can read more about mantillas here
Mac, I don't necessarily disagree with you.
I own a mantilla. I kneel for communion. Actually my NO-only parish is quite traditional with many mantilla wearers and an in-use communion rail.
The parish where I grew up is a different story and when I do go to Mass there I will not wear a head covering. I would be so self-conscious of the stares. Again, this might be just my problem, but I'd rather avoid that. I personally have difficulty concentrating on Mass if I know I stick out. I don't kneel for communion there, either, but I do genuflect. It's my "happy medium" for a less than traditional parish.
My personal experiences with confrontations have come from my in-laws. I've been branded a "Catholi-Nazi" for being orthodox. Frankly, it's caused such a commotion that I can't even talk with them anymore. This is where it's better, IMHO, to not wear chapel veils/hats to Mass due to confusion and problems that will undoubtably ensue when with them - we have enough problems and I don't need to add to them by something that's no longer req'd. Again, this is my personal experience. It saddens me, but Scripture tells us that following the Faith will put family members against eachother.
I wish ALL women would wear head coverings to Mass and that ALL who are able would kneel for Communion.... I could list the things I'd prefer, but just about everyone who reads this blog probably wants the same things.
Happy Sunday!
time to tend to the kiddos.
I love the Old Mass Rite but I don't agree with covering you head, what about the blokes? Shouldn't they be wearing something on their heads too? Also if you are going to abide by this rule why not abide by 3hours fasting before Holy Communion, that's if you are going to go all the way?...
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