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Restoring Catholic Identity |
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The Significance of the Chapel Veil |
Posted on 11/13/2009 9:49:32 AM PST by GonzoII
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Restoring Catholic Identity |
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The Significance of the Chapel Veil |
| William Rehnquist |
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GUEST COLUMNIST |
| In his first letter to the Corinthians, Saint Paul demands that women’s heads be covered whenever they pray. He commands that “in all things you are mindful of me: and keep my ordinances as I have delivered them to you.”[1] He continues to explain the hierarchy on earth: Christ being the head of man, and man being the head of woman, “For the man is not of the woman, but the woman of the man.”[2] For this reason “ought the woman to have a power over her head, because of the angels.”[3] A power in this case means a sign of subservience to man – a veil. Later in his first letter to the Corinthians, Saint Paul confirms that subservience to man is good and proper by stating that a head covering “is a glory to [woman].”[4] Man is the head of woman just as God is the head of Christ. There is no oppression involved in this headship, for just as it dishonors a woman to pray with her head uncovered, it also dishonors a man to cover his head. This notion of functional headship has been rejected by many modern women who can not reconcile it with their false feminist views that man and woman are perfectly equal. The Good Lord, himself, contradicts this erroneous belief many times in the Holy Gospel. Although the veil is a sign of subservience to man, many modern women ignore the feminine dignity that it also signifies. Indeed, no religious institution in the world holds women in such high esteem as the Holy Catholic Church, for it was through a woman, Our Blessed Mother, that the gates of heaven were opened to us wretched sinners. It is for this reason that we honor Mary as Mediatrix of all graces, as well as in special devotions such as the Holy Rosary, and even in the Canon of the Holy Mass. Let us further examine the use of veils in the Holy Catholic Church, and how the chapel veil relates to these uses. A veil is always used to signify and announce the presence of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and the chapel veil is no different. The Tabernacle on the altar is veiled to show the True Presence of Our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament. Though Canon Law mandates that a candle be lit whenever Our Lord abides in the tabernacle, it is actually the tabernacle veil that is the true sign of Our Lord’s presence. This symbol dates back to the tent-like structure used by the Old Testament Jews to shelter the Arc of the Covenant. Even before the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the tabernacle veil was used to shelter the presence of God. Therefore, it is only proper that the practice continues to this day, and a veil shelters Our Lord Jesus Christ’s True Presence in every tabernacle in the world.[5] Furthermore, the reserved Blessed Sacrament is kept in a veiled ciborium in the tabernacle as another symbolic shelter for the True Presence of Our Lord in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. The chalice and paten are the most important of all sacred vessels used in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass because they hold the Precious Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Consecrated for its sacred functions in Holy Mass, they are veiled before and after their use as “tabernacles” of Our Lord. Touched only by the hands of a priest which are also consecrated for sacred purposes, the chalice veil foreshadows the fact that our Lord Jesus Christ will soon become present in the sacred vessels that lay underneath. Though the chalice veil is a fairly recent introduction, coming into use sometime in the early 16th century, ancient rubrics of the Holy Mass suggest that the chalice and paten were always veiled in a “sacculum” or “lintheum” – the earliest forms of the chalice veil – when brought to the altar by the priest.[6] The Humeral Veil is another type of veil used in the sacred rites of the Catholic Church, and it also announces the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. The Humeral Veil is worn by the subdeacon during High Mass, as he holds the paten from the conclusion of the Offertory until after the Pater Noster. It is also worn by the priest in giving Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, during processions of the Blessed Sacrament, in bringing the Holy Viaticum to the sick and dying, and in carrying the Blessed Sacrament to and from the altar on Holy Thursday and Good Friday.[7] Thus, the Humeral Veil, as with every veil used in the Catholic Church, shows the presence of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. Perhaps the most beautiful use of the veil in the Catholic Church is the veil that adorns the head of a woman. The 1917 Code of Canon Law mandates its use, in conjunction with modest dress, during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. However, this practice developed a negative connotation during the feminist revolution during the 1960’s. No longer was the chapel veil viewed as a sign of beauty, but as an act of repression against women. No rule at all about veiling was included in the 1983 Code of Canon Law, so most Catholics assumed that the rule had been abrogated. The Church remained silent on the matter, allowing this custom to fade away, and allowing dress more appropriate to picnics and casual events to become the normative attire for Holy Mass. However, the 1983 Code of Canon Law itself refutes the belief that veils are no longer required. The Code of Canon Law states that “In doubt, the revocation of a previous law is not presumed,”[8] and that a custom is only revoked by a contrary custom or law.[9] “Unless the law makes express mention of [a contrary custom or law], it does not revoke centennial or immemorial customs.”[10] The 1983 Code of Canon Law gives no contrary custom or law concerning the use of the chapel veil, and therefore can not revoke it. Though the chapel veil does not directly veil the True Presence of Our Lord Jesus Christ, it is certainly connected to other uses of veils in the Catholic Church since the womb of Mary was the first tabernacle of Our Lord Jesus Christ. It was through Our Blessed Mother, a woman, that Our Lord came into the world to die for our sins. Therefore, by veiling herself, the Catholic woman takes on a symbol of power and motherhood that is only offered to them. The chapel veil links the Catholic woman to our Blessed Mother in a very special way, especially during Holy Communion when, like our Blessed Mother, the Catholic woman becomes a true tabernacle of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Indeed, traditional Catholics are reminded of this reality at the conclusion of every Mass. In the Last Gospel, we hear the words of Saint John: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us”[11] (Et Verbum caro factum est et habitavit in nobis). Interestingly, the translation of this same passage from the Greek New Testament reads: “And the Word was made flesh, and tabernacled among us” (kai o Logos sarx egeneto kai eskinosen en imin), linking the incarnation of Jesus Christ with the dwelling of Our Lord within us whenever we receive Holy Communion. The chapel veil is not an oppression of women. It is a privilege, an honor, and a sign of true feminine dignity and motherhood. By wearing the chapel veil, a woman proclaims the truth of the Incarnation – that through Our Blessed Mother, Our Lord Jesus Christ took flesh and came into the world to die for our sins. Veils are used in the Catholic Church to signify an object that contains or has contained Our Lord Jesus Christ, and the chapel veil is no different. To abandon such a practice is to further abandon true womanhood which is virtually nonexistent in the modern world. Therefore, let us heed the advice of Saint Paul, and “you yourselves judge: doth it become a woman, to pray unto God uncovered?”[12] [1] First Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians 11:2. [2] First Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians 11:8. [3] First Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians 11:10. [4] First Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians 11:15. [5] “Tabernacle.” The Catholic Encyclopedia. 1912. <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14424b.htm>. [6] “Chalice.” The Catholic Encyclopedia. 1912. <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03561a.htm>. [7] “Humeral Veil.” The Catholic Encyclopedia. 1912. <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07542b.htm>. [8] 1983 Code of Canon Law, Canon 21 [9] 1983 Code of Canon Law, Canon 28. [10]1983 Code of Canon Law, Canon 28. [11] The Gospel According to Saint John 1:14. [12] First Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians 11:13. |
I think they look great at Mass.
Noooooooooo!
That’s lovely. Very feminine. I tried wearing a chapel veil to my NO parish and I got a dirty look from at least one other woman.
I see quite a few mantillas at Birmingham Oratory (UK) on a Sunday. The majority of them are worn by 20-something or 30-something year-old girls.
Until people get back to genuflecting to our Lord when they come into their pew; they actually acknowledge the presence of our Lord in the tabernacle; until people stop talking in church as if was a community get-together I will not wear a veil.
Last week a woman sat next to me and had a big gulp drink with her. She actually took a sip right before going to holy communion!
Several women veil at our church (not a Roman Catholic one). I am confused about the admonition “not to pray with our heads uncovered.” Since we are to “pray without ceasing,” it seems our heads should be covered all the time. That’s what the Mennonites do. On the other hand, we are told in 1st Cor 11 that our long hair is given us for a covering.
I do find the whole subject perplexing.
The Arc of the Covenant:- I guess this refers to the big electric thing that kills Nazis.
I would wear a veil in respect for God, but not as a sign of subservience to any human being.
That tactic is a loss for the Catholic Church.
“.. a woman who will not wear a veil ought to have her hair cut off.” 1 Cor. 11:6.
Personally, I’ve had short, simple hair for years, so I’m not bothering with the veil.
I think the main idea here is not not distract other people who are trying to pray. I think I read something about that awhile back. In ancient times, women’s hair was considered very alluring, and it would have been as distracting for them as it is when teens wear shorts and clingy tank tops to church today.
There is a 20-something woman who wears a veil at our parish. She’s from Croatia, and she has absolutely gorgeous long hair, so I guess the veil helps a little. I’m glad my daughter noticed her one day. It gave me a chance to do a little instruction on dressing modestly at church.
Personally, I remember having a cheap doily on my head at mass when I was 5 or so. And I also remember having a kleenex affixed to my head with bobby pins once or twice. I’m sure St. Paul would have agreed that was pretty cheesy.
I think people who want to wear them should do whatever they want - and leave the rest of us alone.
I’m old enough to remember when it was pretty standard, but women didn’t usually wear veils, since in the 1950s, women normally wore hats when they went out in public or to anything formal. The head-covering idea in general became more difficult when women stopped wearing hats as a normal practice. I recall seeing women with Kleenex or even, on one occasion, a dollar bill pinned to their hair at Mass. Many women who wanted to cover their hair then went for the so-called chapel veil, which you could carry in your purse.
This is an American obsession, however. I was at a traditional rite mass in Spain recently, and I saw only two women wearing veils...and they turned out to be Americans!
You wrote:
“I would wear a veil in respect for God, but not as a sign of subservience to any human being.”
St. Paul, who was an inspired author and therefore was speaking for God, wrote:
“That is why women ought to have a veil on her head, because of the angels.” (1 Cor. 11:10)
And remmber why St. Paul was writing: “The things I am writing to you are the Lord’s commandments” (1 Cor. 14:37).
Are you really sure you would do it for God?
Quite a few wear them at our parish and no one thinks twice about it.
I sometimes wear a scarf. The scarf is more in keeping with my European background than a mantilla.
I meant what I said.
Why would you question me?
Logically your comment makes no sense...unless you believe Paul wasn’t inspired.
Do you believe what you post?
It sure is.
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Since the reforms of the Second Vatican Council many ancient traditions of the Catholic Church have simply vanished. The Mantilla, or chapel veil, worn by women while visiting a church or assisting at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, has virtually disappeared in the modern age. However, in examining both the history and symbolism behind the chapel veil, it begs reconsideration on the part of all Catholic women who wish to uphold Mary-like modesty and true womanhood.