What does the veil mean to you?

[Dolores_IHS]

I thought it would be lovely to find out from you all what the veil means to you. What are your reasons for covering your head in Mass/daily life? What does the veil personally signify for you? +

I will write later on my thoughts...

God bless

Dolores

[masha]

What an interesting question! Thanks for asking it.

I actually hadn't really thought about veiling meaning different things to different people until I had an "issue" as a bridesmaid in a Roman-rite wedding. Of the four bridesmaids, three covered in various ways. The bride did not. The three of us tried very hard to find a style of covering the bride would approve, but she was really resisting the whole idea. Finally, I decided I would present her with the most minimal (and very stylish) covering I could wear, it matched the dress perfectly. I told her I really couldn't face Jesus uncovered since I had committed to this, and she allowed it, even admitting she liked the look a lot. Which relieved me. One of the other two wore the same-style covering, the third though, said she covered so that her hair wouldn't look as good as it would uncovered, and my little scarf would do no good. She chose to go uncovered.

Which got me thinking about others' reasons for covering, naturally.

I don't cover to look bad, my scarves are lovely and generally bright. I like to match them to my clothing, and to the litugical season. I like them to reveal (my husband might say "flaunt") my ethnicity - I'm proud of my people and our style.
I don't cover to look good either, though I know I do. There are days when my hair is at it's element, and a scarf could not improve it.

I cover because out of reverence for God, because He has asked me to, and because it is a great joy for me to dress for my Lord, in the way that He has chosen. It is a good tradition, and like all good traditions it is still vibrant and meaningful. When I cover my head to pray, I feel myself open more fully to God, humble myself more completely to His will, and recieve even more abundantly, His love.

I look forward to your thoughts on what veiling means to you!
Blessings,
Masha

[Dolores_IHS]

Originally Posted by masha

What an interesting question! Thanks for asking it.

I actually hadn't really thought about veiling meaning different things to different people until I had an "issue" as a bridesmaid in a Roman-rite wedding. Of the four bridesmaids, three covered in various ways. The bride did not. The three of us tried very hard to find a style of covering the bride would approve, but she was really resisting the whole idea. Finally, I decided I would present her with the most minimal (and very stylish) covering I could wear, it matched the dress perfectly. I told her I really couldn't face Jesus uncovered since I had committed to this, and she allowed it, even admitting she liked the look a lot. Which relieved me. One of the other two wore the same-style covering, the third though, said she covered so that her hair wouldn't look as good as it would uncovered, and my little scarf would do no good. She chose to go uncovered.

Which got me thinking about others' reasons for covering, naturally.

I don't cover to look bad, my scarves are lovely and generally bright. I like to match them to my clothing, and to the litugical season. I like them to reveal (my husband might say "flaunt") my ethnicity - I'm proud of my people and our style.
I don't cover to look good either, though I know I do. There are days when my hair is at it's element, and a scarf could not improve it.

I cover because out of reverence for God, because He has asked me to, and because it is a great joy for me to dress for my Lord, in the way that He has chosen. It is a good tradition, and like all good traditions it is still vibrant and meaningful. When I cover my head to pray, I feel myself open more fully to God, humble myself more completely to His will, and recieve even more abundantly, His love.

I look forward to your thoughts on what veiling means to you!
Blessings,
Masha

Thanks for your response, Masha. I waited first to see if anyone responded, but as you asked about my thoughts, I thought okay I will write about them now!

But first, a few comments…

I smiled when I read you like to match your scarves to the Liturgical season – I love to do that too, particularly on Sundays. I went through a phase when I wore a top (or something else) that was the liturgical colour for each day! Later it wasn’t a practical idea, and I didn’t like wearing red much…
You mention your ethnicity…which nationality are you? I love the diversity of people we have in the world! I am “Dutch South African”. The traditional African ladies around here dress so wonderfully in such ethnic beauty!
Covering is not so much about looking good or bad, but more about what it means to do so. I believe veils bring out the beauty of women, as they stress the essence of woman – her hidden inner richness and mystery.
I find it sad that brides do not see the significance of the veil anymore; it is just about fashion to many, and it needn’t be so. Even sadder is when brides don’t cover properly; all the wedding dresses I see on TV or in magazines are strapless and sleeveless, showing bare shoulders and cleavage. This detracts from what the bridal attire signifies – purity and chastity. The dress is meant to enshroud the bride, not expose her; her body is like a gift meant for her husband alone.

So, what does the veil mean to me?

I have covered “officially” for four years, since I received a call to become a nun. Over these years, my reasons for veiling evolved from a few to more; from smaller to bigger significance (I wrote an article, “Why I wear a Veil” about my reasons, which can be found on www.logosreview.org in the 2009 Summer Edition IV). I summarise the reasons here.

I would say I have very complex reasons for veiling, borne out of a call God spoke which was beyond my understanding. Even before I became “religious” and got baptised (when I was 22) I was drawn to veiling. I was wearing scarves in High School before I even knew why, and for as long as I could remember I was drawn to the scripture verses 1 Cor 11:3-16 where covering for women is mentioned.

My main reasons for veiling at the present moment are:

-Obedience to Scripture and Tradition (women covered in the Church for over 1900 years)
-Respect for God’s Order for men and women (and hence rejection of secular feminist movement)
-Imitation of Mother Mary in a more radical way
-Modesty (the main reason I like to cover in public)
-Consecration of my life and body to Jesus as my only Spouse
-In reparation for the rampant immodesty and impurity in the world
-It is a powerful symbol of womanhood

Other reasons include: - Respect for the Blessed Sacrament; - Respect for men (discouraging them from occasion of sin – lust); - Respect for self; - For the sake of the angels; - Woman is sacred (and veils cover sacred things); - Jesus is veiled in the Eucharist; and - Veiling is part of the faith heritage we have as Christians (we had veils even before Muslims did).

God bless!
Dolores
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[masha]

Dolores,
I'm a Polish/ Ukrainian gypsy. My Polish family is not gypsy, my Ukrainian family is. All the South African women I've met are lovely - and what a beautiful part of the world!

It's true that covering is not about looking good or bad, but the pursuit of objective beauty is, I feel, essential to the faith, and when I cover, I do rejoice in the beauty of my scarves and the feel of the fabric - it is an added gift that I can give to the Lord. Veils really do bring out the beauty of women! I love what you say about this.

I, too, wore scarves in highschool, somewhat as a cultural expression, and somewhat as an outlet for my growing love of scarves.

Thanks for your reasons, and for your lovely encouragement.

Blessed Lent to you,
Masha

[Dolores_IHS]

Originally Posted by masha

Dolores,
I'm a Polish/ Ukrainian gypsy. My Polish family is not gypsy, my Ukrainian family is. All the South African women I've met are lovely - and what a beautiful part of the world!

It's true that covering is not about looking good or bad, but the pursuit of objective beauty is, I feel, essential to the faith, and when I cover, I do rejoice in the beauty of my scarves and the feel of the fabric - it is an added gift that I can give to the Lord. Veils really do bring out the beauty of women! I love what you say about this.

I, too, wore scarves in highschool, somewhat as a cultural expression, and somewhat as an outlet for my growing love of scarves.

Thanks for your reasons, and for your lovely encouragement.

Blessed Lent to you,
Masha

Wow, I don’t know any other Polish/Ukrainians! That is a lovely combination… being true to our ethnicity makes the world a more exciting place, and helps us to remember our roots. I strongly believe this is essential for people to know in order to grow spiritually and be in touch with their identity. There are so many people who move to cities or other countries, and lose touch with their traditions and culture. I am fond of studying my own family history and heritage! I like to say that a culture/nationality is to the world, like an individual is to a family.

I agree that objective beauty is good, and I, too, like to buy scarves of beautiful colours. Recently I got a bright burgundy colour, and have deep purple in the same material (Indian Cotton) as well. It is so sheer, yet very strong, and extremely lightweight on the head. It doesn’t slip off easily either…perfect! The fabric is so soft and it drapes well. Wearing a scarf is kind of like creating a work of art on oneself – and a wonderful privilege too!

God bless
Dolores
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[Mahogany]

What does the veil mean to me?

Well the veil means something that is special or sacred is to be beheld. Something out of the ordinary is present, precious even. I could go on, but this is the very basic meaning that the veil holds for me.

Dolores you have expressed the why of my calling to veil, better than I could have ever done I too favor the more traditional orders. Do you feel drawn to a particular order?

[Dolores_IHS]

Originally Posted by Mahogany

What does the veil mean to me?

Well the veil means something that is special or sacred is to be beheld. Something out of the ordinary is present, precious even. I could go on, but this is the very basic meaning that the veil holds for me.

Dolores you have expressed the why of my calling to veil, better than I could have ever done I too favor the more traditional orders. Do you feel drawn to a particular order?

Thanks for sharing, Mahogany. No, I don’t feel drawn to any particular Order. After I tried Carmel and the Poor Clares, my top two orders were confirmed not for me. I am slightly drawn to the Pauline Sisters because of their writing apostolate, but I am more for Orders with traditional habits that are emphatic about modesty and veiling; what I mean is that they strongly show their belief in the importance of modesty and the veil by wearing long habits and veils.

Of course, I may be too fussy, but that’s how I feel. If I am picking at straws, the Lord will just have to help me to be more accepting of things in Modern orders, but maybe there is a reason He made me feel this way. I don’t know…

Dolores
+

[Mahogany]

Well that's interesting to hear about Carmel and Poor Clares. I know the more active an order is the more likely the habit will be non traditional so to speak. Are you seeking an active or contemplative order?

I agree with you, the Lord has placed these feelings within you for a purpose. May He grant you patience and understanding.

[Dolores_IHS]

Originally Posted by Mahogany

Well that's interesting to hear about Carmel and Poor Clares. I know the more active an order is the more likely the habit will be non traditional so to speak. Are you seeking an active or contemplative order?

Thanks, Mahogany. I like both active and contemplative life, but I think the contemplative suits me more. The local Carmel I was at is quite progressive as I explained, but the Poor Clares were traditional. I loved their life, but in my heart I didn’t feel called; I was desolate inside when I was there. I knew God didn’t want me there, even though I loved their traditional life.

Dolores
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[masha]

Have you looked at Benedictines? Some of the convents are very traditional and they have such a lovely focus on hospitality! Many are also very comtemplative.