"Traditionally the ‘veil’ or ‘mantilla’ represented purity and modesty in many religions and cultures. A veil, or head covering, is a symbol that can enable the woman wearing it to ascend the ladder of sanctity. When a woman covers her head in the Catholic Church it symbolizes her dignity and humility before God, not men.
The woman who covers her head in the presence of the Lord Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is reminding herself that she must be humble before God. As with all outward gestures, if it is practiced enough it filters down into the heart and is translated into actions that speak volumes. The “veil” covers what the Lord calls, in Holy Scripture, “the glory of the woman”, her hair. Covering her hair is a gesture the woman makes spiritually to “show” God she recognizes her beauty is less than His and His Glory is far above hers. In doing this she is reminded that virtues cannot grow in the soul without a great measure of humility. So she wears the veil to please God and remind herself to practice virtue more ardently."
source: http://www.cilice.co.uk/
Thx for this beautiful posting
ReplyDeleteThank you, this was the encouragement that I needed to make the decision to veil. I am preparing for my consecration to the Blessed Mother on December 12, 2012, and for several years, I have been struggling with other women who veiled. Mostly, because of abuse from my past where men sought to abuse their position of authority over me. I did not understand veiling at all and thought like many others that this had to do with submission to men. I have been afraid that others might think that I am trying to act holier than them. My own husband was afraid of this as well. It has been a real area of spiritual warfare, which tells me something very important about the grace of veiling and the witness that it must be to the world. I now have the support of my husband and pastor, I will be one of the few women who veil in my church. I feel very strongly that this is what I am supposed to do in response to the grace of the Lord in my life and my desire for humility. I never thought about the fact that everything sacred is veiled. This has really opened my eyes and helped me to pray with deeper insight about the Eucharist and my own life that is sacred before the Lord. Thank you so much.
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