For many of us the word "modesty" means the covering of the skin.But what about the hair?
In our Judeo-Christian tradition our women veil themselves in the presence of royalty.
When you enter a Catholic church you find yourself in the presence of royalty.
Modesty by William Bouguereau.
Is covering the head in church about modesty? Is veiling the tabernacle about modesty? Is a nun receiving her veil about modesty?
ReplyDeletePerhaps instead it is more that a woman's beauty should be "muted" so that all eyes be instead on the Lord?
Plus - don't forget - symbolic of the protection of her husband.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I'd argue it's about modesty; perhaps modesty has lost meaning in our crazy world.
ReplyDeleteSt Paul talks about 'covering the head' in Corinthians.
I had a priest once tell me that no longer applies - as if we can pick and choose which parts of the bible we want to adhere to and believe.
Jesus is the great King of kings, as you state (this to me pertains to the old saying of 'wearing your Sunday best').
I veil and have for about two years now. I find that it helps me to focus on the mass more easily, especially if I sit in the front of mass. It's harder to see what is going on around you through the veil. I'm trying to get the veil to be revived in our parish among the young adults. It saddens me that many of the older (often bitter) women see it as a symbol of suppression which it is not. They often complain and scold the young women who wear them about trying to go backwards in the church. Sadly, I find this attitude appears any time a young person attempts to celebrate the faith in a more traditional fashion.
ReplyDeleteI see veiling also as a way of exercising humility...as well as modesty.
ReplyDeleteI veil and have done so now for a number of years, at Novus Ordo as well as Traditional Latin Masses.
One day while doing errands in town, I asked my sixteen year old daughter to go into the church and fill my holy water bottle for me, "I can't" she replied, "I don't have a veil !"
Luckily I had one in my handbag !