Years ago, a woman in my prayer group was seeking advice about receiving the Holy Eucharist on the tongue. She felt drawn to do it, but ours was a small insular parish in rural Nova Scotia and she would certainly stand out.
At that point, an otherwise quiet – and holy – mother figure in the group spoke up (I frequently call up her words to this day when making decisions requiring humility). She said that we should probably just do “the thing that is the hardest for us to do.”
“The hardest thing” can go both ways. Would it be harder to abstain and always intensely desire to receive Jesus otherwise? Or is it harder to stand out and be humbled?
Fast forward nearly 20 years and a similar over-thinking problem has resurfaced. This time it’s wearing a veil during Mass. The heart usually knows what to do. It just takes the head – and the pride – a lot of time to catch up.
When it comes to outward acts of devotion, North Americans are generally illiterate and self-conscious to the extreme. Why is this? In many countries throughout the world, it is common practice to kneel and light a candle before or after Mass or to visit a pilgrimage site and ascend steps on one’s knees. In many countries throughout the world, it is commonplace to see a woman wear a veil in a church.
But here in Canada, we need to have our talking points ready if we feel drawn to show our devotion in a way that could be interpreted as oppressive, or worse, pretentious. Meanwhile, Jesus’ whole mission on earth was based on obedience and reverence toward his Father.
In a recent YouTube video, Companions of the Cross priest Father Mark Goring speaks about how seeing a woman wearing a veil during adoration of the Blessed Sacrament or during Mass “consoles his heart.” Although he is quick to say that “generally I let the ladies cover the ladies’ issues,” he emphasizes that we live in a time when the culture “celebrates profanity” and “treats irreverence like a virtue.” How we dress communicates something to ourselves, to others and to God.
We kneel at Mass during the consecration. Our bodies are telling our hearts that something is happening that is worthy of our adoration and worship. Our body leads. We can say many things with our lips but if the body (action) does not follow, words fall short.
Father Mark remarks that to wear a veil is an “exterior sign of an interior disposition” – that is, a person is incarnating their faith with their body. The mind will hone in on this gesture and will build its moments of contemplation around it. A veil is a way to direct one’s mind and it is a physical reminder of the call to worship.
But why must something be pinned to one’s head? And what about the men? I know there are many questions. And so, I have my talking points ready.
St. Paul wrote that a woman should cover her head in prayer “because of the angels.” Father Anthony Dorsa tells Catholic Answers that this is significant because in the liturgy only the most sacred things are veiled. The chalice is veiled. The altar is veiled despite its often-ornate beauty. Our Lady is veiled. The tabernacle is veiled. These things are all veiled because of their sacredness and because they give life to God’s people.
St. Paul recognized that women are set apart from men in both form and “function.” We are equal in dignity, but we are created differently. A woman is the cradle of humanity and therefore in worship is veiled like all holy vessels.
Perhaps the best reason to wear a veil is to develop humility. It is a good time to get used to standing out for radical faith. It seems that nothing is about to get easier for Christians. It is good practice for when we will have to answer difficult questions or stand quietly and resolutely on the unpopular side of a debate.
Before Vatican II veils on women were the norm. After the council, the requirement that women cover their head became optional. Likewise with altar rails. Once reverence and contemplation within the liturgy drop off, how do you get them back?
This would probably work: bring back intentional and frequent acts of devotion. Novenas. Processions. Feast day celebrations. Veneration of relics. Frequent use of sacramentals.
Maybe you aren’t up for wearing a veil, but physical acts of devotion can start small. Start praying the Stations of the Cross by walking through them at your church. Start kneeling after Mass to offer a prayer of thanksgiving. Try to remain silent before Mass begins (if you don’t have young children!) These are all small gestures that communicate something to the heart and will most definitely form the minds of the young.
One thing is certain: reverence is contagious. Once you start treating the Mass like the holiest thing you do all week, many around you will start to do the same.
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