A Veiled Threat

I have been choosing to wear a veil at Mass for the past several months. I began on the first Sunday of Advent, and haven’t stopped since that day.

As time has passed, what was very intimidating has become a part of who I am and how I worship God. I originally chose this path after having studied Scripture (I Corinthians 11, for the most part), Church history, speaking with priests, and conversing with several women who have chosen to wear head coverings.

I’m not sure what I expected, as far as reaction from friends and acquaintances from our parish, and other Catholics I interact with on a regular basis. I guess I anticipated both pro and con, and was prepared to answer either response. To my delight, almost everyone who has voiced an opinion has been supportive or at least not “anti-veiling” for the most part. Several older women have related their own experience of veiling as they grew up. Many have told me they still have their veils “somewhere” at home. A good friend actually gave me two of her veils. What a great blessing!

However, there has been some negative feedback as well. A few friends have hinted that I’m only doing this to draw attention to myself. Others have made it known that this is “old school” Catholicism, and I seem to be trying to bring women back to a place of being subjugated to a patriarchal system which views women as “less than” men. Still others have hinted that I may be trying to be “holier-than-thou” by this practice.

While none of these could be further from the truth of my motivation and true feelings, I’ve discovered that several women feel intimidated by that small triangle of lace. Sort of a “veiled” threat, as it were. For some reason, it symbolizes something they fear. I truly don’t understand their viewpoint. Does it appear as a practice that is too radical—too “holy,” perhaps—for the average Catholic woman? Does it call them to a place of surrender which they are not ready to go? Does it make them uneasy in a manner which calls women away from the cultural norms, to a place of something unusual and uncomfortable.

As for myself, all I can say is that I have found it to be a rewarding practice. It causes me to take a position of humility that is a stretch for me. I do NOT enjoy having attention drawn to myself. I pray that the veil calls other women to see beyond me, and the veil, and know that my only goal is to reverence and honor my Lord, and draw closer to Him.

As always, I am open to conversation on this topic. Because, in the end, God doesn’t threaten us. But He does challenge us!

I Corinthians 11:5-14:“But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shave. For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head. A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own ^[c]head, because of the angels. Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.

Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.”