Chapel Veil – Part 2 (of 2)

Last updated on: November 23, 2009 at 5:31 pm by Sarah Babbs

Chapel Veil – Part 2 (of 2) 2009-11-23T17:31:10-04:00 Sarah Babbs

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Just when you thought the chapel veil was tired and went to bed, I decided to wake her up. Just kidding, sort of. I wanted to give an update and also respond to some of the wonderful comments that people left about the first chapel veil post.

After praying more after that post was written, I have discerned that at least for now, God is calling me to wear the chapel veil. Sunday morning rolled around, and I stuffed my veil in my purse to put on upon entering Church. I felt a small pang of nervousness as we walked in, wondering things like: What will people think? Will they judge me for wearing the veil? Will they think I am judging them for not wearing a veil? Will it be awkward and uncomfortable?

As I put on my veil, after sliding into the pew, I noticed the woman sitting at the far end of the pew looking at me. I smiled. She smiled back. *whew* That was a good sign. And then…nothing happened. I happily prayed for a few moments before Mass began, then sat back and enjoyed attending the Holy Sacrifice. I didn’t feel uncomfortable, and no one stared at me as though I had a booger hanging from my nose. And the best part? When I approached for communion, and knelt at the communion rail, with full view of the altar where the host was consecrated, I felt right. I felt sure that I was doing what God asked me to do, just this once.

So that’s the non-story-story of week one of the chapel veil.

Now I’d like to clarify a bit about my reasoning for thinking the chapel veil is appropriate.

Rae, very aptly pointed out that a portion of the article on the veil I had linked to had some possibly questionable theology regarding why the veil is appropriate and should be encouraged.

He says in the article, “The authentic Catholic reason for wearing the chapel veil is the Biblical reason.” Well…maybe. I mean, certainly the Biblical reason (and here this means 1 Corinthians 11: 2-16 : “Any woman who prays…with her head unveiled dishonors her head…let her wear a veil…” is the basic gist of it) is not wrong, but it also is not the whole of Catholic thought about why this practice has merit.

Rae rightly pointed out in her comment that to simply say that this one passage of Scripture is the sole reason why a woman should wear a chapel veil is an oversimplification. I am inclined to agree that the authentic Catholic reason for veiling is much more rich than one passage of Scripture.

What I liked about this article, though, was what he said next: “The Catholic Church has decided to no longer enforce this Biblical custom through Canon Law, and in doing so, the Church is saying it does not want to be our nanny. The chapel veil is a custom for women to do voluntarily, because they want to, not because they are being forced to. The idea is that women are to read what the Scriptures have to say, and be convicted according to what is contained therein. In order for a chapel veil to be an authentic sign of humility and holiness, it must be voluntary. Indeed, Christian women are supposed to wear one, but it is never to be forced.”

I liked his point that this is something that should not be forced; rather, the reasoning for why it is something good should be presented, but ultimately women should act in conjunction with their consciences, and take up the chapel veil because they believe that God wills it of them.

That said, I’d like to just mention a few of the points I found in doing further reading about veiling, that I think speak on a deeper level to Catholic reasons for wearing a veil.

– Until 1983, the injunction that a woman’s head must be covered in Church was present in the Code of Canon Law. The injunction was not reversed in the 1983 edition; it was simply excluded. It would seem that it is no longer required, but is certainly still more than acceptable to practice.

– St. John Chrysostom presents a theology of the veil that I think is beautiful. Woman, because she was created by being drawn from man’s side, is constantly trying to return to him. She desires the original unity of one flesh and one bone. The desire for unity between man and woman is a mirror of the relationship between Christ and the soul.

As woman longs for union with man in human relationships, she is also drawn to unity with God. He calls her to become one with Him: to come under His side and become flesh of His flesh and bone of His bone. This occurs during reception of Eucharist.

The covering of the head with a veil symbolizes the reality of woman sheltered in the side of her Source and becoming one with Him. She becomes covered and hidden in her Divine Spouse.

– And, as Betty Beguiles mentions beautifully here, the wearing of the veil is a symbol of the woman’s physical role as tabernacle. Woman was created with the privilege of being a vessel of life — literally capable of bearing life within her. In this way, she is a kind of living tabernacle. The Holy Tabernacle is sacred because it contains Life Itself, and likewise woman is sacred because she protects life within her.

When a woman wears a veil, she is physically covering her head as an act of symbolizing her sacredness as a temple of life. The Tabernacle, which contains Jesus, and the Holy of Holies, which contains the very essence of God, is veiled at all times. When a woman wears the veil, she is reminding herself and others of her God-given role as tabernacle which protects new life.

While I don’t disagree with Paul, and with the Biblical reasoning for veiling, I guess the specifically Catholic theology of the veil has been the most compelling for me personally.

Thanks for all of the thoughtful comments on this topic!

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