Since reverting to Catholicism, one of the most interesting practices that caught my attention in its stark comparison to the practices that I was experiencing in evangelical Protestantism was how many women were veiling at Mass. Although I grew up Catholic, I had never seen a woman wear a veil outside of a wedding before. I was immediately intrigued and began this practice consistently this past summer of 2023.
Here’s my 5 reasons why:
1. First and foremost, I veil because it is Biblical.
When I was practicing evangelicalism, I fell in love with the Word of God. I learned and memorized so much scripture for the first time in my life. After my reversion, St. Paul’s instructions for women to cover their heads while praying kept crossing my mind and weighing on my heart (1 Corinthians 11:12-16). I want to be obedient to God in all things that He instructs His people in and this was the initial spark that led me to veiling.
2. I veil out of reverence for Jesus in the Eucharist.
Upon my reversion, I fell deeply in love with Jesus fully present Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Eucharist. I had read John 6 with fresh eyes for the first time and fell even deeper in love with my Savior because He chooses to give us Himself physically whenever we receive Him in Holy Communion. I veil during Mass and at adoration because I want to remind myself and others that we are receiving the True Presence of the Second Person of God Himself. To me, veiling is a reminder that He must increase and I must decrease. (John 3:30) Veiling hides the beauty of my hair and to some extent my face out of humility for my King giving Himself to us. That is exponentially more beautiful than I could ever be.
3. Veiling helps me turn off the outside world.
This past weekend at Mass, our priest was talking about vestments and how priests don’t wear just normal clothes because it is a reminder that when we step into the church to worship at Mass, we put on Christ and leave ourselves at the door. Veiling is my own way to do just that. A veil is something I’d never wear to the grocery store or the gym or a coffee shop. The veil is reserved especially for the worship of the Almighty God. When I step into the church and put on my veil, it is a reminder that it is no longer about me. I am there to be all in for Christ as I worship and pray.
4. Veiling is a reminder that Mary is my example of Christian womanhood.
Whenever we see an image of the Virgin Mary, she is never without a veil. It is a sign of her humility, her modesty and her obedience to the Lord. She is soft and gentle. She is nurturing. She is pure and sweet and loving. She is submissive to God and St. Joseph reminding me to be submissive to my husband, the Church, and the Lord daily. She fully embraces her role as a woman and allows the Lord to use her in a uniquely feminine way. She is everything that as a Christian woman I should aspire to be. She reminds me to say my “fiat” to the Lord everyday and submit to Him as a handmaid of the Lord as well. Veiling helps me to remember her characteristics and, in turn, emulate her.
5. Veiling helps me grow in my femininity.
During my most recent pregnancy, I was really struggling with my self image as a feminine woman. I have always been very petite and easily fit the image of a traditionally feminine and delicate woman. However, this last pregnancy I gained the most weight I ever have and was 40 pounds heavier than my previous heaviest weight (and 60 pounds heavier than my normal). It made me question if I even was that feminine anymore. Which is such a silly thing to think because of course femininity doesn’t have a size but when you scroll Pinterest and see beautiful size 0 women frolicking in a field of wildflowers in their cottagecore dresses, it takes a hard hit on your self confidence. However, the Catholic practice of veiling helped me totally change that mindset. In Catholicism, we veil the things that are sacred. The altar is veiled. The Blessed Sacrament is veiled. And women are veiled. We veil these things because they bring life into the world. This was exactly the reminder that I needed. That my feminine worth wasn’t tied up into how well I fit into a dress but my very role of life bearer. How much more feminine can you get than that! Veiling saved me from abandoning practicing femininity altogether. It reminded me what femininity is all about. It reminded me that God made me uniquely woman. It reminded me that I had a special purpose in His plan that only I as a woman could do. That my femininity is something to be revered and honored. That it is beautiful because it is God given. Veiling is one of the most feminine things that I could ever do.
Veiling has been a life changing practice for me. I hope that you found my reasons for veiling to be insightful. I pray that you will pray about considering taking up the practice of veiling. It may just change your life too.
Many blessings,
Liv
Liv Homolka 