134 Replies to “This is not a veiled attempt at a giveaway – we ARE giving away a free veil!”

1. Well, I wasn’t sure exactly until I wore my veil for the first time to Holy Mass. After bursting into tears three separate times, I KNEW God was calling me to veil! 🙂

2. I have felt called to veil for a long time, but haven’t yet because of the fear of negativity from others. I know that this is something private between myself and God and I should take that leap at other times than just adoration. I have spoken with our priest who said that he would never rebuke me for veiling and that it is something that is a private decision. I have also talked with the Archdiocese who told me the same thing. Now I just need to get over my fear of others judging me or thinking I am trying to be holier than anyone as that is not what I want (and I definitely am NOT holier than anyone!)

3. I veil more for adoration and for daily Mass than I do for Sunday Mass. I also veil when I sometimes attend the Latin Mass our parish has twice a month. It’s probably because those times seem more private or more special to me. I’ve felt the call to veil since I was confirmed two years ago, and I’ve often wondered why the tradition fell away here in the U.S. since it remains common in other countries. I probably don’t veil on Sundays, because I don’t want to offend my Protestant husband who goes to Sunday Mass with the kids and me. After typing that out, it seems like a really weird excuse since he has now given me two veils. Hmmm… I’m going to think about that one now!

4. I have felt called to veil for a while, but it wasn’t until discussing it with my spiritual director recently that I decided to take the plunge. I’m so excited to start veiling!

5. I can’t tell you why I want to wear the veil, but I couldn’t exactly tell you what made me convert 10 years ago….it was just something I just knew! In the past ten years, I have made it my mission to learn more and more about my faith and the Church, from starting a women’s group in my parish to recently deciding to start homeschooling my 5 (out of 7) school age children. Wearing the veil is something that has always interested me, but I didn’t see many wearing it and really didn’t know who to ask. A recent move has led me to a community where I am truly surrounded by women of grace! I felt comfortable asking their thoughts and this led to a wonderful discussion AND a commitment that we would take ‘baby steps’ by wearing the veil for Lent. I had already decided to buy a veil from Lily’s website ( a friend recommended it!) and then read this….I think I see the hand of the Holy Spirit in this one!

6. I started veiling because of positive peer pressure! 🙂 I went to a summer camp and before that, I had been veiling on and off, but after the wonderful experience, I veil everytime I am in the presence of the Eucharist! Even though it gets difficult sometimes, I learned from those camp girls that nothing is too difficult when you are doing it for God.

7. I first felt the call to veil (and be skirts only) after attending Seton’s IHM conference. So far I have only made the switch to skirts only, although we have a TLM in another diocese about an hour and a half away from us that we would like to attend every weekend. We have been twice so far and wearing a veil helped me focus on Him and and was a way for me to be more reverent.

8. I have been feeling a nudging when reading about it for quite some time. I have experimented some with wide cloth headbands and it “feels” right when I do wear the headbands.

9. I think I felt the call at a very young age as protestant girl playing dress up. It wasn’t until I became Catholic that I began to understand the call and I started to really question it.Years later I took the time to study and understand what I was being called to and I had to accept the call. After the first time I wore my veil I never questioned it again. It took me a very long time to answer God’s call and to understand what He was calling me to, but once I did, I dove in head first! I wear my veil for adoration and all masses.

10. When I first heard of veiling I thought ugh how demeaning to women. Then my sister sent me to this site http://www.fisheaters.com/theveil.html For a lady who always felt my hair was my best feature and tried to always to my hair for Mass this portion hit me hard.
    Note what Paul says, “But if a woman nourish her hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering.” We don’t veil ourselves because of some “primordial” sense of femine shame; we are covering our glory so that He may be glorified instead. We cover ourselves because we are holy — and because feminine beauty is incredibly powerful. If you don’t believe me, consider how the image of “woman” is used to sell everything from shampoo to used cars. We women need to understand the power of the feminine and act accordingly by following the rules of modest attire, including the use of the veil.

    I still was not sure about veiling until our Parish priest brought kneelers in for receiving communion kneeling that first Mass my head burned. I felt like I should not be there with my head uncovered. The following week I started wearing a veil. As a mom of littles I usually wear a homemade veil in a kerchief style so it stays in place pretty well.

11. I am going to be 30 on the 18th this month. Not many women I know veil, let alone go to Church. I have felt different, but safe and at home in my faith. By that I mean most people do not have the faith I do. Some make fun of me that I am a Catholic, and say hurtful things. Some debate to me why I should not be a Catholic. Some just end up not wanting to be my friend because I am “boring and uptight.” I feel that I have been called to veil because my generation needs influence to follow Christ our Lord. We need to see, feel, respect, and love Jesus as He loves us. One way to show that respect and love is to veil, and one way to show other young women is to veil. Not to say I want to be a role model, but to veil myself so others know it is okay. It is a choice. Even if some poke fun at you. The Lord will not. God bless all.

12. Long story… I read 1Corinthians 11 and got this gentle but nagging feeling that I should cover. It took me quite a while to work that out, since I didn’t want to look like a Muslim or an Amish or Mennonite woman, a nun or a Greek widow (simply because that’s not what I am). It took me a lot of thinking, soul-searching and googling to find the right style AND attitude. *smile* For about two years now, I’m a “creative coverer” and love it!
    Funny little detail… when I don’t feel like covering, it’s usually because things aren’t right between me and my husband… ;-))

    ijarmor-one (at) yahoo.com

13. Well, I am about to enter a religious order this coming June and I would love to veil, I only borrow some from my friends from time to time. But I would love to have a veil but dont have the money. For me, if I could own a veil it would be so great because it is for me a reminder of who I am to be soon, the bride of Christ.

14. A few years ago, I bought myself and my daughters chapel veils to wear to mass. I noticed the only ones wearing them were the old Italian ladies who sat on the front pew. I was in the back pew with a 9 yr old and an impaired toddler. I watched the ladies. They seemed very holy to me. Their reverence. Their piety. Their unquestionable faith that had them there every single mass, rain or shine, no matter what. The clinking of their rosary beads. I was humbled.

    I watched EWTN. I saw ladies walking in to mass wearing veils. I noticed some were long black ones, like the ladies I had seen. Some though, had these cute round ones… sort of like doilies, atop their heads. Like a more modern take on a veil. “Now, I could do that..” I privately mused, and thusly ordered myself a “doily” one, a longer, more traditional one for my eldest daughter who didn’t want to wear “a doily”. I even bought a triangle shape “baby” one with ties on the ends for my toddler. We donned our veils, and went to mass, heads held high.

    The little old Italian ladies weren’t there. Did they switch parishes when I wasn’t looking? Were they attending that super-early mass I couldn’t get to, (because I’m too lazy to get up that early)?

    Regardless, they weren’t there. And we got stares. Not so much the kids. But I did. I felt silly, awkward, and out of place. This felt like the equivalent of having the back of your dress tucked into your panty hose. We never wore them again.

    A few years later, we started attending a more traditional parish. Veils were worn more, true, but still not a huge amount of ladies wore them. And not just the “old” ladies either. Women younger than me were wearing them. But still, I heard a few snide comments made by a remote few non-veil wearers behind their hands.

    I considered mine at home. I’d bought a few more here and there, but the veils were doomed to sit unused in my drawer as I was too embarrassed to try wearing them again. And I didn’t want to be the topic of conversation if I did wear them.

    Time passed.

    About two years ago, I slowly started feeling led to start dressing more modestly. Not that I was dressing “trampy”, but suddenly I was more aware of my skin being “exposed” (or my daughters) and what was that saying about my family’s reverence? Yes, yes, I know God loves us even in rags and smelly. It’s not a fashion show and I get that. That’s not where my thought process was. My thoughts were that I AM IN GODS HOUSE and I need to show reverence and respect. Not that I wasn’t before.. I was… but suddenly I felt exposed if the sleeves of my blouse were too short. I wanted my skirts longer, my shoes closed toed. I started taking a wrap with me to mass, so I knew in my heart I was modest and covered and my arms not all sticking out. The time or two I forgot my wrap, I felt indecent and exposed… not a good feeling to have.

    Fast forward to early 2011. Lent was coming. As a Catholic (I think we all do this), I wanted to use the Lenten Season to grow in my faith, pray more, attend mass more, and over all be a better Catholic. I was listening to one of priests one day, and he said that we need to make ourselves “smaller” and “less” to make God “bigger” and “more”. Less of “me” and more of “Him”. My life is what He has blessed me with. And it’s His to take away, add to, and so forth as He see’s fit. I am His. And with that, I realized my sin of Pride.

    Yes. Pride. I got up every morning before going to mass and would wash and dry, mousse, curl, tease, and spray my hair before mass. If I’m not going off anywhere, I don’t even do that for my own husband. I only get up, shower, let my hair dry naturally, pull it back in a ponytail and put on a house dress. God didn’t care what my hair looked like. He cares what my heart and soul “look” like!! I considered the humility of Our Lady. I considered the humility of the nuns I’ve seen. The humility of those old Italian ladies I’d seen before. That’s when it dawned on me… their humbleness and humility… that was something I wanted. So, I decided, that was going to be my goal for Lent.

    For forty days of Lent, every time I went to mass I put on a black veil. Long enough I could tie it up under my hair so it wasn’t hanging down. It felt weird and awkward. I got stared at. I felt like a fool. Comments were made.

    “Oh, I guess now you don’t have to do your hair any more.” (said with snark)

    “I thought about doing that once, but I realized I didn’t ‘have’ to.”

    “Only grandmothers wear those!”

    “Old Father such-n-such said we didn’t have to do that..”

    But, Lent was forty days long. This wasn’t about me. This was about making ‘me’ “less” and God ‘more’. This was about letting go of pride. About showing humility before God. Not just about wearing a veil in mass, but wearing a veil on my heart. I bought the books, “Holiness for Housewives” and “Apostolate of Holy Motherhood”. Women’s libbers would have had a cow. I didn’t care, and DON’T care. I’ve never been for that gobbledygook anyway!

    I decided, well, if at the end of Lent I am still feeling silly and embarrassed, I’ll stop. And if anyone asks I’ll just say I was doing it for Lent. Good plan, right?

    Lent ended. It’s July.. I’m still wearing veils.

    The remote few people who made “meow, meow” little comments stopped with their commenting. (thank goodness). And I am still wearing a veil every time I go to mass.

    Finally, today, my girls and I attended the “daily” mass at noon. We walked down to the front pew (our normal place) and as always it was beautiful and then when mass was over… I had a surprise. A lady walks up to me, and says, “What a beautiful veil you’re wearing! Where did you get it from?” I thanked her, and told her where I’d ordered it. (it’s the handmade black lace doily looking one) I briefly told her of how I’d started wearing them. She was smiling and nodding… and says that she “had” to wear them when she was young, and would like to start wearing one again but didn’t want a long one. She loved the style of mine. 🙂 She was encouraged to get one. Vindicated at last!!!

    I admitted to this lady that it had been a source of pride for me. That I had basically “made” myself wear them during Lent. But I’d actually learned things BY wearing them. No, I don’t have to make such a fuss putting a lot of product in my hair to look “good” for “other people”. Mass isn’t a fashion show. Wearing a veil taught me to quit fussing over “looks” so much. (so vain!) Also, (and I can’t believe I’m admitting this), but I am SO DISTRACTED during mass… I sit in the front row for two reasons… one… so my visually impaired child can SEE what’s going on… and so I am not distracted by kids kicking the pew in front of them and so forth and so on. I can tune it all out better if it’s going on behind me. The veil helps more than you think, too. When it’s hanging down on the sides, it’s sort of like “blinders”… which is good. Helps me keep my eyes on Jesus. 🙂

    Some people don’t like veils. Some do. I saw a recent poll, and it seems that most people do wish that women would start wearing them again, but most are unwilling to ‘start’ it at their own parish. I totally get that. It’s nerve-wracking when you feel like the lone weirdo. 🙂 There are other ladies at our parish wearing them, so it made it a little easier. Though sometimes at the noon weekday mass I am the ONLY one wearing one. But I’m past that. I don’t care now if someone thinks it’s odd. *laughs* I’m certainly not looking funny at you because you’re ‘not’. 🙂

    Veiling (for me) is a personal thing. Something I do not for ‘me’, but for Him.

    It does help that I’m not getting weird looks any more. 🙂 LOL

15. I felt the call years ago-completely out of the blue. I had never known anyone who veiled but felt a strong connection to the tradition. At the same time I also developed a devotion to the rosary, also quite unexpectedly. For me it is an act of devotion-it is very personal and has helped me develop a greater devotion to the Eucharist. I hope that women who are curious will give it a try!

16. I felt the call nearly a year ago to veil for Mass, and other church related things. I feel it is show respect for God, and in turn has influenced my behavior and actions outside of church too. I do not regret my decision to veil one bit.

17. I had read about many women veiling again
    on Catholic forums sometimed after 2003.

    In March of 1971,at the age of 12, I was told
    I could not wear a head covering to our Confirmation Mass by a Sister @ our Catholic school.It wasn’t ‘done’ anymore.
    My Mom told me to stand strong. So I was the only student confirmed who wore the matching beanie to our uniform.

    I felt called to veil but there was only one other woman
    in our parish who wore a head covering and she began doing this when her husband of 38 years left her.

    I ,too, felt called to wear my mantillas again.
    I also found a Catholic Mom community and one of the Moms veiled.
    She has 3 sons who are priests !

    So I’ve been wearing my head covered since 2005 .
    I knew in my heart God wanted me to remember His Presence with this outward sign. It is a sign that brings me joy & peace.

18. I started going to the Extraordinary Form of the Mass about a year before I met my husband and I’d bought a veil but only worn it a couple of times. It drove me nuts! It was always falling off – even with bobby pins – and I felt like I spent more time worrying about the veil than being present at Mass.
    Not long after We started dating I asked my then-future-husband how he felt about veiling. He said he loved it and thought it was such a beautiful sign of a faithful Catholic woman who knew that the veil was not to make her less but rather to set her apart as something precious. Needless to say, I was sold!
    I’ms till wearing the $5 veil I bought from an older woman at church and would love, Love, LOVE! to get a new veil!

19. I was a mere child when Vatican II came along and veiling was somehow abandoned. Before then the good sisters most certainly made sure that we had our heads covered for Mass. For the past couple of years I have been feeling little nudges to begin veiling again. Maybe winning a veil would give me the shove I need to actually make the commitment.

20. I have always loved veiling but rarely saw it in mass until I began attending a Byzantine mass. I then remember the subject coming up among my Catholic sista’s and I immediately felt called to it. I then found a veil at our church rummage sale and it was like my kick in the rear side to begin.I did hesitate for awhile as I was scared to begin something in my parish that was so rarely seen. I decided to just start and put my fear behind me. So I started around the beginning of advent and I’ve veiled every weekend since and I love it!

21. Veiling is sort of new to me. i have never done it, but have been reading about it lately. It was actually my husband who brought up the subject. I wish more women in our parish veiled, so i wouldn’t feel so “different”.

22. I am part of the same Catholic Mom Community as Mary D, and the first time I went on the annual gathering weekend (Spring 2005) with these wonderful women, we visited the seminary where the Mom with three priests for sons had two at that time…We were privileged to attend Vespers in Latin with the seminarians, and we were all asked to veil to be in their chapel…This was my first exposure to both the Latin and the veil…and it was a transcending experience that stayed with me ever since that time! I was raised as a Christian, and became Catholic during the time I was engaged to my husband in 1982. Since experiencing the veil and Latin vespers, I have felt a pull to veil at Mass but wasn’t doing so…thanks to a conversation in October at the annual gathering weekend of the same Catholic Moms group…they were discussing the idea of starting to veil concurrent with the new Mass translation on the First Sunday of Advent. I went home thinking, maybe that would be a good time…
    I talked to my husband, who approved of my plan, I talked to my pastor, who also approved, and so I started wearing a small chapel cap. It drew some attention initially, but I feel like it was time for me to do this for Jesus. I plan to eventually wear a mantilla, and would love to win one of Lily’s veils!

23. It is along the lines that hair is a woman’s vanity,and to cover it at Mass is respectful to God, and to the angels at Mass. For some reason the thought of Angels being present at Mass has an additional push for me to veil, but I need to find a way to wear one without it being such a distraction to myself. My baby girl is three now, so maybe she will stop trying to pull it off my head.

24. I have ever so gradually been called deeper into the faith. Our Lord is patient and gentle. This is the next step deeper.

25. I, at this time, haven’t felt called to veil. Although the thought crosses my mind often, it’s not something I really pray about at this time either. This is one of those topics that makes me go “Hmmmm” 😉

26. I’m a Cradle Catholic who always had a deep devotion to the Blessed Mother. Having been neglected by my own family, I begged her to adopt me as her own and felt her special protection throughout my life.

    During my teens, I fell away from the Church. I still held fast to my faith, but I saw no point in “the Church.”

    I remained in this state for many years. I’d still pray and think of Mary and Jesus often. I’d pray to saints or call out to my guardian angel. I’d contemplate “coming back” but my ideas were so far gone that I simply couldn’t bring myself to return knowing I did it half-hearted.

    A friend of mine mentioned a Marian visionary in late 2010. Throughout December 2010 and January 2011, I went on a bender, researching all sorts of visionaries, Marian messages, saints, mystics, etc. One of the things I came across was veiling. By chance, I read a comment that led me deeper down the rabbit hole until I reached the conclusion that the Church never “did away” with veiling. As a result, I strove to understand the point of it in the first place.

    Once I did (through blogs very much like yours), I knew that I should attempt it, too. Since I’d now made the decision to “come back” to the Church, fully and completely, I wanted to do it right.

    April 4th, 2010 was my first Mass “back.” I’d gone to confession prior (an incredibly tearful, beautiful event), and was veiled for Eucharistic reception. Ever since, I’ve veiled any time I know I’ll be in the Presence of Christ. I realized Our Lady is never really shown without her veil – she’s always in the Presence of Her Son. Thus, who am to derail from her perfect example, right? 🙂

    So wonderful ladies like Lily (or those at Garlands of Grace) were tasked with a beautiful, beautiful mission. Through your endeavours, women like me learn about this wonderful external sign of faith. I don’t know about anyone else, but veiling has given me a much stronger, livelier, more aware faith (if that makes sense).

    Blessings to you all. 🙂

27. I felt called at Easter last year. I just knew, you know! And He just keeps calling so I actually bought three veils from Lily!

28. Angela, your post was beautifully expressed! 🙂

29. I had been toying with the idea of veiling for a long time, mainly because some of my dear on-line friends do. Then, 3 years ago, I was at the Easter Vigil Mass and I suddenly felt an overpowering sensation that God was there and that He wanted me to cover my head in His presence.
    Wearing a head-covering, for me, is an outward symbol of the my knowledge that He is truly present in the Holy Eucharist.

30. A friend of mine, whom I have since lost contact with, gifted me with a “Carmelite” brown mantilla. I was afraid to wear it on my head, so I wore it on my shoulders for a couple of years. My oldest daughter went to Syndey in 2088 for World Youth Day. She wore it to the papal Mass. When she got home she gave it back to me saying, “Now you have to wear it on your head.” Since then I have worn it on my head. It is a personal choice for me.

31. I felt the call to start wearing a veil two years as a Lenten practice. After six weeks of veiling, I have not stopped wearing it. The church veils items that are sacred, such as the tabernacle and the chalice, etc. Wearing veils is actually a great symbol to the church community that women are valued for who they are. I have received so many beautiful expressions of solidarity from other women whenever I wear my veil, expressions that speak of a longing for a true understanding of femininity and respect as a woman. I was fearful that I would be ridiculed, but the only comments I have received are positive. In fact, I was very hesitant to wear a veil in more “liberal-minded” liturgies, but it is precisely in these situations that I have received the most profoundly beautiful comments and admiring glances. The world is longing to know the Truth and have witnesses who stand for dignity. Anything I do is not the cause of someone’s conversion, only the Holy Spirit is responsible for that, but if I can stand as a witness to the world about true womanhood and the love of a Savior, that is the least I can do.

32. My path to veiling is a little different…my dear husband was raised Old Order Amish. We live in the middle of “Amish Country”, the largest Amish community in the world. A great deal of people here are Amish or Mennonite and wear coverings! BUT we are Roman Catholic!! We drive through three counties to attend Mass and I am one of only three women who wear coverings/veils at Mass! I have been drawn to a covering for many years and for many different reasons. I love the long mantillas for Mass but usually wear a smaller round covering; lace, solid sheer fabric or polyester. It doesn’t matter what it is made of, just that it is worn when praying and worshiping ☺ PS My DH is a convert to Catholicism and we were married in Full Communion with the Catholic Church!!

33. I knew I was called to veil when I read Dressing With Dignity and also I just felt naked and it felt wrong to pray without veiling. It has been the best decision I made. I will never regret answering. I cover full time but reserve my lace coverings for Mass and Adoration.

34. I have felt this call to veil, especially during Adoration. I am in the choir however, and admire one woman who has sang w/ us and veiled…courage. There is a beautiful family in which the females veil and I love it, and if it weren’t for the distance btwn the choir and the assembled afterward would tell them, and another sister wears hers to daily mass and I have admired her as well. It speaks to me of the true nature of the Blessed Sacrament and the reverence we should have in the Real Presence. It is something I need to pursue.

    I have begun this workshop in my parish for all the girls. It is one day and we end w/ Adoration for children led by myself, another, and deacon. It would serve them well if we brought this up. Courage. I have asked who wants to join me- no takers. Daily mass is a good way to start.

35. I was first called to veil about 3 years ago when I was a grad student. I came across a statement about how women dressed for Mass and didn’t even realize the rich tradition that was behind it until then. I researched it, bought a veil, but it was awhile before I had the courage to veil in my parish. This was before I finished RCIA and joined the church (I was confirmed a year after I started veiling). I am still the only one at my parish but hopefully someone will be inspired 🙂

36. I am just starting to delve into the beauty of veiling. One of my girl friend introduced me to it just by wearing it, and I was so completely struck by the elegance, modesty, and foremost rightness of the act that I was instantly hooked!

37. I first encountered the question of the veil when my boyfriend, later-to-become-husband and I started attending a church in which a handful of women wore them. I had only seen older women wearing hats before at other churches, so the veil for Catholics was completely new to me. Looking into the meaning, and discovered that I agreed completely with the message it expressed. I planned to wear the veil, but I felt a need to have a particular point in my life to start. I decided that when our family of two (after we had married) became a family of three, I would begin to cover my head as a special thank you to God for the unique role of being a mother.

    This plan was erased the night I received the knock on the door to inform me that my husband would not be coming home from Afghanistan.

    A number of months after everything had happened, I was asked to be a sacristan for one of the masses. With this very special and prayerful duty, I again felt the tug to take on the veil. Yet, one of the things that continued holding me back was the reality that it is simply not a part of the American culture, and thus, people would likely not understand. Being an artist, I pay particular attention to our cultural reality and am strongly aware of the vast differences between the Contemporary and the Catholic cultures. This issue was nagging on my mind until I thought, “You’re an artist darn it! You don’t follow culture, you create it!” I had to repeat that saying many times when I was nervous about going to a church where women did not veil, but it is not that difficult anymore. I came to realize that we as individuals create the culture in which we live. If we do not take that responsibility seriously, the culture will be won by whatever is popular in the secular world, and the treasures within the Catholic faith are too valuable to loose.

38. I grew up veiling, as I was born pre-Vatican II, and I also started attending Catholic school during that time. I’m not really sure when our family stopped veiling, but it just seemed like one day we just did. I know there was nothing included in Vatican II stating that women should stop veiling, it just seems women just did it; kind of like many other things that happened in the 70s and beyond that were done in the name of Vatican II, but were never part of it.

    I am now, after all these years, feeling called to veil. I’ve felt kind of like Michelle, in that I’m worried what others will think, since the Mass I attend is the LifeTeen Mass at our parish, and therefore is more contemporary, even though I know it shouldn’t bother me, as it is between myself and God. I know our parish priest would have no problem with my doing so, as I know we have other ladies who veil, who attend other Masses.

    I would love to win a veil. I’ve decided that Lent would be a very good time to start veiling again, and since our money is very tight, it would be quite a blessing to win this. 🙂

39. I’m not sure when exactly, but about two years ago I remember being interested in veiling. I tried it many times, but could never shake my social anxiety (I thought everyone must be staring). A few months ago I found a parish here that offers the Extraordinary Form of Mass and my husband and I began going, giving me a chance to veil again. It has made my heart so happy! I wish I hadn’t let myself be overcome by anxiety in the past.

40. I hope it’s okay that I’m just sharing what I recently posted on my own blog. 🙂 I just knew because I felt drawn to it for so long.

    “This explains a bit about my “journey” towards wearing head coverings, especially at Mass/church and in prayer.
    I’ve always felt very drawn to the idea of head coverings. I had been a Protestant Christian since I was younger, and have loved the amish and their lifestyle. I was first familiar with head coverings because of them. I used to be pretty much anti Catholic, but then surprisingly became Catholic in 2011 at Easter vigil! On my 3-5 year journey to Catholicism I was so glad to find out about how some Catholic women still wore head coverings to church! I wasn’t able to do it though, feeling too self conscious and worried about what people would think. For many years sometimes I’ve been wearing head coverings while praying, and last summer, 2011, I began to wear them mostly all the time, just not out of my house because I wasn’t used to it around other people! And now just this Christmas, I finally took the step and wore a head covering, a simple piece of material I cut out myself, to midnight Mass. Now I’ve been searching for Mantillas and other head coverings to wear. I love wearing them because I feel like I show more reverence, respect to God, and can express my new found beliefs this way. When we go to Mass, we enter into the very real presence of Jesus! I feel like I can no longer approach God without a head covering. I know it’s not required anymore, but it’s what I feel “called” to I guess you could say!”

41. As a fairly recently returned Catholic, I’ve been uplifted and delighted to re-assume all things Catholic. And I go WAAAYYY back, back before Vatican II.

    I was bemoaning what I thought was the unavailability of a Mass in Latin in my diocese to a friend, who informed me that there were two parishes which regularly (every Sunday) celebrated the Tridentine Mass. So I went, sans veil or hat or head covering of any sort, and encountered a church full of women who were mostly wearing mantillas.

    I was conservatively dressed, but it felt like I had somehow blundered into church wearing painting clothes. Deciding to go back to this Mass when the occasion arose (it’s a sixty mile round trip,) I set about hunting for veils locally. None were to be found. The next time I went, I brought a silk scarf and wore that. Liking the idea that I was adhering to the traditions of my youth, I started wearing a scarf to my own parish’s reverent vernacular Mass, and to a weekday Mass I attend frequently after work downtown. I later found a veil, and started wearing that, but it’s really just a cheap piece of lace fabric I could have bought at WalMart. The funny thing is that since I started wearing something on my head, other women at my parish have followed suit.

    Our priest asked me out of curiosity just why I was wearing a veil, and rebellious child of the sixties that I am, I didn’t get into a dissertation about the significance, yadda, yadda. I just stood up a little straighter and said, “Well, why not?” He didn’t have a response to that!

    Watch out, folks! I’m BAAACCK! The Church Militant has just gotten a lot more militant!

    Carol

42. I have noticed a few at our church wearing veils and it brings back memories when I was growing up and all my mothers friends wore beautiful mantillsa. I have begun concidering wearing a mantilla and would love to wear one og Lily’s.

43. Going to Catholic school for ten years, I never even saw a veil. I first saw a veil when I went to Traditional Latin Mass. Having been away from the Church for a while, I thought that the TLM was a cult and that the veils were part of it.
    Well I started drifting in there, usually in my pajamas at first. Then I thought I should wear a veil to not stick out. Then in a few years and after a reversion, I didn’t feel very comfortable without one.
    So here I am now, a thirty something mama with three under three. I attend TLM most of the time. I have great difficulties wearing a veil because inevitably one of my little darlings pulls it off or plays with it. Because I end up without one most of the time during Mass, I have learned to actually be comfortable without it again. Yes, I prefer it, but this is the best that I can do now!

44. I felt called to veil since I first heard about it several months ago. It just makes sense to me. As I fall more in love with the Eucharist, it seems fitting to be as respectful as possible in the Presence of our Lord. It is a beautiful tradition that I hope more women learn about and adopt. 🙂

45. I am a recent convert from a fundamentalist Baptist church. Studying the Bible and history is what convinced me to cover my head in church and the final decision was simply this; “Do I choose to obey and serve God or man?” I received a lot of flack from my previous church about it but the adversity of wearing a headcovering strengthened me so much that I find it has had great ramifications on the rest of my life. I now fear and love the Lord far more than I seek the approval of people. I figure if I can’t do this one little thing for the Lord, what will happen if something far greater is required of me? Will I then betray my Lord at that time and be separated from Him forever and burn in hell for all eternity?

46. I’ve been veiling for 8 years. For me, it was a call to have a greater love and reverence for Our Lord in the Blessed sacrament as well as to grow in modesty and humility before Him. The veil is a beautiful, traditional expression of that.

47. I have worn a veil since becoming a Catholic in 2007. My girls (aged 1 and 3) are also wearing veils. It is beautiful and I have never thought of not wearing one while in the presence of Christ!

48. I usually try and cover my head at Adoration, but with a cap or hat. I don’t own a veil and there’s nowhere to get one where I live. I’d like to, so that’s why I’m entering this contest. I find that when I cover my head with a hat or cap, it cuts out distractions and helps me concentrate on prayer.

49. For me, it was simple. A comment from a priest, a suggestion from my husband and just an answer to Jesus. I wear mine every chance I get to be in front of the blessed sacrament.

    ~Robin

50. It’s something that’s been nagging at me for about 1 year and a half now. I am not proud to say that I am very coward and will probably Nag at me for some time. It is so hard, mostly because my closest parish not as conservative as I’d like it to be. I already stand out when knealing for the consecration, and get stares and everthing. I don’t want to act holyer than anyone, nor do I like to stand out, I’ve always been introvert, so you can imagine how hard this is for me. I ask for your prayers as I continue my discernment as well as for more courage for the lord.

51. I felt the call to “veil” a while back, but being afraid to do it for fear of stares and looks. I attended my first Traditional Latin Mass a week before Christmas because my boys are learning to altar serve at the Latin Mass now being offered in our diocese. When I first put my veil on I knew it was special, but it wasn’t until my oldest daughter who is 7 looked up at me with her veil and said “I feel like the Blessed Mother” My heart was so full just from that statement. I now know when we “veil” we are closer to our dear Mother and I’m hoping my girls are drawn closer and closer to her everytime they wear their veils.

52. I have been intrigued by veiling for quite some time. My large parish is also one of those in which very, very few women veil. I am keeping veiling as a possibility, something I would really like to do, but knowing that I would have difficulty sticking out so much. I’m praying that I will be inspired when the time is right.

53. I remember attending mass as a child with my grandmother who ALWAYS veiled. I even remember once when she couldn’t find her veil (one of us grandkids probably played with it and didn’t put it back) so she wore her plastic old raincap that she always kept in her purse! She was sooo cool! It is in rememberance of her that I veil.

54. I started veiling after reading about why women veiled in the first place (modesty and submission to God) and felt very called to do so.

    I made an attempt to veil about 8 years ago, but was asked not to because of the diocesan politics, so I held on to my veil for six years, only wearing it if we went to an Extraordinary Form Mass. We moved a few times after that first veiling attempt, but I was shy about wearing it, then my husband took a job at a pretty liberal parish (that would be our parish) and I didn’t feel that I should/could veil. (in hindsight, I wish I had).

    Long story short, we ended up moving to a different part of the country and I figured it would be a good time to start, because no one would know that I was a new veil-er! So, I put my veil on and went on in, no one said a word, so I have veiled since then. 🙂

55. Over time I had begun to research the biblical, spiritual, historical, theological, and canonical roots of veiling, and they were all beautiful.

    But I wasn’t truly convicted until I saw Michelle Obama wearing black mantilla veil when she visited with Pope Benedict, and was inspired by the idea of “appropriate” dress.

    When I go to the beach, I wear a swimsuit; when I exercise, I wear sneakers; when I go to work, I wear work clothes. What do I wear when I go to church?

    For me, putting on my veil prepares me psychologically and emotionally for prayer – whether to receive the Eucharist at Mass, or simply to worship and adore.

    Putting on my veil also helps to remind me that when I cross that threshold into the church, I enter a sacred space, and I should treat it as such.

56. For a several months I had a tugging on my heart to veil. After several months of toying with the idea and reading up on the history/significance of the veil, I decided to purchase a few inexpensive ones for myself and two daughters. We began to wear them at home during morning and evening prayer. I immediately felt more peaceful and focused during prayer. (Hard to do with 4 children under 8)The girls also showed much improvement in their posture during prayer time. Since that time, the Lord has called our family to the Traditional Latin Mass. So now I see how he was preparing us for where we are now. Deo Gratias!

57. I never thought about veiling or understood the meaning of it until few months ago when God told me time after time in prayed, that it is right to veil in church and in prayer, that’s it’s the right way to meet Him with the head covered as a sign of adoration, respect and love. After some time i couldn’t resist it! I knew that was the way for me. Now I can’t attend mass without my mantilla (from Veils by Lily 😉 ) – it simply feels wrong not to wear it! To veil is not just about a covered head – it’s the way we wish to meet God, and a great great way to secure your concentration when at mass. My eyes are fixed in one direction: on the altar and the cross on it.

58. I have been thinking about it for a long time. I have read that it never was something that they said you did not have to do anymore. I felt called to veil mostly as an act of humility in front of our awesome God. I finally did wear the veil at adoration and I felt as though I had arms wrapped all around me, holding me and I felt so secure, safe and at peace.

59. I felt called to veil after a friend of mine recently started veiling. I had asked her “do you mind sharing with me why you started veiling?” and she emailed me so much information. Turns out she had been discerning this for several years… She had done all the “work” for me, so to speak. I honestly, before this time, had only seen elderly women wearing veils and just thought it was some “old tradition” or even like, an old “style” of fashion! I had NO idea about the verse in Corinthians OR that it used to be custom for all women to veil. As I was reading all the links and information about veiling, I just felt the Lord saying, “Will you do this for me?” this is a way to honor me and show your love for me in the Blessed Sacrament. I guess the only question is, how much do you love me? I realized i didn’t care at all how anyone else felt about my veiling, even though I knew I may get looks or comments, I just felt like it was a beautiful tradition and that it was something I wanted to do. I DID care what my husband thought, since veiling also, in tradition, shows that you are obedient to your husband (if married) and/or your father, and Heavenly Father. So I talked it all over with him, and after more discernment together, decided to veil. I began veiling on Pentecost of this past year and haven’t stopped since. I’ve gotten very few comments and looks, and I just smile at those looking. I feel like it’s a personal calling, and I don’t judge other women who don’t veil. For all I know, they know nothing about the custom like I did for most of my life! I also don’t think I’m “holier” than anyone else… but I do WANT to be holy. And I’ve noticed a change in myself and I feel more like a “daughter” of God while practicing the tradition, and I keep it going, only for His glory and honor.

60. I would veil if I had one. I guess I just haven’t gone the extra step to order one. So winning one, would be just the push I need to start.

61. I started veiling by curiosity, since so many in our parish wear the veil. Once I began I knew I was called to continue. When I wear a veil, it is almost as if the distractions in the church melt away. I am more “internal” and I can more easily focus on the action at the altar. After communion, I often pull the veil forward a bit so that I can have a moment of very private prayer. Now, if I don’t wear a veil, I feel under-dressed!

62. A year and a half ago is the first time I was ever introduced to the idea of veiling. A friend asked me to consider it. After only a few minutes of thinking about it I decided I didn’t want to be the only person wearing one out of fear of negative comments from others about me trying to appear ‘holier than thou.’ About nine months later, as I grew closer to Christ, I started to think about veiling a lot. I began to seek out the opinions of other women through blogs and other discussions online to see their reasons for veiling. It opened my heart, and I decided that I would give it a shot. I have been happy about this decision and know that it is what I was called to do to deepening my devotion and reverence to our Lord.

63. How Was I Called to Veil?

    To answer this question I believe I should first tell the story of my conversion to the Catholic faith. I am a daughter of immigrants to this country from Iran. Both my parents came to the states because of the Islamic revolution that occurred in the 1970’s. Due to the nature of Islam, Islamic political oppression, and the drastic and life altering changes my family had to overcome, the majority of my family is extremely secular, or atheist, shunning all organized religion. I was raised in a household that upheld education above all else, but tended to speak very negatively towards all faiths.

    I proclaimed Atheism at the age of 10. I was a straight A student and always very involved in my schooling. When I reached college, I continued to be a good student, but was drawn into all the temptations that most typical college students are in large state schools; alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs. What started as “innocent” experimenting turned into a downward spiral, leaving me a pot head put behind bars, twice. I don’t believe even being arrested was a wakeup call for me. During this crazy time of my life I met my soul mate, Joshua. Joshua was raised in a very strong Christian, yet Protestant, home. He was a faithful young man, and hadn’t dated a girl in 6 years. For some reason when he met me (crazy girl and all!)—it was love at first site. Obviously, it was a rocky start. I was in a terrible place in my life, and a strong atheist. No convincing or debating would bring me to believe in God. However, through his persistent prayer and my readings of C.S. Lewis I finally came around.

    That was step one. But how did a Protestant and a newly converted Christian become Catholic? My boyfriend and I ended up traveling together; we went to Spain to do the “El Camino de Santiago” Pilgrimage, “The Road of Saint James”. A popular pilgrimage dating back to Medieval times that people of all faiths participate in today, some for spiritual reasons, other’s for adventure or tourism. Along the way Joshua had me listen to some lectures on several Protestants who converted to the Catholic faith. He apparently had been doing a lot of research to help us find a “home” in our faith. As C.S. Lewis states in Mere Christianity in regards to different creeds, “It is more like a hall out of which doors open into several rooms. If I can bring anyone into that hall I shall have done what I attempted. But it is in the rooms, not the hall, that there are fires and chairs and meals. The hall is a place to wait in, a place from which to try the various doors, not a place to live in…”. We needed a place to live in, a place for our faith to flourish.

    After simply listening to just two of these lectures (probably by Scott Hahn or Tim Staples, I don’t recall), I immediately turned to face Joshua and casually stated, “I think it is quite clear that we need to become Catholic.” He didn’t tell me this at the time, but Josh was petrified by my statement. He had no idea I would have such an immediate reaction, and actually regretted sharing the lectures with me. As he helped me to come to believe in one, triune God, I was the one pushing him to start RCIA classes and to find a Catholic church that we both liked when we returned from our travels. As you may have guessed it was much more difficult for Josh to come to terms with the Catholic faith being raised Protestant. Knowingly or not, Protestants clearly have anti-catholic attitudes and traditions ingrained in them.

    Baptized, confirmed, first communion and a whole year later, Josh and I felt at home and at peace. Although, we are still and ever will be continuously learning from such a rich church, steeped in beauty and tradition. So here we finally come to my call to the veil. Last March my boyfriend actually purchased a beautiful black mantilla from Veils by Lily for my birthday. I know, strange birthday gift, right? I thought so too. It actually took me some time to build up the courage to wear my veil. The church we attend is actually quite orthodox compared to many modern Catholic churches today, therefore there are a couple of women who wear veils; however, none younger than 65 (I am 25 years old). At the time I was also attending daily mass at a church near my work. It was a small crowd who attended, and I knew no one there. Here was my opportunity to overcome my shyness, so I wore my veil. No harm done, no one knew me. But since then it has been like a strange addiction. It is like my past addictions, yet baptized by Christ through the beautiful tradition of the veil. Yet it is difficult now for me to attend mass without a chapel veil. I keep two in my glove compartment. I believe the veil has truly helped my prayer life grow, and has especially helped me to stay focused during mass. I feel completely confident wearing my veil to any parish now, and not in a vein or cocky confidence, “Hey! Look at me I’m more Catholic than you!” But confident that this has been a calling from God; that this is what Mary, our holy mother wants for us: for beautiful daughters of God to show off their beauty in modesty and by practicing an age old tradition that should be re-ignited. And how else can a tradition like this come back to life? Through living examples, from women like you that choose to veil, despite unwelcoming circumstances, from women who humbly glorify God by wearing Lily’s beautiful veils.

64. I have veiled for over 2 years now, and I love it! I, like many who have written, were hesitant at first, but then I asked myself one question….what would Mary do? At the time I was THE only one who veiled in our old parish. This was one of the largest parishes within our diocese, but once I got through the first Mass, it was LIBERATING!
    I veil not to draw attention to me. I do it to show humility and reverence to Our Lord. I wear it whenever I enter a Catholic church where the tabernacle is within the sanctuary, I wear it at adoration as well.
    I have since left my old parish to attend a more traditional parish, and I was blessed to find many many women who veiled, along with young girls. How blessed I am!

65. I felt called to veil after considering why I wasn’t veiling. It occured to me taht the only reason I wasn’t was because I wanted people to see whatever pretty hair-do I had that day. That didn’t seem right to me, so I started doing it. Once I started, though, I knew it was right for me! After reading a quote by St. John Chrysostom about how veiling shows a woman’s desire to be hidden within Christ, I found my perfect reason for doing so. Overall, I started because I lacked humility and hoped veiling would help ammend this problem, and after doing it for about a year now I know it was what God called me to do!

66. For me, it was an intellectual decision, based on my desire to demonstrate submission to Christ. I am a convert, formerly Lutheran, who is lucky enough to attend a parish with many Hispanic members. A good number of the older Hispanic ladies veil as part of tradition, as well as dress appropriately and basically set a good example for youngsters. I think I first started noticing how much they looked like our Blessed Mother. Then I noticed how prevalent head covering was in other traditions, such as Islam, Eastern Orthodox and Orthodox Judaism. All of these share a common ancestry with Catholicism (i.e. Abraham), and served as an outward demonstration of being different from “pagans”, or being “set apart” for a purpose. Then I discovered how recently this had changed so recently, after being a constant in the Church for centuries, through many historical and cultural influences. I decided to re-institute it for myself.

67. I was raised in the 1960s where I do remember wearing veils with my mom and two sisters before the ‘reforms’ of the times swept those practices away. As an adult wife, mother and attorney, I think my desire to veil came after I started praying a regular, middle-of-the-night hour of adoration at a neighboring parish’s 24 hour adoration chapel last year. It IS the Lord, there, in the monstrance and likewise, in the tabernacle and on the altar at mass! For me, it is an act of humility and reverence and helps me to focus on Jesus actually present! I find it easier to veil at adoration and daily mass, probably because the people engaging in those activities (I presume, perhaps wrongly) would better accept the veiling tradition. As there are only one or two of us who veil on Sunday, although I try not to look about me at mass, it does take courage because the last thing I want to do is draw attention to myself or distract others, but my husband reminds me if I forget to put it on (I keep them in the car for easy access), and both men and women (total strangers) have told me they like the fact that I am wearing a veil. When I wear my veil, I also feel a solidarity with the millenia of Cathoic women who’ve veiled throughout history. It’s biblical and it’s traditional, and a lovely thing to do for God.

68. I have been praying on veiling. Part of me wants to veil and part of me doesn’t know if I am being called by God to veil or is it just something that I want. I am praying and waiting for God to direct me in this area, and I know He will answer me in His time, and so I am willing to be patience and wait for Him to guide me.

69. i have been “veiling” for many years, in my heart, by always wearing some kind of ribbon in the form of a bow or just to tie-up my hair, for Holy Mass and for Adoration. I started skirting a year ago. it seems that the closer i get to Our Lord, the more my humility increses, just knowing that i am not worthy to stand before the presence of Our Lord, in pant(like a man) bear headed. i have two veils but have not the courage to wear, i roll them like a headband to wear. one time i wore the veil as it is made but with all the movements during mass it kept falling, but when i practiced at home it stayed ???

70. I veil at the Extraordinary Form Mass, but haven’t yet at our regular Ordinary Form masses, because I’m afraid I would be doing it with the wrong attitude.

71. I knew I was called to veil because I literally couldn’t stop thinking about it. I lost sleep thinking about it. I read so many blog posts, sites and books about veiling. It literally took over all thoughts. I knew that had to be the Holy Spirit’s doing. I’ve been veiling for 5 years now and it’s one of the best things that has ever happened to me. Thanks so much for spreading the word about veiling and for a great giveaway.

72. A friend of mine on facebook posted this link, and I wondered to myself, “What is veiling?” So I ready the story from the link you posted. As I read, I started crying, and felt this tug in my belly… I am in RCIA classes currently and am so excited to be learning all of this. Even if I don’t win the veil, this post has inspired me to buy one, anyway! I would love to have one. I do believe that God has placed this upon my heart. What a wonderful way to show respect to our Wonderful Father.

73. Though I haven’t worn one since having children
    (too frustrated with getting it pulled off,) I first felt called to wear a veil since our Blessed Mother in her apparitions always appears with her head covered.

74. As a nineteen year old college student and recent convert to Catholicism, I never expected that I would receive a calling to veil. I began regularly attending the Catholic Church around age seventeen and after attending RCIA classes for 9 months I was proudly baptized and confirmed as a Catholic, Easter of last year.
    It was after my baptism that I received my calling to veil. As a history major, I was taking a class on early Christianity and the topic of women who veiled was addressed. Many students in my class who were of a much more secular mindset argued that veiling was a suppression of women, an attempt to hide them away from the world and brand them as inferiors. However, as I looked upon a picture of a veiled Virgin Mary in my textbook I couldn’t help but to see the reverence and beauty that veiling could hold. It was at that moment that I knew the Lord was calling me to veil.
    In all honesty it is a difficult calling at times to veil. Having both parents who are of a different religion and being the only child in my family to claim religion I am often questioned negatively about my reasons to veil. It is also not easy being only nineteen and being part of such a modern and vastly technological youth since many people of my age don’t even attend church, let alone understand such a historical practice in this day and age. But in the end, I am so proud to wear my veil every Sunday. It has given me a sense of reverence and respect I have never felt before towards God and the Church. I hope to stand as a guide to people my age to show you can be young and part of the modern age while still having a devout respect to religion and its practices. Veiling has truly changed my life both in and outside of the Catholic Church and I could not feel more blessed and happy to receive the calling.

75. Growing up we always wore a veil or hat when in the presence of Our Lord in Church…then, like everything else that changed, we just stopped having to cover our heads.
    A few months ago a friend of ours was in a small town in Mexico where everyone, yes everyone, was Catholic! He commented on the reverence shown by all before, during and after Holy Mass…and how beautiful all the women and girls looked in their veils! His eyes and heart were lifted to God!
    I had been thinking about wearing a veil again, and this experience helped me to make the decision. We are called to be a light to the world, and certainly a light within our own Church. Just like making the decision to wear skirts/dresses to every Holy Mass (yes, even daily Mass) I know that people notice and will follow good example. I purchased 2 beautiful veils from Lily and have started to wear them to Church. My family commented “what’s with the veil?” I just smiled (they know me well) and said that I just wanted to show respect for the presence of Our Lord, Our Blessed Mother and all the Angels and Saints present at the Holy Mass, especially now that the Words of the Consecration are being said as Jesus taught!!! They smiled as well!
    All for the glory of God!

76. The first time I saw someone veil was a few years ago at my home parish. The girl who was wearing it completely stood out. My first thought was “what on earth is that?” My brother actually initiated the conversation about it with me. He showed me the passage in Corinthians and encouraged me to learn more about it. That was when my interest first started. I began my freshman year of college and there was a handful of girls who would wear veils to daily mass. I decided to go out to lunch one day with one of the girls to ask her why she veils. Lucky for me, she was actually the first person at our church who started wearing one and she had a full story of why she started to. She went into the history of why women would wear veils at mass, why they stopped, and her own search for true femininity before God. By the end of the conversation I was super excited and the desire to wear a veil myself burned inside of me. I talked to my spiritual director about it later that week. I was surprised when I encountered resistance from her. She was a little discouraging and firmly told me that I should not wear one if I thought I had to in order to be holy. I was confused by her comments. That thought had never even crossed my mind. My biggest fear was that I would be attracting attention and that I would feel self-conscious while wearing one. I walked out of there confused and not sure what Jesus wanted and my desire to veil was still there. I told Him, “Jesus I have no idea what to do. I don’t feel confident enough that this is Your will to go and buy a veil myself. If this is what You want, please provide me with a veil Yourself.” I thought that maybe if He were to get me one, that it would be through a friend for my birthday (which was 6 months away) or something. I was prepared to wait for months. Two weeks after that prayer-I had told no one about it- one of my friends hands me a veil as I walk outside of mass. She told me “I want you to have it. I never wore it anyway.” I looked at the veil, looked at her, looked back at the veil, and burst out laughing. I couldn’t stop smiling. He had given me one Himself. My fears about feeling people’s eyes on me were unnecessary. I actually feel completely hidden when I wear my veil, as if Jesus is the only one who can see me. Much to my amusement, I’ve had multiple friends see me walking out after mass, and told me that they had no idea I was there until I turned toward them as I was walking out. My brother couldn’t even find me yesterday and there was hardly any body at mass. I wanted to be like “I’m the one in the shiny white veil, how do you miss that?” But it makes me really happy that God has addressed my fears in such an obvious way.

    Another interesting thing I noticed looking back: My friend and I both consecrated ourselves to Mary about a year ago, and in that year we have both began wearing veils and both began receiving the Eucharist directly on our tongues instead of in our hands. She actually pointed that out to me, and I am convinced that it is of Mama’s influence. There have been a few times when at retreats or conferences during adoration, I still question whether I should wear my veil or not. The answer I felt in my heart has me convinced though, “I want you to resemble My mother.”

77. My husband and I started going to Latin Mass when we moved to the Pittsburgh area. I did not wear a veil at first–felt a little shy about doing it and didn’t want to just because others were doing it. A lady there who makes them and hands them out at the beginning of Mass, though, gave me one, and I started wearing it. Then I started thinking, Why should I veil only at Latin Mass? If it’s best for women to veil at mass, why shouldn’t I do it at the Novus Ordo Mass? I also began thinking about Mary. I have never seen a picture or statue of Mary wherein she is not veiled. One of my goals in life is to become more like Mary. So that was a factor. Then I began to think about the sacramental nature of reality, about how women should always be a symbol–a sacramental, if you will–speaking to the world of the Church, the eternal bride of Christ, and of woman as the bride of man because that’s how God has made us. I began to wonder why veiling had just stopped–after Vatican II–despite the fact that Bugnini himself said it was not the intent of the Church to indicate that veiling is no longer to be done. I am afraid that the motivation behind women’s ceasing to veil is not good–in fact, it is probably diabolical. It is yet another way of saying “Non serviam”–I will not serve. It is my way of reversing Satan’s “non serviam” and writing over my entire life a joyful “Serviam”–whether I feel like it or not. I still feel self-conscious when I wear it to the Novus Ordo mass, but I think I should. So I do. I would not necessarily characterize my response in wearing a veil at the reply to a sudden call, but rather an action in response to a long process of thought and deliberation.

78. It’s inspirational to read everyone’s stories and paths to veiling- reverence is so important, and veiling is a beautiful way of showing it. I started praying about veiling in the Spring of 2011 while I was at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Texas where I was involved in a college group. One of the young men there (Brent) was so excited to tell his female friends about veiling. I was skeptical- and like many who have written so far, I was afraid what others would think of me. But when I listened, my heart changed. I thought about the many times when I was a little girl, and was playing house that my sisters and I instictively placed towels on our heads. Veiling is written on our hearts. I learned that although the church doesn’t require veiling anymore- it’s simply because the church wants us ladies to choose it out of our own free will. It’s a sign of respect and humility, and places the focus back on Christ. I’ve been pretty timid about it. I recently got married and am looking forward to wearing a darker more subtle veil. Despite sliding into veiling slowly, I am reminded that being different, and expressing love for God in an outward way assists in delineating where my loyalties are and what it is I really care about. I am reminded that, “that which is veiled is a holy vessel” and that we as women are acknowledging our beauty and holiness by veiling. We are also acknowledging the truth of St. Paul’s writings in 1 Corinthians 11:1-17- giving a more concrete foundation from which to defend the faith. When I asked my (now) husband what he would think if I started veiling, he said he thought it would be a beautiful little devotion for Jesus. So happy to have found this devotion.

79. I first started wearing a veil at mass over a year ago. I was in the middle of going through RCIA at the time. One of my best friends (and her beautiful daughters) who helped bring me into the Catholic church veiled/covered their heads so they played a role in my decision to wear a veil. At first I was a bit self conscious about wearing a veil and now, well over a year later, I feel self conscious if I forget my veil. Unfortunately, not many women in our parish veil. Conversely we are able to attend a latin mass at another parish once a month where almost all of the women veil. I love Lily’s veils because I hope other women who have thought about veiling in our parish might if they see just how beautiful the veils themselves can be.

80. I’ve felt a “nudge” that I should veil for some time, but haven’t quite taken the plunge yet. There are only a few women in our church who veil, but I always admire them because it says a lot about their faith and humility. I’m still working on being humble enough and confident enough to veil for Mass. I also just had a daughter, and I think it would be lovely for her to grow up seeing me veil and to take it up herself.

81. Wow, you are sure going to have a hard time picking ONE! My journey, and it definitely was a journey, to veiling began as a curiosity and took nearly a year. I was in the midst of discovering the truths of the Catholic faith – things I either missed or was never taught in RCIA back in 1993 – and wondered why women didn’t cover their heads in Mass any longer. I started reading about the changes in Canon Law and looking at some information from traditional Catholic sources and concluded that the practice really should not have gone away. So initially, I thought it was “right”. But that’s not the hook that drew me to actually put on a veil. For most of us, taking the leap involves a big dose of humility since most of our parishes have so few examples. I was given a veil by a friend who wore one already. I had spent so many years unaware of Christ’s true presence in the Eucharist and therefore failing to reverence the Eucharist that I knew I had to show Jesus what it meant to me to be near him. I began at daily Mass and then at the Latin Mass at a different parish. Finally, I took the plunge and wore it to Sunday Mass with my husband and son (who had not yet witnessed the veil on my head!). After Mass my son said I embarrassed them, but my husband responded, “I don’t know what you are talking about”. Yea Hubby! So from then on, I veil at all Masses and at adoration, well, any time I enter the church. I changed how I dress, too (it just isn’t right wearing jeans with a veil!). I believe the many women I’ve spoken to about veiling over the years is God’s way of saying, “Thanks”. It is an honor and a joy to be an inspiration to others and to teach what the Church has always known.

82. After reading an article about what the mantilla meant and why it was worn, I decided to wear it.

    My recollection is that when we celebrate mass, heaven is open to us, the angels and saints are present, we are mere humans from a flawed earthly existence participating in a heavenly sacrifice, and to show our humility to be present in such holiness we cover our head (which is the crown of glory for us women), knowing we cannot compare in beauty of what occurs at mass.

    When I wear it, it reminds me of heaven being open and the true reality that is unseen but is more present than we can ever now.

83. God must’ve spoiled me, because I have never had anyone make a negative comment to me, though I do get stared at quite a bit, especially in areas where people NEVER see anyone wearing a mantilla and especially by young people who have never even seen one and have no idea what it is or why I would be wearing it. I think they think I’m a nun or something. Or maybe they think I’m a crazy lady! Anyway, I have often seen people smile and have had multiple people make positive comments to me.

    Once in a while I see sort of weird, and, occasionally, somewhat suspicious or sort of irritated looks, which are almost always from women. I’m guessing (but can’t know of course) that the somewhat annoyed looks are from “progressives” who have been misled into thinking the veil is some kind of oppressive thing. If they only knew what a beautiful custom it is, that really contributes to one’s spiritual life. It is a bit of a mystery, but there is something to it… I could go on with my story and with a bunch of theological thoughts but let me just say this:

    I want to encourage anyone who is feeling called to cover your hair/wear a veil: just do it! Hat, snood, mantilla, bandana, whatever! Obedience to God is much more important than what others think. I have to tell you that whenever I have felt that maybe it sticks out too much, maybe it’s too much of a dividing point between me and other women, I always get confirmation one way or another to keep on doing what I am doing…

84. I made my profession of faith in 2005 after attending RCIA for 3 years. No I’m not stupid… but I did have to wait until I could recieve a decree of nulity for a failed mariage. In that period of time I was inspired to look into the Churches history more than I might have before I took my swim across the Tiber.

    In looking into the Churches past, I longed for the sacredness of the old ways. Comunion on the tongue and women and men who actually prepared themselves outwardly as well as inwardly for meeting Jesus face to face in the Holy Euchrist.

    After becoming Catholic the same year we recieved a new Bishop, and a new Holy Father; I felt as though it was a really special grace for me to have this complete and new beginning. That’s when I felt called to wear the veil. I only wish I had started to wear one then, but being a weak sinner that I am it took a couple of years before I was brave enough to go agaisnt the tide.

    I had to start by attending a EF Mass, and a year after that I decided that the same Jesus is in the tabernacle no mater what Church I’m attending, so I wear my veil always now.

85. I became a Catholic 4 years ago and I veiled right away after becoming Catholic because I saw that the Blessed Mother veiled! When I veiled it helped me to pray and be more humble. I was only one of maybe 3 people in my entire church who veiled so it took courage but it has been such a blessing!

86. I so enjoyed reading everyone’s beautiful testimonies!

    I converted to Catholicism eight years ago. These last eight years have been the best relationship with God that I ever had. My friends and I were reading the book of 1 Corinthians and we discussed veiling. At first, I started by wearing small coverings to Mass and adoration. I love how it keeps me focused on Christ and His Church. It feels right to be veiled in His presence.

87. I am not Catholic but I am a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is my Savior. I believe him to born of a virgin who suffered for my sins on the Cross and He died and rose again on the third day, Accended into heaven and is coming back in the same manner to gather all who believe on His Blessed Name. I have worn the veil for 45 years and the women I meet with on Sundays do the same. We have never stopped covering our heads in worship. It it not a law to wear the veil it is a prevlidge to do so. He did so much for me, God forbid this small gesture would be denied from me to do in His name. I am so overjoyed to know more women are coming to this understanding of covering their glory so that the Glory of God is seen by all who observe. Bless all of you who do this beautiful symbol. You are honoring Our Lord and Savior. My daughter-in law saw the veils on line and purchased the Black Chantilly to give to me for Christmas. I will treasure it always. Whether I win the contest is not important to me. I count it a prevelidge to voice my reason for doing so to you. Thank you for the opportunity. God Bless all of you who honor Him. May you all grow in the Grace and Knowledge of Our Lord. Till He come…In Christian Love to all my Sisters in Christ. S.Terese Chacon/Denver, CO

88. When I was little, I remember being fascinated by head coverings. We didn’t have any nuns in my area (that I knew of) and no one at my church ever veiled, but there were quite a few Muslim women in my city who veiled and I remember loving the idea of it and wishing that I could do something like that to show *my* faith.

    The few times that I did come into contact with Sisters, I remember this incredible sense of relief and joy that I wasn’t alone in caring about my faith (something I often felt, as I attended public school and the vast majority of my peers didn’t ever seem to think about God). At some point I also came across the idea of veiling and it was instantly attractive to me. But I didn’t know where to get one or why people wore them or who to talk to. I just thought they were really beautiful.

    The longing to veil was pushed to the back of my mind after a few failed attempts to talk to people in my community about it, but every so often it would come up again.
    It wasn’t until last summer, however, when a question about veils came up on my college parish’s “theological question group” on Facebook that I finally had an opportunity to learn more about it. After reading the explanation (and many of the accompanying links), I fell in love with the idea of women being a visible sign of the Church and how veiling was a symbol of humility in front of the absolute beauty and glory of Our Lord. It completely resonated with me and I realized that this attraction I had wasn’t simply because veils were “pretty”. So I talked to my campus minister and my spiritual director to see what they thought (since I am also active in a number of ministries in Mass and wasn’t sure if it would be distracting and “calling attention to myself”). After I got the thumbs up from them (and they put me in touch with a few people who already veil to talk to), I started covering my head with a scarf (since I didn’t have a veil).

    In August, I was blessed to go on pilgrimage to Spain for World Youth Day with a large group of my peers. While I was there, I was able to buy a beautiful Spanish mantilla in Madrid just in time to get it blessed by Papa Benny at the Papal Mass! Since then, I have been veiling regularly anytime I’m in the Presence of the Blessed Sacrament. There are definitely times where I feel self-conscious and embarrassed, but I’ve made it a point to pray each time I put it on “Lord, this is for Your glory and not mine.” My wearing the veil has prompted a number of other college students to ask questions and provided some great evangelization opportunities! I even have a few friends who have started to think about veiling, too! And every time I feel uncomfortable (which usually happens when I attend Mass in a new place or with people who haven’t gone to Mass with me since I started veiling), I just remind myself that it’s not about me, it’s about Jesus. I want to cover *my* glory in order to reveal His more.

    I think veiling is a beautiful tradition and I’m so glad that I’ve started!

89. I knew before I finally took the steps to convert, to be honest.

    Back when I was part of the youth team at my former church, we had this discussion on what to include in our prayer walk. The youth leader had mentioned that idealy, he’d ask participants to remove their shoes and go barefoot, and for the ladies to veil.

    I was all for it. I think I was the only female who at that church who would veil without batting an eyelash. Honestly, if it’s done not for attention, but to aide in both focusing me on, say.. the mass… and (to me) signifies that whenever it is worn, it designates a time/place that is holy (versus… “I’m wearing it because it looks good/everyone does it/it conceils a bad hair day.”

    There is reverence when whering it…not toward the person wearing it, but BY the person wearing it. That is why I would veil. And being able to confidently, without hesitation say yes to it (even when I was at a non-denominational church) is how I know for certain that I was meant to wear one.

90. I’m actually responding for my mother. She grew up in the Philippines, where the norm when she was a child was reception of the Eucharist on the tongue and veiling. Growing up in the States and having been instructed at my parish to receive the Eucharist in my hands, I was always very curious to watch my mother very reverently receive the Eucharist on her tongue while everyone else insisted on receiving in their hands.
    Eventually, my mother began receiving the Eucharist in her hand, perhaps because she’s been surrounded by that for the last twenty years in this parish where I grew up; and though we never really discussed it, that was something I noticed and that saddened me. It was really because of her example when I was younger that fostered my desire to express greater reverence by receiving on the tongue.
    Recently, my mother mentioned how beautiful veils are and how fond she is of them, and I’ve been meaning to get her one with the hopes that it might inspire her to begin again the beautiful practice of receiving on the tongue. Thank you for that reminder and for giving a platform for women to encourage and inspire each other 🙂

91. While going through RCIA, I asked our parish priest about why ladies stopped wearing veils after Vatican II. He told me that the requirement never went away, just the tradition. I had done a lot of studying and praying before my conversion to Catholicism, and this outward symbol of an inward change struck my heart as something I NEEDED and WANTED to do for our Lord. My husband converted after I did and has always been very supportive of my veiling, and our daughter covers her head as well. I feel as though by putting the veil on before I enter the church, I am reminding myself of the holy, wondrous miracle of the Mass I am about to experience. It makes me feel like a beautiful woman of God, reminds me of our Blessed Mother, and makes me feel more reverent and closer to our Lord. We are the only ladies in our parish that cover our heads, but seeing so many of these comments, it is wonderful to see so many others who feel the same way and that I am not alone!

92. I am sensing a nudge toward veiling after receiving one from my son – but I have only been brave enoughto wear it in Europe. Your veils are BEAUTIFUL!!!! I hope I am one of the recipients of these holy endeavors – and that it will move me to a new palce of consistent veiling – in the USA!

93. My daughter started wearing a veil after seeing women wearing the veil at a church in a nearby town. I started reading up on it…. and was amazed at what wasn’t “changed” in Vatican II, but what got changed anyway. The need to set myself apart and to be known as a Catholic by the way I dress outside of Mass and during Mass became paramount and the desire to uphold traditions long held in our Church (which are a beautiful link to those who’ve lived the Faith before us)- these 2 ideas brought me to the pivitol moment when I ordered my veil… and one for all of my girls. We are in a small parish and there is one other older white woman and a handful of hispanic women who veil… and then there are 5 beautiful little veiled heads in the front row and myself! By what we say and do outside of Church.. but especially how we dress and behave before Our Blessed Lord in the Eucharist- we are showing a witness to Christ ~His Body, Blood, Soul,& Divinity, and the reverence and awe that should be given to Him!!

94. I’ve had the nudge for a while, but have fought it for a while. I put it on my wish list for Christmas and my husband was going to pick one up at the Catholic bookstore in town. However, they were completely sold out!

95. I started wearing a black lace mantilla to mass after my husband asked me to. Didn’t FORCE me to, but asked me to. I am one of those prideful types that is always worrying about who is staring and what the other parishioners think of me, as I am the only one who veils in our parish, with the exception of course of feeling right at home wearing it at Latin mass which is over 2 hours away from our house. I’ve become pretty comfortable in our home parish but still feel weird when I’m visiting other parishes, attending events, etc. but I sort of threw myself into it by first wearing my veil to my daughter’s confirmation last year on Sept 11, which was a packed house at our church and officiated by our new local bishop. I know he noticed. I haven’t been to mass without it since. Recently I’ve started kneeling to receive the blessed Eucharist also, so it’s my new stumbling block pride-wise (we don’t have a kneeler of any kind but I may ask our priest if he will bring one out). I guess I’m still getting there emotionally with all of this but I just keep at it. BTW my veil is a simple black lace triangle shaped mantilla that our parish secretary ordered for me upon request from Tonini Church Supply, still pretty on, and it only cost about 6 or 7 dollars. So don’t let cost keep you from veiling.

96. First time i saw a young lady wearing a white veil was at a prolife bootcamp, atleast 6 years ago. She looked so beautiful and holy that it moved me then, the feeling to this day still lingers. Here in the last few years in our parish there is one particular friend of mine who has been wearing her black veil for years and at one point she even gave me one after i expressed how i felt called to wear one…as i continue to read the lives of the saints and seek God’s will for our children for my husband and myself im drawn ever closer to Him through His grace love and mercy, but especially through our Mother. When the stirring of wearing a veil comes to me, before i would just shrug it off because of what others would think, “o wow here she comes miss holier than thou”…iv put it off three times now, just today my sister whom i sponsored to come home, shared this email and wepage with me about veils, and once again our Lord has placed it upon my heart to allow myself to become His living Holy Tabernacle, it is not I but He who lives within me. As He wills it!!

97. I started veiling when the man who is now my husband asked me if I had ever considered wearing a veil. I had one that had belonged to my mother and so the next Sunday I put it on when we went to Mass. As soon as I put it on, I knew…just as I did that day when my husband introduced himself to me after Mass.

98. I was born and raised Catholic, cradle Catholic it’s called. My mom too was a cradle Catholic, but she was born in Mexico. I grew up listening to her stories of how women always wore veils to Mass, and how she missed it and she wished that it would come back to the church. And that was all I knew about this age old tradition. I knew that on special occasions, like my First Communion and my Confirmation, my mother would require me to wear a veil. But that was that. After graduating high school I lost touch with the faith and the Church and it took some pretty big mistakes to bring me back. Ever since then I have found myself growing deeper in faith and in my relationship to God. But it wasn’t until I attended a Women’s retreat that I began to develop an interest in the role of women in the Church. You know like how we should present ourselves in the world and when in the presence of Jesus. And it was through that research that I was reintroduced to the concept of veiling, only this time I understood it. And when I thought about it I realized that this is truly how I’m supposed to be while in the presence of God, I had felt like something was missing before and with the veil I feel like I’m fully immersed in the Mass.

99. I have been considering using a veil when I go to adoration. Haven’t been brave enough to try yet.

100. I have been feeling the call towards veiling…but I haven’t yet. I think part of the delay has been due to being a new mommy. I seldom have time to shop for groceries, let alone a veil!

101. I didn’t until I tried it. And then I knew. It took a lot of courage for me to put it on. (I HATE attention.) And it still does. But even with four little ones, it helps me stay focused on where I am and why. I am still figuring out the technical aspects of how long I should wear one and how to keep it on even with a baby in my arms, but, to go back would, I think, seem as though something was missing.

102. ” How did you know you were called to veil? ”

     I weighed out a pros and cons list:

     Pros:

     1-The saints recommend it.
     2- It’s Biblical
     3-It’s a symbol of modesty in a world that desperately needs such symbols.
     4-It reminds me of my proper place before God.
     5- It acts like a set of blinders does on a horse in a horse race: St. Bernadette called it her own private chapel… it’s the same with me. It helps to keep my eyes within my own lacy edged perimeter to focus on the altar and my prayer book.

     Cons:

     1- I didn’t want to.
     2- It’s not particularly common anymore.

     So, the pros won, hands down.

     :o)

103. I don’t know that I am called to veil, but I’d love to have a beautiful one to try out. Also, my dream is to travel to Rome, and I know women there veil more regularly. 🙂 Perhaps if I win one, I’ll take that as my sign from God! 🙂

104. Wearing the veil is a bit like getting married. You get into the whole business for what you think are good reasons and stay for different ones. And there’s no lack of problems and joys along the way.

     I had been considering covering for a while, mostly because it was a part of my Catholic patrimony I wanted to experience. I knew all the usual arguments for and against. Discussion of veils raise strong feelings. I didn’t feel so much called as curious; I wanted to know what the fuss was about from the inside out.

     That, plus I had wholly unfounded fantasies of looking both properly pious and a little fetching in a bit of lace, forgetting that what is fetching on a 20 year old is not necessarily so when in the back nine of life.

     At the time we had a Korean exchange student (so dear to us he is referred to as our Bonus Baby) living with us. I had never told him my intent to take up the practice of covering; even so he brought back a beautiful Korean veil from a trip home. It was light as gossamer, the palest lavender and embroidered with flowers and ribbons., tucked into a lavender brocade purse.

     Every mother knows that when a kid—even a bonus one—brings such a gift, Mom is obliged to wear it whether she really wants to or not. So, the very next Sunday, I placed the veil on my head as I entered Church. It slid right off my straight, fine hair.

     I’ve never felt so uncomfortable. I was sure every eye in the place was on me, my cheeks flamed and the veil refused to stay on my head no matter what I did. To make matters worse, my pastor (a good friend and a bit of a wag) walked by on his way to the vesting sacristy and whispered In my ear, “Nice to have you with us, Sister!” I spent much of the service in tears of frustration and embarrassment.

     Over the next few months, I fought with that veil every Sunday. As Lent approached, unwilling to be bested by a bit of lace, I decided to take on covering as a daily discipline and part of daily mass. If anything, that made it harder. I still felt uncomfortable, and the veil still wouldn’t stay on my head. Friends sent a wide variety of pins and clips to help; out of desperation, one of them suggested, half jokingly, that I consider using a molly bolt. I still felt out of place and conspicuous—it was a great exercise in humility. I wondered what in the world I was doing.

     Plus, it seemed that my attempts at veiling were being thwarted at every turn. I had ordered a variety of veils—small, large, white, black, chapel, mantilla…and I kept losing them. The last straw came when I was traveling and arrived at the local parish for morning mass and could not find the chapel veil I had put on the front seat of the car as I left the hotel. Unwilling to be undone in my Lenten vow, even for a day,, I draped my black scarf around my head and went into the church looking like the very fetching mother of an Albanian terrorist. After mass, I returned to the car to find the veil on the front seat, looking up at me in all innocence, not even the least bit ruffled by its disappearing act.

     I persevered. I discovered that I can anchor lace to my head by a combination of a headband and corsage pin. I’ve collected a small but serviceable collection of veils, scarves and bandannas. I’ve never once felt the urge to pin a napkin to my head if, for some reason, I can’t lay hands on one of them when mass time rolls around. I find that the only comments I get are either wistful (“I remember my mom wearing her veil; it was so beautiful.”) or slightly envious (“I wish I were brave enough to do that. It shows respect.”)

     The reality is that I don’t think about it much any more. And when I do, I realize that covering is not just a part of my patrimony I wanted to experience, a piece of history to help me identify as a covert with the legendary Catholic past, an external habit. Covering has just become a part of me, another expression of an interior life that has grown very rich since I came home to Rome. It’s just part of what I do. The veil sets both time and place apart for me. It calms my mind and centers my heart and prepares me to enter more fully into the mass. It’s another way I can worship not just with my mind but with my body.

     The clothes I wear to church I wear other places too. The veil, never. It’s special.
     For me it’s become a bit like dressing up for my husband and in a way it is. It’s my special outfit to meet my Beloved Jesus. Something just between Him and me.

     I didn’t begin to cover because I felt called; I started wearing a veil because I was curious. I wear it now just because it suits me to do so. It suits me very well indeed.

105. 1 Corinthians 11:6

     My first calling to wear the viel, was when my daughter was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension. I prayed for a cure and a healing, but instead I felt an overwhelming urge to wear long skirts, turtle necks or sweaters, I happened in on a latin mass for Good Friday, and I felt the urge to wear a viel. This was odd, because it was not normal for me to dress so modestly. I wore what was trending and what I felt made me look attractive. But after wearing long skirts, I realized that I felt more beautiful covered than I did not. I realized that beauty is beyond skin deep. God loves us for who we are on the inside. I looked to Mary as a role model and began to appreciate Mary’s long robe. For the first time I in my life I felt healing within myself. Where as before there was hurt. It is obvious now looking back how I felt so empty. Dressing so innappropriatly for so long, and feeling like I was just an image. When I began to where long skirts everywhere I felt like a treasure. I didn’t know that I should be wearing a viel. I didn’t feel I deserved a viel. And definelty didn’t understand the meaning behind the viel. I prayed about it. And one night when I was reading the bible, not thinking of my viel question, I happened upon 1 Corithians 11:6. It was an AaaaHaaa Moment. And I knew it was God calling me to the viel. And now that I can explain why I do it with backing from the bible as well as my own calling, I don’t have a problem doing it. Well Except now I need to buy one. 😉 If I recieved this gift I would know it was another sign that Yes, my beautiful child wear a viel at mass.

106. Christmas 2009, I went to a tiny chapel where Franciscan priests usually held Midnight Mass. I love going there because it is quiet and the preaching is good and the chapel is so small it is a very intimate sense of being close to the Infant in that Franciscan simplicity.

     Well, I didn’t get the ‘memo’ that that year there would be no Midnight Mass, so my husband and I had to hustle back to our home parish for Mass there. Mass with the ‘bell choir’ and the people choir (who often aren’t all that accomplished in carrying four parts and a cantor who can’t cant in key) and the worst of it: BRASS. Trumpet, french horn, trombone. NOISE to blast you outta the pew. And I had to sit near the front right up close and personal to the trumpet. I have a bad ear, and that level of sound rattles the eardrum it painfully.

     In winter, I have a few very colorful triangles of polar fleece that I wear as a babuska having discovered that babuskas are a very practical way of keeping one’s head, neck and chin warm and one’s hair in a semi-decent state on a snowy, windy day (see, Grandma, I was listening!). I left my thick polar babuska on my head after I saw that trumpet, hoping the fleece would prevent the rattle in my ear as the Brass Mass commenced.

     Something else happend, though. I felt like I had a very private place to meet with God under that babuska. Like a little tent of meeting especially after Holy Communion. My ear still rattled some, but my heart was very light and happy under there in intimacy with the Lord.

     I found a few scarves of various types and wore them for weeks after, and then began acquiring veils (a dear friend sent me two very beautiful ones as a birthday gift that year). When I forget to bring one with me, I feel naked, even though I know I don’t have to wear one. I just like it.

107. I went to Thomas Aquinas College (TAC), where perhaps 20% of the female students veil. I was first struck by how physically lovely veils looked.

     I began to wear one myself as a sophomore, but during the summer and Christmas holidays I got so many looks and felt so pressured by my parents that I stopped veiling at Mass. Only after Mass would I go to the day chapel, veil, and make my thanksgiving.

     I graduated from TAC last May and moved on to medical school. I reluctantly but peacefully discontinued veiling at daily Mass, but look forward to the day I can begin again.

     I wish more parishes would take up veiling! It is an antidote to feminism–a mark of a woman’s sacredness and likeness to Christ. My veil began as a mark of specialness, then humility (in fact, almost humiliation), then a tool to create privacy in my soul during Mass. Finally, it became a sign of my exclusive belonging to Christ. For this reason, I look forward to taking it up if I am confirmed in my vocation to consecrated life.

108. To MMatins: I don’t know if veiling will happen by “parishes.” It may have to happen by individuals–from reading all these comments, I would infer that such is the case. I think there has to be a level of conviction about veiling, so if you don’t have it, veiling may not be for you to do at this time. But if you think it would please the Lord, he might be calling you to do it despite humiliation, come hell or high water! As I mentioned to my husband awhile back, now I don’t think I’d feel free NOT to veil until I didn’t feel self-conscious about it any more. In other words, what other people think isn’t a good reason not to veil or not to veil! I don’t expect to quit, though–there are too many good reasons to do it.

109. I am posting for my friend Fran
     her computer is dial-up and too slow.

     She used to wear a veil and would like to again.
     ty

110. I became Catholic nearly 12 years ago “in spite of myself,” as my husband is fond of saying. I looked for every excuse in the world to not go through with it. At every question I was met with an answer by the Holy Spirit. I begrudgingly succumbed to the pull with the idea that, “maybe if I become Catholic, I can change all these antiquated notions holding women back.” Ha, ha, ha! Little did I know how much the Holy Spirit would be working on my heart to change me.

     Fast forward to one year ago. On my 2nd child’s 6th birthday, my husband looked at me and said, “You know, I think our 4 children is a good amount. I don’t think we need to try for anymore.” God laughed. The next day, the pregnancy test came back positive. And I decided I needed someway to better connect with Our Lord, I needed to learn to pray better. After reading a few covering posts from Cam at A Woman’s Place Is… I came to the conclusion that this would be a good way to remind myself to “pray unceasingly”. For Mother’s Day, my husband ordered me a couple of head scarves and I began wearing them periodically… when I would remember to put them on in the morning. I tried to remember to wear them for Sunday Mass, but getting 4 and then 5 children ready and myself and out the door on time is very difficult. Sometimes, the scarf or my newly purchased lace snood, would be an afterthought, usually after we had returned home and I saw it laying there, with bobby pins, ready for me to put on.

     Then it happened. On Christmas Morning, getting dressed, getting #3, 4, and 5, dressed and ready for Mass; firmly, and perhaps not as gently as could be, directing #1, 2, to get dressed – we piled into the van, drove down the street, saying a Hail Mary. We got out of the van, walked into the Church (and not our normal Church), sat down in the pew, and I knelt down to pray for a joyful welcome of our King and Savior, and a feeling that something wasn’t right came over me, something was missing. I had forgotten to put on my snood. I could picture it in my head, laying on my dresser with the bobby pins. I felt a little guilty, maybe even a little ashamed, that I had let, what was supposed to be a wonderful, joyous morning, become a tension inducing struggle with children just to get out of the house, consequently forgetting my head-covering. And then I realized, this was exactly what I wanted the scarves, the snood, the act of covering to do – to remind me to pray unceasingly, especially at Mass and Christmas. Here, on Christmas morning, was the awe and wonder of the Incarnate God, Our Lord and Savior in his most humblest surroundings, and I had allowed myself to be so distracted as to not remember to humble myself before the Lord.

     I knew then that it wasn’t simply just a desire or fashion statement, it was God calling me into a closer relationship with Him, and He knew that I needed something tangible to help me focus my attention on that relationship. I still forget (and sometimes it gets pulled off) to cover my head most days, but I am more diligent, now, to make sure I grab my snood, or my scarf, before I head to Mass.

111. I have been teeter-tottering with veiling for some time… My family is devoted, but still sort of sees me as a “Religious Nut.” But I simply cannot shake the beauty of it. The humility it brings us when we are in the presence of our Papa. I know that maybe I’m not the ‘Perfect Catholic,’ but I do want to be an example. Each call is certainly different, but it’s on my heart to do it. I work with a lot of youth. I teach Confirmation in several parishes and help lead praise and worship and participate in retreats often… I feel that I can set an example to these young girls. I’m only 22 and I know that it’s an age for craziness, but I try to not be that. God is helping me that example of gracefulness, modesty, and love for Him. He is molding me to bring these girls home to Him. I feel that in all that I do, I can reach the girls that I mentor, teach, am related to (I have about 46 female cousins…), and just come in contact with. Veiling is not something for ‘old people.’ It’s something beautiful, with dedication. I hope to bring that to more girls in my community.

112. I am intrigued by the idea of veiling, as I did when I was a child. True, the veil was a slippery little thing that most times ended up around my shoulders, but there was something about wearing it that set me “apart” for the time I was at Mass that made me feel closer to God in some way.
     Currently I’ve thought about wearing a veil when I go to Adoration once a week. I agree with some comments here that the veil can act as “blinders”, shuting out distractions. And with the quote from Paul: “But if a woman nourish her hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering.” I feel that covering my hair during Adoration (at least) is a way of showing respect and giving the glory to God.
     But for those brave souls who wear the veil at daily and Sunday Liturgy, it is also a tool for evangelization. It would encourage people to think about how they present themselves before the Lord. These days people wear all sorts of “fashions” to church; my pastor says it’s sometimes a challenge to avert his eyes from immodest outfits (because there are so many)! So maybe it’s time we “spoke out” in a quiet way by simply veiling. Perhaps it’s time embrace some of that “old time religion”!

113. Yesterday, I went to the trial of a priest. There, he was sentenced to prison for stealing money from the church. I met a lawyer who was present. He works with priests who have been caught in the contagious quick sand of sin that swallows even the holiest of men. I listened as he told me that the problem with the faithful supporters that were present was that they “placed all their faith in a man”. A man. A man who lied, betrayed and abandon them all while preaching against this corrupted society we dare to live in. And women cried while clutching their rosaries. And I soaked it up to sort through it later.
     In my sleep, I could not settle with the images stuck in my head. Headlines of a trial I was at. Slander about my church, about my rock, being spoken throughout the media. The Catholic Church corrupted through and through. Even the most faithful fleeing due to the abuse of power poisoning our communities. My mind hurt, my heart saddened.
     I’ve heard of the Church being referred to as a woman who needs guarding and defending, who needs the strength of many to stand in purity before the world and of priesthood being a form of marriage to the Church. So why then, these acts of infidelity against our Church?
     In the old days of the Bible, the punishment for infidelity was stoning. Yet, Jesus, said, “let he who is without sin be the first to cast a stone.” We all in our sin have disgraced our sanctity, and the sanctity of the Church, but we are not publicly stoned for it. And when we are, we leave the place that offers us a home and the One who forgives us not 7 x 7 but 70×70.
     I place my faith in not a man alone, but a man called the Son of God, who lived and died brutally so that I may live and die and rise with him despite my own cowardly ways, despite the twist of my stomach in his presence when I have failed, despite my own faults. I stand by our fortress even when others sprint in fear, shame and disappointment. I defend her, not because we have called her a holy place, but because God alone has made her a holy place untainted by the sins of men. A place to wash away the blood after the stoning.
     This is our Lord, who calls us each by name, calling me to defend what others will not, to be the one to admit, I can not even pick up a stone. He defends me in times when I am unguarded against the evils of the world. He has marked me for sainthood, he has set me apart in my gender, he has called me by name to recognize that my body is a temple of the Lord. Just as he called Mary the Virgin Mother of Jesus and set her apart. His plan for me is unfolding minute by minute, even as I write this. I want to physically show that I am different, that my body is different, that the reverence I show is not for my sake but for the Lord who is at home in my heart. He washes away my impurity, to maintain it is my responsibility. The veil is holy not because of the woman who dons it but because Christ makes the Church holy and as women we represent the Church, the Bride of Christ.

114. We have just started attending a latin mass about an hour away from our home, and absolutely love it. I now feel called to wear a veil for it feels very natural, feminine and lovely. My 3 year old loves wearing a veil, for she told me today that she likes to look like Mary. What a role model for all women we have in Mary, the mother of God.

115. I am a convert to the Roman Catholic Church. I was brought into the Church on All Saints Day in 1997. It had never occurred to me to wear a veil. In February 1998, something that was extremely devastating to me happened. I ran to the Church nearby that I attended daily Mass at on occasion and fell to my knees before the statute of St Jude. I was crying so hard. There was not another person in the building, just me. All of a sudden I hear a voice tellin me “that I am to wear a veil in the presence of God as a sign of humility”. Like I said, there was no one else there. I heard it in my head, my ears, etc just as though someone was standing right next to me. I stopped crying and looked around to see who said that. No one there. I looked up at St Jude in total bewilderment. A bit later, I am still kneeling before St Jude pondering what I just heard when a lady came into the Church veiled. I ran over to her like a “crazy person” asking her where she got her veil. She told me of a Catholic store about 5 miles away. I went to the store, the lady working there told me she did not have carry any. As I was about to leave, I saw 2 veils in the corner, a white on and a black one. The store owner was puzzuled because she did not recall ordering them. I bought them and have never been to Mass without one since. Something that is ‘interesting’ to me is that I have never seen that lady again, in spite of the many times I have been to that same Church or involved with many things in the Diocese of Baton Rouge.
     I know and believe it is how I am to be in the presence of Our Lord.

116. Cradle Catholic, college student, mental disabilities–ADHD, learning disability, & Anxiety Disorder… I’m a regular Doubting Thomas; so pessimistic, I see the glass as half empty even when it’s full (What a way to begin, huh?). I saw this contest on Facebook and immediately questioned: why even bother, you are only offering ONE veil? At least if you were offering three or five, MAYBE I would stand a chance against these pious women whom are more deserving than I am. Although I know I will not win, I will never know if I do not take that leap of faith.
     Well after my conversion of the heart (two Easter Sundays ago), I walked into Ss. Simon & Jude’s gift shop to buy a candle and on a whim also bought a long white chapel veil. I was not called to veil in a conventional sense, because at the time the “being called to” idea never crossed my mind; I simply bought the veil because I wanted to be more like my mother, who use to wear one when she was younger.
     The sin of pride is a difficult cross to bear; MAC makeup and salon hair coloring are my subconscious selfish pleasures. My perfectionism/OCD lead me to believe I HAVE to wear makeup and style hair before attending Mass; to me that was Sunday best dress. Since wearing the long veil, it has cut minutes off styling my long THICK dark hair; now I do not have to worry about how my hair looks (the unconventional part). By the way, the fact that the white lace keeps my ADHD in check was a happy accident; so in a way, the veil functionally works on a physical level as well. And yes, to also act more humble and imitate the Most Holy Virgin of virgins.
     How serendipitous is to have our Blessed Mother as a confirmation name? Unfortunately, I always fall short of what she asks of me; thankfully, veiling reminds me to be myself and try my best (not to mention I am grateful to own such a well fashioned veil). Still others seem to have a stronger devotion, instead of a function veiling person like myself. Reading other women’s veil testimonies however taught me how many want to build a stronger relationship with Christ; veils ties us strong women together, uniting our strong faith every time we attend Mass.
     Needless to say, it would be a blessing to win such a beautiful chapel veil; now better understanding the devotion after reading other’s responses and not just for the pure physical beauty as a fashion style. As a silver lining, this response reminded me why I veil; both physical and spiritual devotion, worn with intention and not only as a routine. Thank you for the opportunity; God bless.

117. I plan on attending my first Traditional Latin Mass in a couple of weeks, and couldn’t be more surprised that I am actually looking forward to veiling! I fought against wearing one even at my wedding because it was too patriarchial! And yet I veiled while living in a Muslim country, out of respect for their beliefs. And when I lived in New York I spent a lot of time admiring the elaborate head coverings worn by the local Hasidim. But for some reason, I couldn’t see the contradiction in accepting and admiring it in others but failing to accept it for myself, in accordance with my own faith, respecting and adoring my own God. Anyway, I’m not sure if I’ll continue to veil after this upcoming Mass, but I am sure I will feel like my actions and beliefs are mor in line while I am wearing it.

118. It’s funny that I should see this post now – it was only last week that I began WANTING to veil for Mass 🙂 See, I was received into the Church on the Feast of Christ the King last year after having been a Protestant for the past few years and an atheist before that. Not long after I became Catholic, I stumbled across a post about veiling and I began researching the custom, trying desperately to convince myself that it wasn’t necessary. Needless to say, that endeavor failed miserably!

     Bitterly, I began covering my head for Mass even though there was hardly anyone else at my parish who did, and certainly no-one my age (21). Being a very self-conscious person, I felt like there was a neon sign above my head saying “LOOK AT ME!” For a couple of months I covered my head for Mass despite feeling embarrassed, upset, and even angry.

     Then last week I went to a different parish. There were no kneelers on the seats, so every single person stood for the consecration. I knew I should be kneeling, but I didn’t. Jesus Christ – my Lord, my Saviour, my EVERYTHING – was in the very same room as me… and I didn’t even have the courage to kneel. I was absolutely disgusted at myself, and came to realise that the only thing that matters is what God thinks. By caring so much about the opinion of others, I was failing to put God first.

     It was then that I really felt called to veil. It was no longer just an intellectual thing, it was something that I WANTED to do, something I was so very thankful about having been called to do. I want, with all my heart, to show as much reverence as I possibly can before the Blessed Sacrament… and I am never again going to let fear stand in my way! 🙂

119. About 2 years ago, I was praying at our parish and looked up at our Blessed Mother and realized she was veiled. And she is almost always veiled. I started to get this feeling that I needed to use a veil. I spoke with our parish priest about it because at the time not one woman wore a veil. He said “go for it! I think it is great!” But that was not enough for me! I asked another priest who commented, “don’t do it. You will find yourself just trying to look holy.” At that, I felt sad and confused. I continued to pray.

     Then about a month later, I went to visit my aunt, who is also my Godmother. We were sitting at her table just talking. Mind you, she is a very cute, 4’10 Filipino woman. She stood up from the table and said, “I have to give you something.” She went to the closet and pulled out her mantilla. She said, “I think you need to have this. My Godmother gave this to me when I left the Philippines and now it is yours.” I had not told her about my call to wear a veil or the interactions with the different priests. I believe Mary spoke to her knowing that I was truly being called to wear a veil.

     So after two years, I wear my veil. I now have a baby who is constantly pulling it off. Three women in my parish started wearing a veil. And I do not feel holier than others but just trying to follow Christ’s plan while serving and loving Him.

120. My sentiments on veiling are best expressed by Ms. Mantilla (aka “the Hon”) Amontillado in her April 23, 2004 guest post at Fr. Longenecker’s wonderful blog: “… My mantilla is my Catholic badge of courage.”

121. Oops, that should have been April 23, 2009 post at Fr. Longencker’s blog.

122. God bless you for the tip on paypal…I don’t use them but do have an account and will close it today!
     I started wearing veils only for mass. Then, during prayer times at home in my prayer room. Recently, after wearing a veil for a week, mourning the passing of a beloved Aunt, when I tried going without wearing a veil, it bothered me a great deal.
     The Lord tells us to pray constantly. I try to do that. So I told my husband he’d have to get used to it, because I’d be wearing a veil all the time now. In fact, the reason I came to the webpage, was to email or call you and see if you could make me a cloth veil.
     My husband is VERY supportive of anything I do regarding the practice of my faith and supports me completely…which I already knew or I wouldn’t have commented to him quite like I did. Though it is a hassle to wear one all the time, I consider it a small sacrifice I can make for the Lord.
     Now, I wouldn’t go without one.
     I am so glad you mentioned that about paypal…I’ve been fighting abortion for years and am always glad to find another way to do it!
     Maryann Therese Ruelle

123. The LORD put it on my heart to veil in chruch, even in non-denominations when I am there. After much prayer I started and have not regretted it since I started. I have found so much peace and it makes a difference even in private prayer time to the Father. God bless.

124. I’m ” investigating ” veiling. Just trying to learn more about it . Feeling called to it but want to make sure it’s for the right reasons.

Comments are closed.