The Significance of Veiling
Veiling in the Church:
Veiling is an ancient practice embedded in the very fabric of Catholicism since the beginning of our Church, the veil stands as a testament to the sacred traditions that bind us. Veiling goes beyond mere aesthetics; it is a profound expression of reverence for the divine.
All holy things are veiled, the tabernacle, the chalice and the altar. Veiling extends to the very holiness of womanhood. Women, too, are veiled, not as a symbol of oppression but as a proclamation of their commitment to God’s will.
The veil is a tangible reminder of Christ and His blessed mother. It is more than fabric; it symbolises humility and submission to God. Saint John Chrysostom, a revered saint and doctor of the church, describes this symbolism:
"He calls her to become one with Him: to come under His side and become flesh of His flesh and bone of His bone. This occurs during reception of Eucharist. The covering of the head with a veil symbolizes the reality of woman sheltered in the side of her Source and becoming one with Him. She becomes covered and hidden in her Divine Spouse."
The act of veiling during the reception of the Eucharist embodies this sacred union. As a woman covers her head with a veil, it symbolises her reality—sheltered in the side of her Source, becoming one with Him, hidden in her Divine Spouse. Saint John Chrysostom's words resonate with a profound truth, the veil becomes a beacon that shines a light on Christ, guiding the faithful to become one within His church.
The act of veiling shows a tender embrace of holiness, and an eternal commitment to be veiled in the loving presence of our Divine Spouse.
Veiling in the Bible:
In 1 Corinthians 11, Saint Paul speaks on the importance of veiling and explains one of the many reasons that Catholics veil. Saint Paul emphasises firstly, maintaining Sacred Tradition;
“I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions just as I handed them on to you.”
In Catholicism, Sacred Tradition holds a crucial role, not just for the Church but also for fostering a personal connection with God. God has blessed us with the ability to pass down the same traditions that he taught while in the flesh; modesty, being one of them. Saint Paul continues to explain how the veil reflects the body of Christ and a woman's relationship with God,
“But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the husband is the head of his wife, and God is the head of Christ.” “Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man or man independent of woman. For just as woman came from man, so man comes through woman; but all things come from God.”
He stresses the interconnectedness of men and women, both deriving from God and assigned unique yet equally valuable roles. The significance of veiling, as Saint Paul elucidates, lies in man reflecting God and woman reflecting man, thus reflecting God indirectly. –
“For a man ought not to have his head veiled, since he is the image and reflection of God; but woman is the reflection of man.”
The veil reflects a mark of authority from God and respect for His angels, as Saint Paul said,
“For this reason a woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.”
The Bible passage continues on, and Saint Paul makes an interesting point, comparing the veil to the way of nature,
“Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head unveiled? Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair, it is degrading to him, but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering.”
In this verse, we see that veiling reflects human nature. A woman’s head is naturally and typically covered by her own hair, just as the veil covers her head, whereas the opposite appears for men.
In contemplating these insights, we gain a deeper understanding of the biblical significance of veiling, recognizing it as a representation of our place in the Body of Christ.