Women who practice this devotion wear a veil over their head during Mass.
Wearing the veil during Mass shows devotion to the Virgin Mary.
The veil symbolizes the Virgin Mary's meekness and humility, as well as her submission and obedience to Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior.
"But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a woman is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. Any man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, but any woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled dishonors her head—it is the same as if her head were shaven. For if a woman will not veil herself, then she should cut off her hair; but if it is disgraceful for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her wear a veil.
For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. (For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.) That is why a woman ought to have a veil on her head, because of the angels....If any one is disposed to be contentious, we recognize no other practice, nor do the churches of God." (1 Corinthians 11:3-10,16)
Wearing the veil during Mass shows submission and obedience to Christ and to the Catholic Church.
Wearing the veil during Mass is an acknowledgement that a woman's role in the Church, the family, and society is different from a man's role.
"As in all the churches of the saints, the women should keep silence in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate, as even the law says. If there is anything they desire to know, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church." (1 Corinthians 14:33-35).
A married woman who wears the veil during Mass is also acknowledging her husband as the head of her family.
"Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, be subject to your husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. As the church is subject to Christ, so let wives also be subject in everything to their husbands." (Ephesians 5:21-24)
This devotion is for women only. Women may wear the veil, men may not. A woman's role in the Church, the family, and society, is meant by God to be different than a man's role.
"Let a woman learn in silence with all submissiveness. I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over men; she is to keep silent." (1 Tim 2:11-12)
Many Christian women have come to realize that this is God's will for them: Headcovering Directory
Read this article, Why I've Chosen to Wear the Headship Veil, by a devout Christian woman.
Questions? E-mail CatholicPlanet.com: Contact Information
